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PR-2022-30

Toronto, 29 April – The Philippine Consulate General in Toronto went to the Philippine lechon hotspot of North York for an early dinner at Wilson’s Haus of Lechon together with members of the Philippine media based in Toronto. They were greeted by the inviting aroma of roasted chicken and pork being deliciously cooked, Cebuano-style, in front of the store. The simple dining area and carinderia-style food presentation of the Wilson’s Haus of Lechon definitely puts their well-known menu front and center for the steady flow of clients to easily view, choose from, order and enjoy their favorite lechon dishes cooked in the traditional Cebuano way.

Wilson’s Haus of Lechon is a family-owned and -run restaurant in Toronto’s “Little Manila” which has long been one of the go-to places for Filipinos longing for the nostalgic taste of barbequed chicken and pork, as well as crispy pork belly, cooked according to the home-cooked recipes of the Martinito family. Their warm and friendly staff ensures that you feel the care Wilson’s Haus of Lechon puts into their food and service.

</cFor their participation in the Filipino Restaurant Month 2022 (FRM 2022), Wilson’s Haus of Lechon emphasized their dedication to their regional style of cuisine by utilizing palm leaf woven mini baskets, which they lined with banana leaves, as vessels for their prix fixe menu. Ms. Jaeybee Martinito shared that they carefully sourced these mini baskets from crafters from the Cebu region of the Philippines. They also chose to offer three prix fixe sets for diners to choose from during the FRM 2022. Each of the chicken barbeque, pork barbeque and pork longanisa prix fixe set is served with a side of garlicky fried rice, pork belly and their home-made dipping sauces. All are Filipino comfort food that hit the right spots of Filipinos longing for the taste of home. END—

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PR-2022-28

Toronto, 29 April – Philippine Consul General Orontes V. Castro and members of the Philippine press in Toronto joined the lunch crowd at Casa Manila to enjoy the three Kamayan feast sets that it offered as its prix fixe menu for the Filipino Restaurant Month 2022 (FRM 2022). The Kamayan Premium Mixed Set, Kamayan Premium Seafood Set and Kamayan Premium Vegan Set are served in Philippine crafted plates lined with banana leaves brimming with Filipino dishes, with each set easily able to satisfy even if shared by two or three diners.

Casa Manila’s Kamayan Premium Mixed Set includes chicken crackling chicharon, shrimp inasal skewer, grilled beef ribs or inihaw na baka, crispy pork belly or lechon kawali, BBQ chicken skewers, a choice between steamed or garlic rice, pickled cucumber, tomatoes and papaya slaw, with house made dipping sauces. Its Kamayan Premium Seafood Set has chicken crackling chicharon, shrimp inasal skewer, milkfish or daing na bangus (quarter cut), crispy baby squid or pritong pusit, coconut ginger vegetables, tropical vegetables with shrimp paste or pinakbet, a choice between steamed or garlic rice, pickled cucumber, tomatoes and papaya slaw, with house made dipping sauces. While the Kamayan Premium Vegan Set offers vegetable spring rolls or lumpia, BBQ tofu skewers, tofu and vegetable adobo, coconut ginger vegetables, vegan vegetable chopsuey, a choice between steamed or garlic rice, pickled cucumber, tomatoes and papaya slaw, with house made dipping sauces. Each of the Kamayan Premium Set is served with a choice of Casa Manila’s favorite desserts, the Ultimate Halo-Halo, Buko Pandan Con Hielo or Mais Con Hielo. A Kalamansi Mocktail is also served as beverage.

Proving that it’s more fun in the Philippines, the serving of each Kamayan Premiun Set at Casa Manila is accompanied by fanfare, with enthusiastic and rhythmic clapping of the Casa Manila service staff, which is usually headed by its Chef-Owner Mila Nabor-Cuachon. Another interesting fact is that Chef Cuachon was the Philippines’ representative to the Miss World Pageant held in London in 1980 after winning Miss World-Philippines. With Casa Manila, she now proudly represents Philippine cuisine in Canada and has faithfully done so for over a decade. Chef Mila shared that Casa Manila has bookings for their FRM 2022 prix fixe menu beyond the April Filipino Food Month. Consul General Castro noted with appreciation that majority of Casa Manila’s patron are locals or non-Filipinos. END—  

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PR-2022-29

Toronto, 29 April – A long queue of people, majority of whom were non-Filipinos, stood in front of the Republika Restobar and Grill patiently waiting for their barbeque order, and judging from the aroma wafting through the air, their wait was definitely worth it.

The Philippine Consulate General in Toronto headed to the Republika Restobar and Grill with members of the Philippine media based in Toronto coming from an early dinner at another FRM participating restaurant and thinking that they would just have a quick taste of Republika’s FRM 2022 prix fixe offering and stay a while to enjoy the lively music of the brave diners coming up the restobar’s stage to perform their karaoke songs. Little did they know that the Republika Restobar and Grill’s food is as enjoyable as its night entertainment, and as good an excuse to stay longer to experience Republika’s full package of great food, music and service.

For the Filipino Restaurant Month 2022, the Republika Restobar and Grill confidently offered only one prix fixe set consisting of an ukoy appetizer, a main course of lechon baka with rice, and ube ice cream with banana turon for dessert. The dish description seemed unassuming but when finally served, the dishes aimed to visually awe and please the palate. The prix fixe arrived in generous portions and each dish delicious and sure to make you think of a return visit to the restaurant to enjoy them once again.

Republika Restobar and Grill’s choice of roasted or barbequed beef as it’s prix fixe main dish for the FRM 2022 is a good introduction to first time diners of Philippine cuisine and the restaurant’s menu choices, for its taste leaves no doubt that it is one of the best beef barbeque there is. Diners would think that If it is an indication of the quality and portions of the rest of the dishes in Republika’s menu, then the succeeding visits to Republika Restobar and Grill should warrant a gustatory journey of tasting its other Filipino dishes, notably its Kare-Kare and Filipino street food style barbeque choices. END—

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PR-2022-26

Toronto, 22 April 2022 – The Philippine Consulate General in Toronto would like to inform the public on the launch of Fun Philippines, a new Filipino street festival in the City of Toronto. The festival is being organized by the Philippine Legacy and Cultural Alliance (PLACA), a not-for-profit Filipino Canadian community organization. According to Ms. Teresa Torralba, Executive Director of PLACA, Fun Philippines is expected to celebrate 2022 with food, music and cultural presentations in an all embracing and inclusive way to be held in the Bathurst Street and Wilson Avenue in the City of Toronto.

Ms. Torralba further explained that the Fun Philippines is expected to provide attention to the unique flavors, history and culture of each Philippine region and the country’s three major island groups. Aside from showcasing food and craft vendors, it is expected for a more collaborative participation from Filipino Canadian community organizations in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) by putting up colorful and vibrant parades exhibiting Philippine regional festivals, as well as lively street activities and Philippine cultural installations. END-