Got a tip? Send it to us at manila@coconuts.co.
By: Rommel Conclara, ABS-CBN North America News Bureau
SAN FRANCISCO – Foodies gathered to sample the best in modern Filipino dishes from respected Filipino American chefs while supporting a good cause: an after-school cooking workshop which benefits many Filipino kids.
Project Merienda was started last year under the Galing Bata program at the Bessie Carmichael Elementary and Middle School in San Francisco.
The program teaches kids how to cook and prepare various dishes.
At this recent fundraising event for the after school program, guests were treated to Filipino food and drinks accompanied by live entertainment.
“We’re raising funds for cooking supplies, fresh ingredients and learning materials for students in our culinary workshops,” said Project Merienda staff member Kenrick Mercado. “We invited six different chefs to help support our community and we’ve received so many generous food donations from Filipino food products.”
Notable Pinoy chefs from the Bay Area saw the fundraiser as a great way to give back to the community and to help future chefs learn the basics of Filipino cooking.
From alcohol to deserts, each of the chefs and food vendors had their own take on the best of Filipino cuisine.
“I have lumpia sariwa,” said chef Charleen Caabay of Kainbigan restaurant in Oakland. “It has ground pork, fresh vegetables, tofu, daikon carrots, shredded cabbage, and string beans.”
“Parmesan and garlic baby back adobo ribs that I slow cooked in beer and braised for three hours,” said chef Eric Pascual of the Lumpia Company. “I’m cutting it with a adobo glaze to give it that Filipino flavor and adding some Parmesan cheese, some scallions and a little bit of pickled papaya.”
Everyone expressed how much they enjoyed the food.
“We’re just so happy to have all the support from our community, the neighborhood as well as these food businesses and chefs,” said Mercado. “The atmosphere is so friendly, warm, neighborhood, community. It’s so great. It feels like family.”
Project Merienda plans on holding more cooking workshops for the children and hopes to hold a school yard street festival in the near future.
This story was republished with permission from ABS-CBNnews.com.
