AT long last, Philippine cuisine is no longer a curiosity. It has arrived. Oooh, am I the last one to know?
My sub-iGen nephew Pannon laughed at me. “You sure are, Uncle.”
“You sure are the last man standing who didn’t know that, Uncle,” my niece Krystalle, said.
“I’ve seen how food stylists have re-engineered the plating of Pinoy dishes. The dishes acquire an international appeal even if it is just kinilaw (raw fish salad) or Bistek Tagalog (Filipino version of braised beef).”
A quick tour around YouTube shows that many people have discovered the wonders of Pinoy food. One food blogger has quite a following. His blog is a very pleasant presentation of everyday food that even foreign tongues can enjoy.
Blogger Vanjo Merano, owner of Panlasang Pinoy, has created quite an arsenal of meat, fish, vegetable and dessert dishes to share with fans and new followers of his engaging channel.
Vanjo is an info tech professional based in the United States. He is a dead ringer for politician Bong Revilla. Some fans of his say his voice reminds them of some “Batibot” characters’ voices. (For the iGen babies, this was a children’s show created in 1984 and folded up in 2013. It was the local version of “Sesame Street.”)
My other niece sighed. “Uncle, he’s so cute,” Ellen said.
They’re right. Vanjo has a pleasant face and a full-bodied voice. He has very clear enunciation of words. What makes Vanjo’s blog, or “vlog” as it is now styled, is its down-to-earth approach and simple layout of what a beginning cook needs.
I salute this dude for bringing Pinoy cuisine to the level of global consciousness. There are hundreds of food blogs on YouTube. Over the past few months, I have discovered several blogs that dwell on non-Filipinos trying Pinoy meals and snacks for the first time. Other blogs created by non-Filipinos focus on Pinoy street food and some bloggers either recommend the food to their compatriots or humorously tell them to avoid it. Some blogs created by Pinoys focus on heritage recipes and such.
Vanjo’s work makes Filipino food comforting to those who are away from home and want to recreate memories. It is a finger-licking primer on Philippine cuisine to non-Filipinos. It is truly the Filipino taste in food.