Filipino food the ‘next best thing’ said Anthony Bourdain: 4 players proving he was right

Filipino cuisine has finally gained global visibility, and these trailblazers offer distinctive takes on the food of their homeland

Reading Time:6 minutes

Filipino cuisine has global visibility at last. Culinary trailblazers like Dublin pop-up restaurant Bahay’s co-founders Richie Castillo and Alex O’Neill (pictured) offer their distinctive interpretations of traditional Filipino dishes. Photo: Bahay

Published: 7:15am, 12 Jun 2024Updated: 10:33am, 12 Jun 2024

To define Filipino cuisine in a single sentence is like trying to condense the essence of 7,107 islands into a few words – almost impossible.

By now, many are familiar with dishes like adobo or sisig, and perhaps recognise the thread that unites Filipino cuisine: prominent sour flavours delivered through vinegars and local fruit such as calamansi, tamarind, santol and kamias. That and a penchant for combining sweet and salty flavours in one bite.

Filipino cuisine can be full of contrasts – which is great for those who want to be challenged by the vibrant flavours of an archipelago. It is not surprising that, as diners around the world become more adventurous, Filipino food is having a moment.

“I definitely think there’s more awareness. That’s in part because more Filipinos openly cook their own cuisine, craft cocktails with Filipino ingredients, and create spaces that celebrate their heritage and culture,” says Cheryl Tiu, a Filipino journalist and content creator based in Miami, Florida, and founder of Cross Cultures, which has run events promoting Filipino cuisine in Hong Kong, Singapore and the United States.

Chef JP Anglo aims to make Filipino food more visible on the global stage. Photo: Kooya

“Where previously there may have been a hiya [shy] factor, now Pinoy pride is louder than ever,” Tiu adds.

“It feels like all of a sudden there are more chefs outside the Philippines who are really representing, really being bold,” says JP Anglo, a celebrity chef based in the Philippines who recently spread his wings abroad.