PH Consulate General in Honolulu Prepares for Filipino Food Week in Honolulu

Guests sharing stories and enjoying the kamayan feast (Honolulu PCG photo)

Honolulu — The Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu, in partnership with the Filipino Junior Chamber, hosted a Kamayan Lunch at Dana’s Restaurant on April 27, 2019 to introduce the Filipino Food Week happening on June 9 – 15, 2019.

Kamayan, which is derived from the Filipino word “kamay” or “hands” in English, is a style of eating where people use their hands to partake of food laid usually on top of banana leaves. This eating style highlights the Filipinos’ communal nature, wherein food is served family-style to be shared by everyone.

Guests were treated to a kamayan feasts featuring Filipino dishes such as ginataang kalabasa (squash with coconut milk), lechon kawali (deep-fried pork), pancit bihon (noodles with pork and vegetables), pork adobo (pork simmered in soy sauce and vinegar), eggplant adobo, inihaw na manok (barbecued chicken), inihaw na tilapia (grilled fish), pakwan(watermelon), banana lumpia (deep fried banana wrap) and cupcake with coconut flakes.

Members of the Filipino community and the Consulate at the 2nd Kapihan sa Konsulado. The Consulate also discussed its plans for Filipino Food Week (FFW) Hawaii and gathered feedback from its community partners. (Honolulu PCG photo)

The Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu organized another Kapihan sa Konsulado on 09 April 2019 at the conference room of the Philippine Consulate General.The topic of the Kapihan is mainstreaming Filipino food. Photo shows Consul General Joselito Jimeno inviting the members of the community to take ownership of the Filipino Food Week. (Honolulu PCG photo)

The Kamayan Lunch previews what is to come during the Filipino Food Week (FFW) Hawaii which will take place from June 9 – 15, 2019.

During FFW, restaurants and chefs in Oahu, Maui, Hawai’i, and Kaua’i will be invited to incorporate Filipino food in their menu. Participating establishments can either do pop-up events, kamayans, or create special Filipino food items to be sold for lunch and dinner, happy hour, lunch and dinner, or any other combinations at the option of the restaurants. This year’s FFW will highlight Filipino dishes that use coconut as an ingredient.

Restaurants will be asked to prepare at least one dish–either appetizer, pupus, main course, dessert, or drinks–inspired by one of the Philippine’s most popular ingredients.

Participating restaurants will be given an ingredients basket containing Filipino food products for them to try which includes food mixes, sauces, coconut products, liquors, and beers. The top-selling restaurant during FFW will be awarded two roundtrip tickets to the Philippines courtesy of Philippine Airlines and a special culinary tour to learn more about the diverse culinary heritage of the country.

Emmy Award Winning Host, Lanai Tabura was the guest speaker. He shared his views on Filipino cuisine, the potential it has in Hawaii, his Pride4PH Project, and how various stakeholders can contribute in spreading the love for Filipino food to a wider audience. (Honolulu PCG photo)

Interested restaurants can get in touch with the Economic Section of the Philippine Consulate General to find out more details regarding FFW.

The Filipino Food Week Hawaii is spearheaded by the Consulate General, together with the Department of Tourism, Department of Trade and Industry, and Philippine Airlines, and with the support of the following companies/organizations: Asian Food Trading Co., Bleeding Hearts Rum, East West Marketing, Filipino Association of University Women, Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, Filipino Junior Chamber, KNDI Radio, L&L Hawaiian Barbecue, Mama Sita’s, and PhotoLuxe Hawaii.

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For more information, visit www.honolulupcg.dfa.gov.ph, www.philippineshonolulu.org or https://www.facebook.com/PHinHonolulu/.