FOOD FOR THE BLOGS

Gone are the days when people would pore over volumes of glossy magazines and gourmet books in search for the perfect recipe or to simply expand one’s culinary knowledge. Thanks to the wonders of modern technology. With a few keyboard strokes and mouse clicks, the world wide web, and the abundance of creative and tech-savvy minds around it, has given a new dimension to the culinary research experience – the food blogs!

In recent years, the net has become inundated with highly-informative food sites called food blogs. Thus, food blogging events were born. One such event – the popular “Is My Blog Burning?” or IMBB has attracted food bloggers around the world to post entries based on themes that changed on a monthly basis. The entries reveal facets of other cultures through their food, cuisine, eating habits, ingredients, aesthetics and culture.

Unknown to most, an interesting horde of Filipino food bloggers [from different professions] scattered around the world has banded together to create an online community through a centralized portal and a monthly Pinoy food blogging event aptly called Lasang Pinoy [www.lasangpinoy.com], in the tradition of the IMBB events. Last month, Lasang Pinoy celebrated its first anniversary.

What is Lasang Pinoy and how did it develop?

“The idea came from a discussion Stef [ Stefoodie ] and I had. We were talking about Filipino food in general - how we’re still trying to find our culinary identity and how this reflects so much on our culture. That’s actually more of where I was coming from. Stef had a different but very compatible perspective,” says Karen de Sta. Rita [ The Pilgrims Post and Pans ], an ethno-wiz based in the Philippines.

“In May 2005 Karen and I were talking about other food blogs. I remember specifically ‘Marketmanila’ was one of them, and ‘Is My Blog Burning?’ Karen encouraged me to join the IMBB. I wasn’t sure I wanted to because it was a bit intimidating. Karen reminded me that it wasn’t competitive - but she also didn’t warn me that participation could get addictive!” says Stef Patag [ Stefoodie ], a mother to four kids based in the US.

Stef added, “My apprehension about joining IMBB had more to do with being a newbie, but then we got to talking about the Pinoy’s insecurities about our own food because of misconceptions that others have about it, how we feel like it’s been ignored and/or has received bad press in the past, etc. We both have our ideas about why and how to correct this. I half-jokingly said we should have a Pinoy bloggers cookbook, for two reasons: one, that it would be a nice idea for a side-project since I’m writing one; and two, I thought it’d be a good project for a group that’s growing like ours was. There was no “group” then but we both noticed that the number of Pinoy food bloggers was on the rise. Karen suggested then that we should start out with our own version of IMBB first and see how that goes before we tackle a major project like a cookbook.”

Pinoy Food Bloggers Unite

With the desire for Filipino food to make its mark on the world culinary map, Lasang Pinoy food blogging event was launched in August 2005.

Lasang Pinoy which could mean “a taste of something Filipino” or “the Filipino taste” envisions bringing awareness to Filipino food and cuisine by encouraging Filipino food bloggers to join, as well as those of Filipino ancestry who consider themselves Filipino or, at least, part-Filipino. And in the tradition of “Is My Blog Burning?” participants post entries to Lasang Pinoy events according to a common topic each month.

The first Lasang Pinoy event went online on the 22nd death anniversary of Ninoy Aquino. The theme “Remembering Ninoy” asked participants to write about food they associate with the years between Ninoy’s death and Peoples Power revolt in 1986 that sent the Marcoses to their exile in Hawaii.

The second event in September came when the whole world focused in on the destruction brought about by hurricane Katrina. Here, participants “Cooked Up A Storm” and wrote about food associated with storms.

In October, the bloggers trooped to the streets with an adventurous “Pinoy Street Food” theme, and November had a comforting subject of “Food for the Soul.”

The December event, hosted by this author, was in a festive mood with “Pinoy Christmas Around the World” theme, while 2006 kicked-off with “Pulutan Time!” [Finger Foods] round in January.

February had a hearty “Almusal” [Breakfast] theme. The “Kusinang Bulilit, Lutong Paslit” [Cooking with Kids] theme of March had parents and kids experimenting in the kitchens ala-Iron Chefs.

In April, out came “Lamang-Loob” [Offal] as the theme. The May and June events lingered on topics about “Food Memories from Childhood” and “Summer Memories and Summer Coolers” respectively. Capping the year’s blogging events in July, participants dabbled on fusion cuisine with a “Distinctly Pinoy with a Twang” theme.

And for its fist anniversary in August, the theme “Definitive Pinoy” asked the bloggers to go back and write about what it is that makes them Pinoy.

The future of Lasang Pinoy

Pondering on the unexpected achievement of the group over the past year, Karen says: “Food blogging will never be the same now that we have ‘Lasang Pinoy.’ Personally, my main reason for writing about hometown food was for my younger relatives abroad who know and eat the food but somehow were disconnected from its origins. I try to research about it to make them better appreciate the food and the culture behind it. In the process, I learn so much myself and this has made me more aware and proud of our culture. We are in search of our identity and if food be the way to finding it, then by all means let’s plunge into the water feet first.” [ LOL! ]

With Lasang Pinoy, participants have found a common ground and an opportunity to showcase diversity. Not only do they self-consciously write about “fiesta food,” but they have become braver and unapologetically featured regional food considered too exotic to write about or not properly written about in the mainstream media.

Lasang Pinoy is a realization that there is an eager audience for Filipino food writing. Because there is a dearth of information about regional Filipino food, what is written online oftentimes becomes one of the few or even THE source for those surfing for information. Just imagine what responsibility this entails? With this community found, there is now a healthy exchange of information. This has of course led to better writing and there’s no turning back, no regression.