@F OOD / H EA LT H Y CUISIN E
HEALTHY TRADITIONAL
PHILIPPINE CUISINE IS
NOT A MY TH
by CARMEN LEILANI DE JESUS
Butter and sugar, eggs in all forms of preparation and
restaurants and chefs - both in California and in the Phil-
embryonic state, pork, fried fish, bone marrow, salt, fish
ippines - of preparing more health conscious and
sauce, dubious meat melanges, everything cooked in
meat/dairy-free interpretations of Filipino classics.
lard or reused oil. Starch, oil, fat, salt. If you were raised
within a carnivorous Filipino household, then chances
"It used to be hard to be
are that your mouth is watering right now, just from read-
a vegetarian, much less a
ing that list - a list which represents the main ingredients
of most traditional Filipino cuisine. (And the major play-
vegan, in the Filipino
ers in heart disease, obesity, diabetes, etc.)
But ang
sarap, you say. It's just so good. I know. The flavors, the
community, and especially
textures, the comfort of eating "authentic" Filipino food
isn't just something that satisfies the stomach, it is also a
in the Philippines."
ritual of identity.
Oakland, CA-based No Worries restaurant caters to the
Filipino and the Vegan community with their strictly
Announcing to a traditional Filipino family that you are a
vegan menu, which uses "soy meat" to recreate "chicken"
vegetarian or a vegan is often taken as hostile judgment
adobo, "beef" bistek, "chicken" afritada and Pancit,
- that in choosing to eat healthy, you somehow imply that
"chicken" tinola and more. Owner Jay-Ar Pugao even
everyone else isn't. It used to be hard to be a vegetarian,
recreated beef kare kare, using the traditional peanut
much less a vegan, in the Filipino community, and espe-
butter-based sauce over so based beef.
cially in the Philippines. But there is a growing trend of
No Worries 1442 Franklin Street, Oakland, Ca 94612 (510) 444-4466
If you're in the Philippines, and looking for
vegan, vegetarian or even raw foodist fare,
here are a few you should seek out for lovely
and healthful dining experiences.
Adar na Food and Cult ure
(Vegan/Vegetarian menu)
119 Kalayaan Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City
adarnafoodandculture.multiply.com
Bli ss Café
(Vegetarian menu)
Hotel Elizabeth, Gibraltar Street
corner J. Felipe, Bag uio City
(074) 619-0367 or (0917) 8464729
blissnbag uio.multiply.com
The Farm
(Raw/Vegan)
119 Barangay Tipakan, San Benito, Batangas
696-3795 | www.thefarm.com.ph
VANGOGH
Greens Vegetarian Restaurant and Café
Sikatuna Village
(Vegetarian Menu)
154 Maginhawa, Quezon City
92 Scout Castor Street, Quezon City
02 394 0188 | www.facebook.com/vgibipolar
Open Weekdays & Saturday: 5pm-1am
415-4796, 376-2781
THEPHILIPPINESMAGAZINE.COM
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SPRING 2011 20

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