Even with sisig nachos, siopao sliders and tapsilog on their menu, the owners of Oohmami Pares and Noodle House won’t say that they’re serving traditional Filipino cuisine. After all, they’re giving a modern twist to the familiar dishes hailing from our archipelago.
Filipino-inspired, that’s how the owners of the Calgary-based restaurant prefer to describe their menu. In a place where Filipino eateries are very rare, a place offering Filipino-inspired meals is more than good enough.
“It’s not really traditional, so if you are looking for traditional Filipino food, we don’t have that here but we have Filipino-inspired food, so that’s something you grew up with. It may not look like it, but it will taste like it.” said one of the co-owners John Nidua in an interview with Balitang America.
Sonny Ong, also a co-owner, said that he was amazed by all the different twists that can be added to Filipino food. Both the owners are very passionate about their creative menus.
Oohmami restaurant opened late last year, and it is slowly making a name for itself as the go-to place for good food in Calgary.
A quick look at their Facebook page will tell you that their rice dishes (of course!) and siopao sliders are pretty popular. Their leche flan brule looks pretty amazing! For a complete experience of a Filipino meal, they even brought San Miguel beer all the way to Calgary!
Sonny and John are hoping to open another branch, and eventually expand in California.
We’re all waiting for the day when the culinary world will finly focus the spotlight on Filipino cuisine. A baby step like this helps a lot.
