Photo credit: Julian Sun Media – @jsun.photo
PRESENTING INDÁY, AN INAUGURAL FILIPINO CHEF EXCHANGE
Four rising young chefs from BC and Alberta are celebrating their Filipino-Canadian heritage with a special night of soulful cooking this October.
Calgary, AB, September 26, 2024 — A quartet of rising young chefs from BC and Alberta are coming together to celebrate their Filipino-Canadian heritage with the launch of Indáy, the inaugural event in a series of nationwide Filipino Chef Exchanges. Earlier this week, they kicked off the series of collaboration dinners in Vancouver with much acclaim for their two sold-out events on September 23 and 24, 2024 at Bravo. Indáy lands in Calgary for their second city stop on October 21, 2024 and tickets are now on sale via OpenTable.Indáy’s first four chefs include: Rupert Garcia, chef de cuisine of Hawthorn Dining Room at the Fairmont Palliser and Silver medallist at the 2024 Canadian Culinary Championship; JP Dublado, Bronze medallist at the 2024 Canadian Culinary Championship; Alden Ong, executive chef of Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand restaurant Farmer’s Apprentice and Grapes & Soda; and Ralph Cravalho of Gary’s on 12th.
The exciting concept was conceived by award-winning cookbook author and Canadian Culinary Championship judge Joie Alvaro Kent, who thoughtfully curated the slate of participating chefs. Brought to life with Celine Bacani, co-owner of the iconic Vancouver-based Lee’s Donuts, the duo is hoping Indáy will inspire people to learn more about Filipino cuisine beyond the usual pansit, adobo, and lumpia.
“Filipino cuisine has often been underrated or simply under-the-radar in Canada,” explains Alvaro Kent, who herself immigrated to Canada in 1974. “With Indáy, we want to nurture overall awareness of Philippine cuisine by spotlighting the talents of highly accomplished Filipino-Canadian chefs through a series of collaborative events across the country, starting in Vancouver. Chefs Garcia, Dublado, Ong, and Cravalho have each done a deep dive into third-culture cooking, and we’re excited to welcome guests to experience each of their unique creations in one place. To us, this is a soulful culinary exploration of Filipino food in Canada.”
Tickets to the 7-course Calgary dinner are $165 (inclusive of tax and gratuity), with a welcome drink included. Guests can add beverage pairings from a curated list of alcoholic and zero-proof options on-site, including cocktails featuring Tanduay Rum. The dinners will feature a collective snacks course by the chefs, followed by a dish highlighting each chef’s unique Filipino-Canadian background. Examples include: the sensibility of Kinilaw completely reimagined by Cravalho for the Meryenda (snacks) course; an innovative terrine version of comfort-food favourite Sopas by Dublado for the Pampagana (appetizer) course; a unique take on Bibingka by Ong for the Tinapay (bread) course; a collaboration on a regional Visayan fish dish by all four chefs for the Isda (fish) course; and a creative spin on Champorado by Garcia for the closing Panghigmas (dessert) course.
Guests will also be treated to special take-home sweet treats by local pastry chef Hans Suarez of LASA Chocolates and FinePrint Restaurant, and a bespoke Indáy bar by international award-winning Kasama Chocolate.
On the name, Alvaro Kent adds, ”Indáy is a simple word that taps into the soul and complexity of our experience as members of the Filipino-Canadian diaspora. It pays tribute to the precious relationships that anchor our evolving definition of home in a new country, while touching on the immeasurable struggles through which our parents willingly persevered to give their families a chance at a better life. And it acknowledges the internal divisions that exist within our own community, acting as a gentle reminder that we are stronger together than we are apart.”
Indáy | Filipino Chef Exchange
Date: Monday, October 21, 2024
Time: 6:00pm
Location: Hawthorn Room at the Fairmont Palliser Hotel
Tickets: Available online via OpenTable. $165 (inclusive of tax and gratuity), which includes a seven-course menu and a welcome drink. Guests can purchase beverage pairings from a curated list of alcoholic and zero-proof options on-site.
For more information about Indáy | Filipino Chef Exchange, please visit inday.ca and @inday.ca on Instagram.
About Indáy | Filipino Chef Exchange
Indáy spotlights Philippine cuisine through soulful culinary collaborations by talented Filipino-Canadian chefs across the country, highlighting the beautiful nature of third-culture cooking through their personal experiences. Curated by award-winning cookbook author and Canadian Culinary Championship judge Joie Alvaro Kent and brought to life together with Lee’s Donuts co-owner Celine Bacani, Indáy officially launched its inaugural event series in Vancouver, with four rising young chefs collaborating for two memorable dinners this September, before they journey to Calgary in October. Our collective goal: to celebrate our inherent differences with a spirit of curiosity, inclusivity, and exploration, along with a desire to foster widespread understanding of the cuisine and culture that nourish us.