Book
Memories of Philippine Kitchens
The essence of Filipino food has always remained somewhat secluded in the family kitchens of Filipino homes, passed down through the generations, melding native traditions with those of Chinese, Spanish, and American cuisines. With Memories of Philippine Kitchens Amy Besa and Romy Dorotan, owners and chef at Ditmas Park’s popular Purple Yam restaurant, present a fascinating look at Filipino cuisine and culture. They have spent years tracing the traditions of the food of the Philippines, and here they share the results of that research. From Lumpia, Pancit, and Kinilaw to Adobo and Lechon (the art of the well-roasted pig), the authors document dishes and culinary techniques that are rapidly disappearing and in some cases unknown to Filipinos whether in the Philippines or abroad.
In addition to offering more than 100 unique recipes culled from private Filipino kitchens and their own acclaimed menu, Besa and Dorotan vividly document the role of food in Filipino society, both old and new. Filled with hundreds of sumptuous photographs by the esteemed Filipino photographer Neal Oshima and colorful stories of food memories from the authors and other notable local cooks, the book is a joy to peruse both in and out of the kitchen.
About the Author
Both Philippines natives, Amy Besa and Romy Dorotan, own and operate Purple Yam, a popular restaurant they opened in Brooklyn in 2009 following their successful ownership of Cendrillon which opened in 1995.
Neal Oshima is the principal photographer of more than two dozens books on Philippine and Asian culture, seven of which have won Philippine National Book Awards. He lives in the Philippines.
