To celebrate Filipino-American History Month, the Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu is holding the 7th annual Filipino Food Week from Oct. 18 to 25.
This year’s theme is “Kapampangan Recipes,” which will feature cuisine from the province of Pampanga. Pampanga is known for its unique gastronomic experience as it is regarded as one of the culinary centers of the Philippines.
Popular dishes and ingredients from this region include sisig (chopped, grilled pork mixed with calamansi juice, onions and chilies), bringhe (a Filipino-style paella), tocino (a cured pork dish that’s known for its sweet-and-savory flavor), sans rival cake (a cake made with layers of cashew meringue) and halo-halo (a refreshing dessert often made with crushed ice, condensed milk and fruits).
Check out these dishes on Oʻahu:
Basalt Waikīkī
Address: 2255 Kūhiō Ave., Honolulu
Details: Basalt Waikīkī’s Filipino Food Week prix fixe menu costs $60 per person and features three courses.
It includes a choice of Kapampangan-inspired sisig (sauteed pork belly and chicken liver with calamansi, crispy shallots and pickled jalapeno chilis) or fresh lumpia (fresh egg crepe filled with sauteed Asian slaw and served with macadamia nut soy gravy); Bringhe-style seafood paella (roasted Scottish king salmon with New Caledonian blue shrimp, Manila clams and longanisa on coconut turmeric rice with coconut curry broth) or pork kare kare (crispy pork with baby bok choy, fried eggplant and sitaw with housemade salmon bagoong and macadamia nut kare kare sauce); and Maja Blanca (Filipino-inspired pudding with espresso sauce and coconut powder) for dessert.
When: Oct. 18-25
Contact: Call 808-923-5689
Beyond Pastry Studio
Address: 1067 Alakea St., Honolulu
Details: The downtown Honolulu bakery will be offering its classic ensaymada, banana jackfruit lumpia danish with Big Island Ohia Lehua honey and sisig boat. On Friday, Oct. 24, the bakery will go heavy on its Filipino Pastry Friday lineup and will have longganisa feta rolls, miso tomato rolls with queso de bola, coconut kalabasa tarts and pandesal chicken adobo nest with ʻulu.
When: Available Oct. 20-24
Contact: Call 808-352-8303
Eating House 1849 – Waikīkī
Address: International Market Place, 2330 Kalākaua Ave. No. 322, Honolulu
Details: Eating House 1849 at International Market Place will feature a Filipino Prixe Fixe menu for Filipino Food Week. It costs $55 per person and is available daily from 4 to 6 p.m. It includes chicken spring rolls with mango sweet and sour; choice of seared Island catch (served with pancit noodles and shrimp and shiitake soy) or pinakbet (pork belly, roasted kabocha puree, bitter melon and roasted tomato); and halo-halo (strawberry and pineapple ice, pandan panna cotta and Dave’s ube ice cream).
Contact: Call 808-924-1849
Pai Honolulu
Address: 55 Merchant St. Ste. 110, Honolulu
Details: The eatery will offer sisig taurine ($25) and a specialty cocktail called The Zesty Filipina ($16). Sisig taurine features grilled stewed pig’s head, garlic, chives and calamansi chili, topped with a cucumber and tomato salad (ensaladang pipino). The cocktail is a combination of Ko Hana Kea rum, spiced rum, lime, tamarind and simple syrup.
When: 5-10 p.m. Oct. 22-24
Contact: Call 808-744-2531 or visit paihonolulu.com
Roy’s Hawaiʻi Kai
Address: 6600 Kalanianaʻole Hwy. Ste. 110, Honolulu,
Details: The eatery will feature halo halo ($16) with ube ice cream, key lime panna cotta and leche flan; and an ube crème brulee ($12) with chocolate chip cookies and fresh berries.
Contact: Call 808-396-7697
Skull & Crown Trading Co.
Address: 62 N. Hotel St, Honolulu
Details: The Palabok ravioli ($26) features housemade ravioli filled with minced shrimp, water chestnuts, fresh cilantro and wood ear mushrooms. It’s finished with crispy garlic, an egg and drizzled with an herbaceous black vinaigrette. Customers can add grilled shrimp for an additional charge ($8). The Chinatown spot is also featuring a Lapu Lapu cocktail ($20), which is a combination of Tanduay Gold, Tanduay Silver, Planteray O.F.T.D., orange, lemon, lilikoʻi and pandan palm syrup.
The eatery will also be featuring a few surprise additional food items for Filipino Food Week, but diners will only find out what they are when they show up.
Contact: Call 808-372-0620
The Pizza Press – Pearl City
Address: 1000 Kamehameha Hwy. Ste. 233, Pearl City
Details: The Pizza Press Pearl City is featuring a collab dish with Elena’s Fine Filipino Foods. Feast on a pork adobo pizza, made with olive oil, minced garlic, mozzarella cheese, feta cheese, pork adobo (from Elena’s), red onions, tomatoes, cilantro and balsamic glaze. Customers can also enjoy an ube cheesecake.
When: Oct. 18-25
Contact: Call 808-744-7771
Tiki’s Grill & Bar
Address: 2570 Kalākaua Ave., Honolulu
Details: Tiki’s Grill & Bar is featuring two specials for Filipino Food Week. The ube colada ($20) features ube syrup blended with rich coconut cream, pineapple juice and premium white rum, and is topped with shredded coconut. Meanwhile, the Kapampangan Morcon ($22) is a regional variation of the traditional Filipino Morcon, a type of roulade. It features a rich, savory and slightly tango tomato-based gravy that complements the stuffed beef roulade.
“We are proud to highlight a culinary dish created by our staff of Filipino descent,” says Ronnie Nasuti, executive chef at Tiki’s Grill & Bar. “The foods and flavors they’ve introduced to Hawaiʻi are truly amazing and continue to inspire our menu at Tiki’s Grill & Bar.”
When: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 18-25
Contact: Call 808-923-8454
To learn more, follow Filipino Food Week on Instagram.
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Kelli Shiroma Braiotta can be reached at kelli@alohastatedaily.com.
