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On Lunar New Year, a trip to Chinatown for bags of cheers and Malaysian beef jerky
By Cristina DC Pastor And tell me what street, compares with Mott Street in July? Sweet pushcarts gently gliding by — ‘Manhattan’ by Lorenz Hart and Richard Rodgers It does not take Chinese New Year for us to be prompted to visit Chinatown, but it is always a good time to make that special trek […]
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Nostalgia and pure imagination go into the making of Romeo Chocolates
By Cristina DC Pastor How does one go from being college dean to chocolatier with a plan? If you are Romeo Garcia, 38, you simply drop everything and fast-forward to a chocolate academy in Antwerp where Belgian bonbons are handcrafted and made with respect for tradition. That’s what he did in 2014 when he stepped […]
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Threat of gentrification worries ‘Little Manila’ in Queens
Tenants, homeowners, and small businesses in Woodside joined with community leaders and organizations to oppose the construction of a five-story megachurch, citing commuter traffic and disrespect for the “cohesive and historic character of the neighborhood.” Gentrification, critics argued before a Queens Community Board 2 hearing on September 27 will bring a “myriad of economic and […]
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As Kabayan closes over Health Department violations, owner opens new location
By Cristina DC Pastor Kabayan Authentic Filipino Cuisine is addressing allegations it was closed down by the City for building and health violations. Owner Cherry Castellvi said Kabayan was temporarily closed because a ‘bakay kubo’ structure at the back of the restaurant was constructed without a building permit. Similarly, it had no permit to install […]
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Sisig City’s yellow truck wheels Filipino food to the 5 boroughs
By Cristina DC Pastor In the indie film “Chef,” Jon Favreau’s character finds himself flipping Cuban sandwiches in a food truck after he quits his restaurant job as a head chef because of a disagreement with the crusty restaurant owner played by Dustin Hoffman. Let’s just say that Manny Imperial is fortunate to have both: […]
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How Asian-Americans with $825B purchasing power influence buying behaviors: report
Asian-Americans’ impact and influence are shifting and growing, according to “Asian-Americans: Culturally Diverse and Expanding Their Footprint,” a Nielsen report released on May 19. Members of this diverse segment are starting businesses, creating jobs and contributing to the U.S. economy, with a current $825 billion in consumer buying power—which is expected to rise to $1.1 […]
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Filipino food: Tops in taste ‘but not pretty on the table’
By Cristina DC Pastor With lavish patriotic pride, we declare Filipino food to be the best in taste. But we also wonder: Why hasn’t the Kare Kare crossed over to mainstream American tables the way General Tso’s Chicken has? About 20 restaurant owners and chefs who gathered recently to launch Filipino Restaurant Week — from […]
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Cannabis dinners: Getting high on a full course meal
By Cristina Dc Pastor There are two ways to enjoy cannabis, declared restaurateur and Filipino food innovator Nicole Ponseca: One is to smoke it, the other to make it part of food, which means consuming it as soup, meat entree or dessert. With that eye opener, Nicole explained to The FilAm the novel ways cannabis […]
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Queens restaurants redefine dining with low-salt, low-fat menu
By Cristina DC Pastor Filipino restaurants in Queens are trying something new: They are adding less salt and less fat to some of their dishes Kalusugan Coalition, a non-profit organization that seeks to improve the health of Filipino Americans in the New York area, has identified at least three restaurants that have committed to promoting […]