Are you familiar with Filipino food? Growing up, I mostly had Filipino friends so this has definitely become a familiar comfort cuisine for me. It was a great blend between Filipino culture and Indian culture growing up and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’m so thankful that my friends and their families are so warm and welcoming. Without their love and exposure, I would have never experienced the rich heritage of the Philippines until much later. Some of my fondest memories include coming back home from school with my best friend, Rebecca, and eating ube cupcakes and cheesy ensaïmadas from Christine’s Bakery courtesy of her mom. If you are unfamiliar with the cuisine, this is the perfect week to take a leap and try something new during Filipino Restaurant Week (FRW) which runs until May 26th.

It’s perfect that Filipino Restaurant Week coincides with Asian American/Pacific Islander Heritage month. What is even better is that it includes 23 restaurants across seven states this year. The Philippine Consulate General in New York is also holding a drawing for chance to win a trip to the Philippines if you happen to fill out one of the Filipino Restaurant Week Passports given out at participating restaurants or the Philippine Consulate General New York between May 13th through May 26th.

As a Philadelphia resident, I highly recommend checking out one of the following restaurants in the city: Perla, Sarvida or Lalo. For a great tasting menu for two, Lalo is a great option! They will be serving up their best sellers for $35 for two people which is the best deal that I have seen this season. Alternatively, Perla and its sister restaurant Sarvida will be serving up some great classic Filipino dishes with a twist. These will be three-course prix-fixe menus for $35 per person. It is important to note that Perla will be serving its FRW menu on Thursday and Friday and Sarvida will be serving its FRW menu from Wednesday through Saturday.

I cannot wait to try out some of these restaurants throughout the following week and take you along with me. However, I will be saving my visit to Sarvida for brunch when my friend returns from the Philippines at the end of this month. I’ve honestly been trying to get the Ube French Toast for weeks but every time I try to go to Sarvida, they are closed for an event.

In the meantime, I will most definitely be trying the menus at Lalo and Perla. Keep checking back throughout the week for detailed posts and some YouTube videos documenting these experiences and more.

xo,

Christine Celine