Filipino restaurants make it to New York Times' top 50 list
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Pinoy food with unique, flavorful twists.
Filipino restaurants are located all around the world.
This is hardly surprising given that Filipinos, whether they are residents or working professionals, can be found in every continent.
Simply put, Filipino dishes offer our kababayans a taste of home and a feeling of comfort to keep homesickness at bay.
Likewise, food hubs give other nationalities a chance to discover Filipino food without needing to travel to the Philippines especially at this time of the pandemic.
Not all Filipino restaurants are created equal, though. Some manage to turn heads enough to make it to prestigious listings like that of the New York Times.
Take for example Kasama in Chicago and Archipelago located in Seattle.
Both restaurants have made it to the renowned newspaper's Top 50 US Restaurants list.
Kasama describes itself as a “bakery” with “modern Filipino cuisine.”
Its menu, based on its website, carries Filipino food staples such as lumpiang shanghai, chicken adobo, and breakfast favorites composed of longanisa and tocino paired with fried egg and garlic rice.
Its Kasama combo sandwich merges shaved pork adobo and longanisa as stuffing.
“Having a meal at this neighborhood cafe is to experience the seamless blending of the talents of husband-and-wife team Genie Kwon and Timothy Flores,” the accompanying article mentioned.
It went on to highlight Genie's innovative ham and cheese croissant and Timothy's “excellent take on a Chicago-style Italian combo sandwich, made with longanisa.”
Meanwhile, Archipelago prides itself on serving innovative dishes that combine Filipino-American flavors.
There's no fixed menu as the restaurant regularly changes its food selections as dictated by the season and available ingredients.
While the food is commendable, the list particularly highlighted Archipelago's owners Aaron Verzosa and Amber Manuguid's penchant to interact with customers for an intimate dining experience.
“They tell complicated, expansive stories about the Pacific Northwest and the many ways that Filipino immigrants have shaped it, using words, pictures, and even some unexpected dance moves behind the pass.”
For this year's list, the New York Times sent out critics, reporters, and editors from its food section team to tour the country and “find the 50 most vibrant and delicious restaurants in 2021.”
It wrote, “Some are classics, still great after decades. Others are in their prime, restaurants at their practiced peaks. And still others are newcomers, intrepidly making their way through the roughest stretch the restaurant business is likely to endure.”
Meanwhile, find out which Filipino restaurants made it into the inaugural “Essence of Asia” list earlier this year.
For more stories like this, visit GMA Lifestyle's page.
Speaking of Pinoy dish, the lumpiang shanghai has captivated the palate of other nationalities, including foreign celebrities. Find out more in this gallery.
