Netflix’s Street Food series will air this Friday, April 26, specifically at 3PM Manila time. Created by the filmmakers behind Chef’s Table, Street Food will shine the spotlight on local heroes working in casual restaurants, food stalls and carinderias; those who keep the spirit of traditional food alive. The first season will take viewers to nine Asian countries and each episode will highlight “the stories of perseverance and culture that bring life to each country’s cuisine.” These cities are:
- Bangkok, Thailand
- Osaka, Japan
- Delhi, India
- Yogyakarta, Indonesia
- Chiayi, Taiwan
- Seoul, South Korea
- Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- Singapore
- Cebu, Philippines
Here’s the official trailer:
The finale will be on the Philippines, with the entire episode dedicated to Cebu in the Visayas region, which is actually the birthplace our country.
Here’s the teaser for the Philippine episode:
Days before the series airs, Netflix Philippines held a Manila launch at Toyo Eatery where we got to meet the four Cebuano cooks who are flying the Philippine flag high:
Florencio “Entoy” Escabas – Nilarang Bakasi
Entoy’s Bakasihan, Cordova
Through his eatery Entoy’s Bakasihan, Florencio “Entoy” Escabas found a way to reverse the cycle of poverty not only for his family, but also for the fishermen in his community in Cordova. Nilarang Bakasi is a soured stew made with reef eel. Now in his 70s, he has lost most of his teeth, which he attributes this to his love for eucalyptus candy. He says he only needs P200 (less than USD$4) a day to survive– for his medicine and candies!
Leslie Enjambre – Lechon Cebu
Leslie’s Lechon, Talisay
Leslie Enjambre’s grandmother started the Lechon Cebu business in Talisay in the 1940’s and it’s been passed down through the generations ever since. On a busy day, she can roast up to 70 pigs! She says she is hands on, like a “security guard,” and prepares everything herself. Through Leslie’s Lechon, she, the breadwinner of the family, has been able to send her kids to school. She declares it “the best lechon in the world.”
Ian Secong – Tuslob-Buwa
Azul Tuslob-Buwa, Cebu City
Tuslob-Buwa, a thick, bubbling gravy made with sautéed onions, garlic and pig brains has been around Cebu for centuries and was historically eaten by those who couldn’t afford meat or fish. “It’s kind of like a Filipino fondue,” chef Myke Tatung Sarthou describes. Being part of the show was incredibly humbling for Ian Secong, as he says he didn’t invent the dish, but instead innovated it by turning it into a more hygienic Tuslob-Buwa through his Azul Tuslob-Buwa, where guests can dine together family-style, a popular restaurant for the younger generation in Cebu City.
Rubilyn Diko Manayo – Lumpia
Rubilyn’s Carinderia, Cordova
To support her family, Rubilyn Diko Manayon opened a roadside carinderia, Rubilyn’s Carinderia, in Cordova where she sells 18 different dishes. The most popular is her Lumpia (Chinese-style spring rolls). The Chinese made a big impact on the street food of Cebu when they introduced the wok, allowing Cebuanos to sauté and fry food. She says the secret is to serve and eat it fresh. She sells each piece for PHP5 (which is the equivalent of US 10 cents)! (*Trivia: Her inclusion in the show was accidental. The show’s producers had lunch at her place, fell in love with her vegetable lumpia and called her to be part of the show! She almost refused because she said she’s camera-shy and can’t speak much English!)
Much credit must also be given to journalist Jude Bacalso and chef Myke “Tatung” Sarthou (both from Cebu) who worked with the Netflix team to put together the episode. In fact, it was Jude’s article on the reef eel published in Cebu Pacific’s Smile Magazine that caught the Street Food producers’ attention, prompting them to get in touch with her. You will find both of them on the show, in fact, Myke is your “guide” for the episode!
It was so nice to meet Ian, Tatay Entoy, Leslie and Rubilyn (my seatmate!) at the launch. They were all really sweet and couldn’t believe this had happened to them. They filmed for about a week in September, Rubilyn recalled, and thought that was it. They didn’t expect to be flown to Manila for a press conference. But truth be told, this is only the beginning; once the show airs, the queues to their restaurants and stalls will run til no end!
Street Food Asia will start streaming on April 26, Friday, 3pm (Manila time)
