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Erik Matti did not dodge the question about his controversial comment on Netflix's Streetfood episode featuring the Cebu street food.

Erik Matti

It was unavoidable for the director to be asked about it during the press conference of his exclusive movie for HBO Asia titled Food Lore held yesterday, October 23.

“I think that was a mistake,” said Direk Erik.

“I always make those mistakes on social media.

“It's not the first time I posted something as controversial as that.

“I posted several times and I never learned from it. It always explodes into something else.”

Erik Matti slams Netflix show for 'bad research': 'Is the eel bakasi the most important street food to showcase from our country?'

Direk Erik did not further elaborate on the issue.

However, his tone was very apologetic especially, Direk Erik said, he was also doing a project related to local culture and cuisine.

The award-winning director said, “You know, at that point, we already had a story for this.

“It was clueless and thoughtless of me to be posting about another food show and I never realized until I remembered that I'm also doing a food story.

"And it was arrogant and rude of me to be commenting on another series."

He also clarified, "I was just commenting as a fan of food shows.

"I didn't know na ganun pala 'yung kapupuntahan.

"Sorry for that. I have since learned."

Then, he added in jest, "Puro aso na lang, I only post dogs now."

Aspirational Food Movie

Erik Matti is one of the directors in Asia who were tapped to produce an hour-long movie. It will be included in the eight-episode series that shows human conditions with narratives inspired by Asian Cuisines.

Direk Erik's Island of Dreams will feature Angeli Bayani, Yul Servo, and Ina Feleo.

Its story will revolve around Nieves (Angeli), who leaves her husband and children to work as a domestic helper in Manila. Returning home for the annual fiesta, she realizes that she may have grown estranged from her beloved family as her jubilant homecoming takes an unexpected turn.

According to Direk Erik, they had several considerations before filming the Philippine episode of Food Lore.

He related, “What's good about Food Lore and all the other series on HBO, when we were tapped, we were asked what kind of food story we want.

“We had several permutations but a lot is writing about food story with Filipinos kasi we're the most un-Asian in the Asian region.

“I mean, we're more Spanish, we're more Latin American rather than Asian-Asian. So, those are the things that we took into consideration.

“The first thing we asked when we were writing the script was what do we wanna know about the Philippines that the international audience would be excited to know about.

“For one, I said, we have to include a fiesta. Number two, how food brings together communities, 'di ba?

“With ours kasi, it's a communal thing. Like Spanish, when we're eating, we take hours just talking on the table.

“We're not like the Japanese that's more ritualistic.

“Sa atin, family style, everyone digs in, and it's the conversation that really matters. So, those are the things that we consider.”

Aside from Filipino food, Direk Erik and his team also considered, “the most identifiable Filipino story.”

He explained, “We chose the diaspora of Filipinos… With this one, she just came from Manila but eventually end up in Hong Kong in the story.

“So, we felt that that would be universal enough. It's also something that Filipinos would relate to.

“Also, we want a very aspirational food movie. Aspirational where it would inspire people to know more about our food a little more and to see what kind of celebratory life we also have.”

Aside from the Philippines, Food Lore will also feature stories from India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

The first two episodes of Food Lore: Island of Dreams will debut at this year's Tokyo International Film Festival on October 31, a few days ahead of its HBO Asia premiere on November 3.