AT TIENDESITAS along C-5 near Ortigas Avenue, parking becomes a problem especially at dinnertime on weekends. Filipino families, balikbayans, and tourists flock to this shopping and entertainment village to buy locally made items (handicrafts, clothes, and more) and to eat.

The choices are varied—you can have sisig, inasal, bibingka, Cebu lechon, tuna panga, kare-kare and more at the many stalls and restaurants. At the Activity Center, there is even a cultural dance presentation, with dancers showing off the traditional dances of the Igorots, Tagalogs, Visayans and Muslims.

Recently, there seems to be a boom in restaurants specializing in Filipino cuisine in the country. On the fine dining and casual dining side, we have Abe and Fely J of the LJC Group; Chef Laudico’s Bistro Filipino at the Fort; Travel Café Philippines, Café Bola, and Sentro 1771 in Greenbelt; Adarna on Kalayaan Avenue in Quezon City; KKK at SM North Edsa Annex and Mall of Asia; Serye in Parañaque and Quezon City Circle; Pamana in Tagaytay; and so much more. On the fast-food side, Davao Tuna Grill is attracting loyal diners.

In her talk “Next Big Thing in the Foodservice Industry” given at the Top Menu Masters 2009 Foodservice Conference at Blue Leaf Pavilion in Taguig, Nana Ozaeta, editor-in-chief of F&B World magazine, said Filipino cuisine is one of the next big things to watch out for. “Filipino is finally in,” she said. “There is more variety and sophistication. Filipino cuisine is not taken for granted anymore.”

She noted too that a lot of Filipinos are now more interested in Pinoy food, and there is much research and media coverage (both local and international) being done now on Filipino food. In 2007, Andrew Zimmern featured Filipino food in his show Bizarre Foods. And last year, celebrity chefs Anthony Bourdain of No Reservations and Bobby Chinn of World Café Asia went to the country to shoot and sample our dishes. The Philippines also made it to international food magazine Saveur’s December 2008 issue.

So finally Filipino food is getting the attention it deserves. Good news for Filipino entrepreneurs in the food business and for all Filipinos as well