Chef Francis Ang of Abacá and Pinoy Heritage
Cover Chef Francis Ang of Abacá and Pinoy Heritage

Chef Francis Ang, the lauded chef behind Pinoy Heritage and San Francisco's newest Filipino restaurant Abacá, on the Philippine restaurants he can't wait to visit

Thanks to proud, talented Pinoy chefs like Francis Ang, Filipino food is steadily entering the gastronomic lexicon of diners around the world. Although he spent much of his childhood in Manila, Ang made the move to San Francisco at just 19 years old, returning to his hometown to commence his culinary studies. As he completed his studies and enjoyed a promising start in the restaurant industry, Ang and his wife Dian often journeyed to the Philippines, determined to learn about the regional cuisines that enrich our archipelago. But after a devastating typhoon left thousands of Filipino families displaced, Ang was inspired to hold a fundraiser back in the United States to support the typhoon victims while showcasing Filipino cuisine–a culinary event that would soon evolve into the pop-up restaurant Pinoy Heritage.

See also: A Taste of Home With Drew Barrymore's Chef, Filipina Pilar Valdes

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Abacá's Filipino-Californian cuisine
Above Abacá's Filipino-Californian cuisine
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Abacá's dining room
Above Abacá's dining room

True to its name, Pinoy Heritage celebrates Filipino fare through bi-weekly eight-course dinners and monthly kamayan feasts, which quickly captured the attention of homesick Filipinos and discerning foodies alike. In 2018, Ang was recognised as one of San Francisco Chronicle’s Rising Star Chefs, a title he was also granted by StarChefs the following year. Just last August, Ang opened the doors to his newest restaurant Abacá: a contemporary Filipino-Californian restaurant that offers everything from BBQ sticks to ube cocktails, and of course, a healthy array of rice and pancit dishes to boot.

As busy as he may be, Ang continues to long for the mouthwatering dishes he enjoyed on his expeditions throughout the Philippines. Find out what chef Francis Ang looks forward to eating on his next visit home and where he gets A Taste of Home, here:

See also: The Food Evangelists: Meet The People Promoting Filipino Cuisine Across The Globe

What do you miss most on the food/drink front when you are away from the Philippines or haven’t been back for a while?  

Everytime we head back home we spend a few months traveling to different regions. Here's a few dishes that I truly miss: bulalo in Tagaytay; ginataang pako, pandesal, and salukara (fermented pancake from tuba) from Borongan City, Eastern Samar; batil patong in Tuguegarao, Cagayan; satti at Alhamdulillah in Davao; and tinutungan manok from Balay Cena Una in Daraga City, Bicol. 


What is the first dish you want to eat when you return, and where do you go for it?

My first picks would be fish balls, dirty ice cream, and ihaw-ihaw like isaw na baboy at tenga, from any street vendor. Apart from that, the oyster pancake from Mann Hann, isaw from Sarsa, and salted egg croissant from Wildflour [which is not available at the time of writing].

See also: 10 Filipino Street Food You Have To Try When Visiting The Philippines

Do you have a favourite restaurant in the Philippines? For fine dining and for more casual experiences?

My favourite restaurants would have to be Manam, Toyo Eatery, Mecha Uma, and Wildflour.

If you have visitors/guests with you, where do you go to give them a real taste of the Philippines?

I would take them to try different ihaw-ihaw, Mang Tootz, and if they have more time, travel to different provinces like Bicol, Pampanga, Iloilo, and Davao.

Where do you like to meet up with old friends for food/drinks?

The Curator, Wildflour, and OTO are my go-to spots – my favourite cafés and bars in Manila.

See also: How Are These Chefs Pushing The Boundaries of Filipino Food?

Any other must-visit food/drink spots when you are back?

I’m keen to try the newer restaurants like Metiz, and I’d love to check out Hapag again. 

Do you take any food or treats back home with you from the Philippines?

I always make sure to bring home fried garlic from Becky's Kitchen, fried pusit,tuyo, baby espada from Pangasinan, and tinapa from Calbayog.

Where do you go to find authentic flavours of home where you live?

There is this cool Facebook Group called Nor Cal Kababayan Community where you can get home-cooked regional food. They mostly sell online, but some also organise meet-ups.

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