Cultural Cultural Cookbook Cookbook ALaborofLove By:JaninePeralta
Submissions by:
Neil Peralta
Rumisa Irshad
Joshua Hamoy
Kohana Johnson
AboutthePr
memorythroughreminiscence culturethroughanancestralhomage identitythroughasenseofbelonging preserving:
IamcreatingaCultura thatdelvesintothe connectionsbetweenfo belonging,andidentity willfeaturetheworkof shareancestralfamily meaningfuldishesthat culturalidentity,anda thatprovidesthemwith connection.Theirperso bringtogetherthesig foodasasafetynetfo cultureandiden
Justine Acosta
Tapsilog TAPA"CUREDMEAT"
"Tapa"originatesfromthepre-colonialpracticesofcuringthinly slicedmeat andlayingitoutunderthesun;Filipinosused wild boaranddeer,butaftertheEuropeanscame,cowswere incorporated
SINANGAG"GARLICRICE"
"Sinangag"isacheapandeasyway toimplementleftoverdishesinto ricetocreateanewmeal.Garlicandoilismixedintoleftoverrice.In manyotherregions, otherleftoverviandslikecornedbeef,tuyois addedintoasinangag
ITLOG"FRIEDEGG" 01 02 03
"PritongItlog"isacommonaddintoFilipinobreakfaststoadda balancefromthesaltyandsavoryflavorsofadish
(OPTIONAL
1.Finely mince garlic and saute with olive oil at low - medium heat until golden brown
2.Put in rice, seasonings, and mix all together
3.Put rice aside and fry an egg
4.Assemble everything together
“MyMamangandPapangtaughtmehowtocook.Myparentstaughtmesimplean affordabledisheslikeIgado,Adobo,Tapa,andSinigang".Theyalwaysstressedth importanceoflivelihoodandhealththroughfood.Intheirhousehold,mostfoodsw madeforefficiency,convenience,andaffordability.Althoughthesearethemain factorsintothemealspasseddownfromgenerations,theelementsofloveand nurturearewhatmakeseverydishspecial.Thesymbolofourancestors’rootstha havefosteredintoourdaytodaylivesthroughthemealsweprepare.
Cagayan Born and Raised Roasting.afarmpigwithhisneighborsinCagayan (2009)
CuttingupafarmgoatwithhisneighborsinCagayan (2009)
Chicken Kachori directions ingredients Forthepastrydough
All-purposeflour
Gheeorbutter
Salt Water
Forthechickenfilling
Shreddedcookedchicken
Gratedcarrots
Finelychoppedbellpepper
Salt
Blackpepper
Garlicpowder
Chiliflakes
Vinegar
Soy Chilisauce garlicsauceorketchup
Creamormilk
Forassemblingandfrying
Cornstarch
Oil
Oilfordeepfrying
Ketchuporchutneyforserving
1.Mixflour,ghee,andsaltinabowl.Slowlyaddwaterandkneaduntilyougetafirmdough.Itshould notbetoosoft.Kneadforabout2–3minutes,thencoverandletitrest.
2Heatalittleoilinapan.Addshreddedchicken,gratedcarrots,choppedbellpepper,salt,pepper, garlicpowder,chiliflakes,vinegar,andsoysauce.
3Cookfor2–3minutesuntilthevegetablessoftenslightly.Addchiligarlicsauceorketchup,thenadd alittlecreamormilktomakethefillingmoist.Mixwellandsetaside.
4.Preparethepastrylayers
5.Mixcornstarchandoiltogethertomakeaslurry.
6Dividethedoughintosmallequalballs.Rolloneballintoathincircle.Brushalittlecornstarchslurry ontop.
7.Foldthetopandbottomtowardthecenter,thenfoldagainlikeabook.Turnitandrepeatthefold fromtheotherdirectionsoitbecomesasmallsquarewithlayers.Repeatwithalldoughballs.
8.Roll each folded piece into a thin square or circle. Place about 2 TBSPS of chicken filling in the center.
9Bringthecornerstogetherandpinchtightlytoseal.Twistandremoveanyextradoughfromthetop soitcooksproperly.
10.Keeptheshapedkachoriscoveredwithadamppapertowelsotheydonotdryout.
11Heatoilinawokordeeppanonmediumheat.Theoilshouldnotbetoohot.Asmallpieceofdough shouldrisetothetopinabout3seconds.
12.PlacetheKachoriupsidedownfirst,withthesealedknotsidefacingtheoil.Fryforabout8–10 minutesonthatside,thenflipandfryanother2–3minutesuntilgoldenbrown.Totalfryingtimeis usuallyaround12–14minutes.
Cultural Ties MynameisRumisaIrshad.IidentifyasPakistaniandMuslim.I choseChickenKachori,asimplestreetfoodbutitmeansmore becauseitremindsmeofRamadan.Wewouldalwayseatthis duringthemonthasaspecialtreat.Mybackgroundasa PakistaniMuslimplaysabigroleinthecultureandtraditionsI wasraisedwith.Chickenkachorishowshowfoodcanconnect toouremotions.Thissnackwasnotavailableallthroughout theyearsoitfeltlikeaspecialtreat.OneofthereasonsI enjoyedRamadanasachildwasbecauseChickenKachori madeanappearanceatlocalmarketsduringIftarandIwould getsoexcited.Myfavoritechildhoodmemoryaboutitis waitingforsunsetduringRamadan.Youcouldseelonglines outsideoffoodshops,hearthechaosoffamiliespreparing theirmealsforIftar,andsmelltheKachorifrying.Italways gavemecomfortknowingIwouldeatsomethingsogood afterawholedayoffasting.Beingatthetablewithmyfamily, waitingfortheadhan,breakingourfaststogether,andtalking createdsomememoriesIwillneverforget.AsIhavegotten older,thosemomentsgivemesentimentalfeelingsaswell. Foodteachesmetoappreciatefamilytraditions.Chicken KachorirepresentsthekindnessandhospitalityofPakistan. Howfoodisusedtobringpeopletogetherduringtimesof Ramadanwhetheritisyourrelatives,neighbors,orguestsinto yourhome.Tomeitsymbolizesmorethanjustasnack.It’ s specialmemories,family,tradition,andhomethatwillwarm youforyears.
Pakistanwillalwaysbehometome becausethatiswheremyfamily lives,theplacewhereIwasborn.I wasraisedPakistani,surrounding myselfwithourtraditionsgrowing up.Myfavoritememoriesarefrom whenIlivedthere.EventhoughI amacrosstheworldfrommyhome, IstillfeelconnectedtoPakistan throughfoodIwouldeatgrowing upandreligioustraditionswe follow.Foodrepresentssomething moretomeinmyculture.Itis family,comingtogetherto celebrate,hospitality,andcreating momentswithothers.Oneofmy favoritetraditionsIenjoyedwith myfamilywassittingaroundthe tableeatingfoodandbeingpresent duringcertainreligiousholidays. Ramadanhasalwaysbeenaholiday thatfeltsowarmingand sentimentaltome.Theatmosphere duringthismonthisdifferent. Familiesspendmoretimetogether, marketsarecrowdedbeforeiftar, andyoucanfeeltheexcitementin theair.
Lechon Pork Belly directions ingredients Forthepastrydough
All-purposeflour
Gheeorbutter
Salt Water
Forthe
Shreddedchickenfilling cookedchicken
Gratedcarrots
Finelychoppedbellpepper
Salt
Blackpepper
Garlicpowder
Chiliflakes
Vinegar
Soysauce
Chiligarlicsauceorketchup
Creamormilk
ForassemblingCornstarchandfrying
Oil
Oilfordeepfrying
Ketchuporchutneyforserving
1.Mixflour,ghee,andsaltinabowl.Slowlyaddwaterandkneaduntilyougetafirmdough.Itshould notbetoosoft.Kneadforabout2–3minutes,thencoverandletitrest.
2Heatalittleoilinapan.Addshreddedchicken,gratedcarrots,choppedbellpepper,salt,pepper, garlicpowder,chiliflakes,vinegar,andsoysauce.
3Cookfor2–3minutesuntilthevegetablessoftenslightly.Addchiligarlicsauceorketchup,thenadd alittlecreamormilktomakethefillingmoist.Mixwellandsetaside.
4.Preparethepastrylayers
5.Mixcornstarchandoiltogethertomakeaslurry.
6Dividethedoughintosmallequalballs.Rolloneballintoathincircle.Brushalittlecornstarchslurry ontop.
7.Foldthetopandbottomtowardthecenter,thenfoldagainlikeabook.Turnitandrepeatthefold fromtheotherdirectionsoitbecomesasmallsquarewithlayers.Repeatwithalldoughballs.
8.Roll each folded piece into a thin square or circle. Place about 2 TBSPS of chicken filling in the center.
9Bringthecornerstogetherandpinchtightlytoseal.Twistandremoveanyextradoughfromthetop soitcooksproperly.
10.Keeptheshapedkachoriscoveredwithadamppapertowelsotheydonotdryout.
11Heatoilinawokordeeppanonmediumheat.Theoilshouldnotbetoohot.Asmallpieceofdough shouldrisetothetopinabout3seconds.
12.PlacetheKachoriupsidedownfirst,withthesealedknotsidefacingtheoil.Fryforabout8–10 minutesonthatside,thenflipandfryanother2–3minutesuntilgoldenbrown.Totalfryingtimeis usuallyaround12–14minutes.
J O S H U A H A M O Y
About the Artist I am a Filipino American. I moved to the U.S. when I was 8 years old. I am currently a cook working in one of the dining halls, Bruin Plate Residential Restaurant at UCLA.
Feeling at home to me is when I am able to spend time with my family and enjoy food and each other's company. The dish that means a lot to me would be Lechon Pork Belly. I usually cook this dish when there is a family event where we all bring food and celebrate a special occasion. I make this dish because I have a lot of family members from Cebu and other Southern parts of the Philippines where slow cooked pork is served during special occasions. I use pork belly since it is easier to source and is simpler to cook than a whole pig, like what is normally done in the Philippines.
Azuma Restaurant I’ m an artist, and a student at UCLA about to graduate with my B.A. in Sociology. Azuma is a Japanese restaurant located in Gardena, CA. It’ s one of the few places I’ ve continued going to since I was a child, and it's one of those special places my family would only go to for birthdays or other celebrations. I like to order the beef teriyaki with the sashimi combo. I also like to steal tempura from my moms plate.
Memories in Azuma This restaurant is one of the few places I’ ve continued going to since I was a child, and it's one of those special places my family would only go to for birthdays or other celebrations. I like to order the beef teriyaki with the sashimi combo. I also like to steal tempura from my moms plate. I don’t know how my mom found this place, but it probably has something to do with her being Japanese and us growing up nearby. I have so many memories with this restaurant, and it feels like even after all these years nothing has changed. I love Azuma and I think everyone should go if you ' re in Gardena. The owners also run a bowling alley + restaurant called Gardena Bowl, another amazing place to eat at.
Alamang ingredients Pork (more fatty side) (500 grams)
Sugar (1 cup)
Chili (green) (2 chili)
Onion (2 medium size; yellow or white)
directions 1.Take a Sieve (salaan)
2.Wash fermented shrimp – to take out saltiness
3.“Piga” – squeeze with hands
4.Mince garlic, chilis, and onions
5.4. Cut pork belly (in small strips b/c if its big – it becomes a different dish called “Binagoongan”
6. Sautee pork – don't disregard oil because you can reuse them for flavoring (like bagoong rice)
7.Add cloves of garlic (the more the merrier)
8.Add the minced onion, shrimp paste, and sugar (up to taste)
9. Slice one or two regular size chilis then cut it in slices –take off the seeds (more spicy with it)
10.When done, last thing is the chili
11.Let it simmer!
“My Mama Embodies Resistance” Myfamilyhasneverfelttheprivilegesofbeingfinanciallystable,somyP(Inay)mama constantlyremindedme,“Pearl,educationissomethingthatnoonecantakeawayfrom you. ”Thiswasnotjustamerequoteusedtomotivateme,sheembodiedit.Despitethe manylayersofobstaclessheendured,likebecomingamotheratanearlyage,mymom didnotletithinderthevoyageofobtainingaBachelorsinNursinginthePhilippines.My journeyinacademiaisnothingshortofmymother’seffortsofinstillingapieceofher resistance.Throughoutthisjourney,wearebothgroundedthroughtheremindersofour experiencesoflivingasalow-incomefamily,butoverflowingwithabundance through loveandresistance.Throughmy“kwentuhan”withmymother,MariaAcosta,she explorestheconstantinherlife:Alamang.Thisisafermentedshrimppastethatisusedin manyFilipinodishes,butalsoasacompatiblepairingwithmangoes!Mymotheralso learnedthisdishwhenshefirstbecameamother,aperiodofnewbeginnings.Through thesimplicityofalamang,mymotherisremindedthatherstruggleisapartofher, despitethemanyyearsthathavepassed.Itremindsherofthestrugglessheonce endured,asanindividualandasamother.Throughthispiece,Ihopesheisremindedthat sheisanembodimentofresistance,onethatinspiresherchildren.
Thissimplesidedishisspecialtome becausemydearestmother,Maria Acosta,istheinformantofthisbeloved dish/dippingsauce.Shefirstlearnedto makethisdishwhenshebecameafirsttimemother,navigatingmotherhood. Simultaneously,earningwagestoprovide forherfamily(financiallyandthrough sustenance).Aftermanyyears,sheisstill movedbythepowerofthisdish –its powertoconnectourfamilydespiteits simplicity.MysisterandIalwaysrequest thisdishbecauseitissimpleandmy favoritefruitismangoes.Mymomalso makesthisuponrequestandmaybe whenshefeelsboastfulabouther creation(lol)emphasizingthetaste differencebetweenhomemadeandstorebought.Sinceitisfermented,itisagood stapletohaveinstockinyour refrigerator!Overall,Ifeelconnectedto mymotheronadeeperlevelbecauseI learnedthatthisdishmeantsomuchto herasmuchasitmeanstome.
