First Los Angeles Filipino food fest draws more than 25,000 noshers

Customers getting ready to chow down at Eat. Play. Move. INQUIRER/Lalaine Ignao

EAGLE ROCK, California — Rayson Esquejo and Lauren Delgado, who first became friends in high school, recently reconnected over dinner where Delgado mentioned wanting to hold an event in commemoration of Filipino American History Month in Los Angeles.

For his part Esquejo shared the dream of creating a food festival. They paired the two ideas together, and “Eat. Play. Move.,” the very first Filipino food festival in LA came to life.

The event was held at Eagle Rock Plaza parking lot on October 7 with Esquejo and Delgado anticipating a crowd of 3,000 to 5,000 people. But up 25,000 came instead.

Long lines to food stalls at the Filipino food festival in Eagle Rock, California. INQUIRER/Lalaine Ignao

“We carefully curated the vendors from sweet to savory to esoteric Filipino food that people do not know about,” Delgado explained.

As participants slowly filtered into the event venue, they were greeted by various stalls of vendors paying a tribute to their Filipino heritage through their food offerings.

Paella! Paella! offered the Spanish-influenced dish. Rice and Shine, Benaddictz and Ninong’s Pastries & Cafe Inc. created menus with a brunch concept, fusing their identities as Filipino Americans with American food.

Volunteer welcomes attendees to food festival. INQUIRER/Lalaine Ignao

Other vendors focused on providing the sweet treats, such as Jae NYC Eats, Ensaymada Project and B Sweet Dessert Bar. From Filipino influenced Twinkie treats to ube and pandan bread pudding and various original ensaymadas, the food festival satisfied everyone’s sweet tooth.

Kindness and Mischief Coffee also made an appearance, serving tits seasonal menu with Filipino influenced coffee and drinks. All in all, the first Filipino food festival provided a great opportunity for older businesses like Hopia Like It and newer ones including Kitchen 1726, Manini Kine Grindz and Bolo to showcase their culinary talents while giving the community a better look at Filipino cuisine and culture.

Chef Kryssie shows off her sisig. INQUIRER/Lalaine Ignao

“The turnout exceeded our hopes and dreams for this event. We had nonstop lines since before the event started at 8:30 a.m.,” Delgado said.

Because the event celebrated Filipino American History Month, Delgado hoped that they achieved the goal of linking older and younger generations in Los Angeles.

Hopia Like It’s tent. INQUIRER/Lalaine Ignao

They felt a disconnect between the generations because Filipino Americans in their 20s and 30s cannot speak Tagalog any more.

“We wanted to remedy that by bringing the community together and unifying the ages, the generations and just celebrate,” Delgado shared.

Paella simmering at Eat. Play. Move. INQUIRER/Lalaine Ignao

The two event organizers hope to hold future events with a bigger venue and a bigger turnout. “We want to turn it into a movement, turn it into something that the city can embrace,” Esquejo stated. “This is an event for the city, for the Filipinos. It does not just speak to the Filipino Angeleno community, but the Angeleno community as a whole.” 

To continue the movement, check out Eat. Play. Move. on Instagram and on their website.