‘Kulinary Confidential’ highlights Fil-Am cuisine, chefs

“Kulinary Confidential” runs for two weeks in SOMA Pilipinas, the Filipino American cultural district. ALBERT LAW

SAN FRANCISCO — Filipino American cuisine is the focus of Kulinary Confidential, a two-week food crawl and series of pop-up dinners featuring seven restaurants and 16 chefs.

All of the participating food crawl restaurants and the venues for the pop dinners are located in SOMA Pilipinas, the Fil-Am cultural district (from 2nd St. to 11th St., bordered by Market and Brannan Streets).

The event will run from April 1 to 14 and part of the proceeds will fund the Philippine immersion trip of more than 20 students from Balboa High School. The students will learn about their cultural roots and practice Tagalog.

Mackerel kinilaw with seaweed granita and roe is one item that will be featured in one of the six Pop Up Dinners this year for “Kulinary Confidential.” ALBERT LAW

The food crawl—composed of special off-menu dishes—can be accessed by purchasing a Tasting Passport. The pop-up dinners—which are single-evening events—are open to ticket buyers.

Food Crawl

For the first week, Mestiza, Manila Bowl, and Sarap Shop are the featured restaurants.

For the second week, the lineup includes JT Restaurant, Little Skillet, and Señor Sisig.

Alchemy, collaborating with San Francisco Chicken’s Christian Ciscle, is part of both weeks.

Lechon Kawali Tacos is one of the special off-menu items featured during this year’s “Kulinary Confidential.” ALBERT LAW

Tasting Passport-holders can visit these restaurants anytime during their week of choice and redeem tickets for the special off-menu items created specifically for Kulinary Confidential.

Mestiza Taqueria will offer lechon kawali tacos and coconut horchata while Manila Bowl (located at The Market on Market food hall) will offer dinuguan.

Alchemy (located inside Trademark & Copyright bar) will offer a Filipino fried chicken that features pineapple mochi, spiced batter and soy chile sauce.

Sarap Shop (located at the Soma Streat Food food park) will offer a mystery bag that contains its signature halo-halo milk tea, an onigiri in a mystery flavor, and other surprise items.

On the second week, JT Restaurant will serve chicken afritada while Little Skillet will offer toyomansi-glazed fried chicken with pandan mochi waffle.

It’s going to be adobo carnitas with dirty rice at Señor Sisig while Alchemy will have chicken escabeche (coconut vinegar-marinated fried chicken thighs) with calamansi tartar sauce on cabbage and tomato salad.

Pop-Up Dinners

The Pop-Up Dinners will offer a broad range of flavors across multi-course meals with tickets starting at $65.

The first week begins with Rod Reyes of Barya Kitchen. He will prepare a five-course meal of classic Filipino dishes with a modern spin at Trademark & Copyright bar.

Undiscovered SF is the organizer of “Kulinary Confidential,” a food festival featuring Fil-Am chefs and cuisine, such as this banana turon with matcha. ALBERT LAW

A blending of cultures is the theme for the first weekend. EJ Macayan and Japanese American Hitomi Wada of Ox & Tiger will prepare a Fil-Japanese dinner at Joint Venture Kitchen (a venue for pop-up dinners).

Marc Pescon of Aliwang Lutu will prepare a Fil-French meal at Executive Order bar.

Kicking off the second week is Yana Gilbuena of Salo Series. She will prepare six dishes at Mestiza Taqueria.

The final weekend will have Francis Ang of Pinoy Heritage preparing an eight-course modern Filipino dinner at Picnic on Third.

Concluding the Pop-Up Dinner series is Aileen Suzara of Sariwa, who will prepare a Fil-Indian dinner at Mestiza Taqueria.

Kulinary Confidential is organized by Undiscovered SF, a nonprofit promoting economic development in SOMA Pilipinas. Among other activities, Undiscovered SF hosts night markets in the summer that celebrate Fil-Am culture through music, dance, art, food, and retail.

To purchase passports and tickets; and for the addresses and operation hours of the food crawl restaurants and pop-up dinner venues, visit UndiscoveredSF.com.

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