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What is FRMC?
Launched in April 2022, the Filipino Restaurant Month in Canada or FRMC is a month-long celebration of Filipino food and culture in Canada.
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It aims to raise awareness and appreciation of Filipino cuisine, support Filipino-owned restaurants, showcase the talents of Filipino chefs, and promote the use of products from the Philippines.
During the month of April, guests and food lovers across Canada can enjoy special menus that highlight the variety and richness of Filipino dishes and ingredients at participating restaurants.
Guests who join the FRMC can also win exciting prizes, either locally or nationally from different sponsors. The prizes may include travel packages, dining coupons to participating restaurants, and more.
My FRMC 2023 Experience
One of the things I miss the most about living in the Philippines is the food. The rich flavors, the diverse dishes, and the warm hospitality of Filipino cuisine are hard to find anywhere else.
That’s why I was happy when I received an invitation to attend an event at Sari-Sari Filipino Cuisine, a small family-owned and family-run restaurant in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada by the Enriquez family. Sari-Sari means “variety” in the Philippines.
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The event I attended was a collaboration between Sari-Sari Filipino Cuisine, the Philippine Consulates General in Toronto and the Philippine Department of Tourism.
There were several Filipino content creators, such as bloggers, vloggers, podcasters, and influencers, to network and showcase their work.
It was also an opportunity to meet some of the city and region leaders, such as Mayor Berry Vrbanovic of Kitchener and MP Bardish Chagger of Waterloo, who expressed their support and appreciation for the Filipino community.
The highlight of the event, of course, was the food. We enjoyed classics like lechon kawali, barbeque, and lumpiang shanghai. Everything was delicious, fresh, and made with love. It felt like eating at home, surrounded by friends and community.
I am grateful to Sari-Sari for inviting me to this wonderful event. It was an amazing experience.
The how-to cook Filipino food (Try it at home!)
Bistek (Filipino Beef Steak)
Bistek or Bistek Tagalog is a delicious Filipino dish that consists of thinly sliced beef marinated in a tangy sauce and topped with caramelized onions. It is easy to make and perfect for any occasion. Here is how you can cook bistek tagalog at home.
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Ingredients
1/2 kilo beef sirloin, sliced thinly
1/4 cup calamansi juice or lemon juice
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
4 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
2 tablespoons oil
2 large onions, sliced into rings
1/4 cup water or beef broth
1 teaspoon sugar (optional)
Instructions
In a bowl, combine beef, calamansi juice, soy sauce, pepper, and garlic. Mix well and marinate for at least 30 minutes in the refrigerator.
In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat oil. Fry onion rings until soft and lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
In the same skillet, fry beef slices in batches, about 2 minutes per side or until browned. Do not overcook the beef as it will become tough. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
In a small saucepan over medium heat, bring the marinade and water or broth to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer until slightly thickened, about 15 minutes. You can add sugar if you prefer a sweeter sauce.
To serve, arrange beef slices on a platter and pour the sauce over them. Top with onion rings and enjoy with steamed rice.
Halo-Halo (Filipino Shaved Ice Dessert)
Halo-halo is a popular Filipino dessert that consists of shaved ice, evaporated milk, and various sweet ingredients such as fruits, beans, jellies, and ice cream. The name halo-halo means “mix-mix” in Tagalog, because you are supposed to mix all the ingredients together before eating. Halo-halo is a refreshing and delicious treat that can cool you down on a hot day.
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Ingredients
Shaved ice
Evaporated milk
Leche flan (custard cake)
Ube halaya (purple yam jam)
Ube ice cream
Macapuno (coconut sport)
Nata de coco (coconut gel)
Kaong (sugar palm fruit)
Langka (jackfruit)
Saba (plantain banana)
Sago (tapioca pearls)
Pinipig (rice crispies)
Instructions
Prepare the leche flan, ube halaya, and sago according to your preferred recipes. You can also use store-bought versions of these ingredients.
Peel and slice the saba bananas. In a small pot, combine 1/4 cup of water and 1/4 cup of brown sugar. Bring to a boil, then add the bananas. Simmer until the bananas are soft and coated with syrup, about 15 minutes.
In a tall glass, add a layer of shaved ice. Then, add a teaspoon each of macapuno, nata de coco, kaong, langka, saba, and sago. Repeat with another layer of shaved ice and the same ingredients.
Top with more shaved ice, forming a mound. Drizzle evaporated milk over the ice. Add a slice of leche flan and a scoop of ube ice cream. Sprinkle pinipig on top for some crunch.
Enjoy your halo-halo by mixing all the ingredients together with a spoon. You can also add more milk if you like.
Craving satisfied
Filipino Restaurant Month in Canada is a great opportunity to support local businesses and enjoy the diverse and delicious cuisine of the Philippines. Whether you’re craving for adobo, pancit, bistek, lumpia, or halo-halo, you’ll find something to satisfy your taste buds with different participating restaurants. You can also try making some of these dishes at home with the recipes I shared in this post.
I hope you enjoyed this culinary adventure and learned more about Filipino culture and history. If you did, please share this post with your friends and family, and let me know in the comments what your favorite Filipino dish is. Thank you for reading and happy eating!
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