All aboard: Jeepney Guy hits the road for ‘atypical’ Filipino dishes
Photo from jeepneyguy/Instagram
A culinary sensation with Filipino roots, Jeepney Guy has been rolling through the hearts and taste buds of food enthusiasts in the United States for over a decade.
But chef Dennis Villafranca has a unique cooking approach, categorizing his creations as “atypical” Filipino food. Why? His recipes are based mainly on childhood food memories.
The atypical Filipino dishes from Jeepney Guy
For example, the traditional process of roasting a pig (lechon) in the Philippines can take almost an entire day, but Villafranca notes that theirs can be cooked for about three hours.
And that three-hour-cooked pork belly lechon has been the most popular menu item since the inception of Jeepney Guy.
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On Instagram, he shared a contemporary twist on the Filipino classic favorite, sinigang. New to the ears is “sinigang glazed ribs” where succulent ribs are glazed with sinigang-inspired flavors, creating a fusion of tangy and savory tastes that pay homage to the dish’s essence.
Rolling out at festivals and events
Established in 2011 in the San Francisco area, this Filipino culinary gem embarked on a journey that led it to Phoenix in late 2021. It openedat the AZ International Marketplace in Mesa but later closed to focus on festivals and events.
“The first festival we served at was the Bao and Dumpling festival in Chandler,” he shares in an interview with Phoenix New Times. “And the reception from that was overwhelming. Immediately after that, we followed up the Asian District Night Market. We sold out of lechon in an hour and a half, and I had planned for sales to last me four hours.”
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Since recentering on festivals and events, Jeepney Guy quickly became a sought-after vendor at various events and markets, leaving a trail of satisfied customers in its wake.
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As he represents Filipino culinary traditions in a foreign land, he has set his sights on cooking for the upcoming Arizona Bao and Dumpling Festival at the Martin Auto Museum in Glendale on Oct. 7 and the upcoming Asian District Night Market.
Expect Jeepney Guy to serve up their highly recommended lechon platters priced at $16, which include garlic rice, braised broccoli greens, and a tangy lechon sauce—a Filipino food experience worth trying.
