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Chef Checkin Celebrating Filipino Cuisine with Chef Isi Laureano:

Offering insights into Filipino hospitality, culinary heritage, and the value of pursuing one’s passion, this conversational check-in interview features Chef Isi Laureano, reflecting on her journey as a chef and entrepreneur in the Philippines. Isi shares experiences from the pandemic, describing how lockdowns impacted her private chef career and led to a shift toward home-based cooking and food delivery.

The conversation highlights the evolution of Isi’s business ventures, including the creation of Chili Asylum, a brand focused on spicy products sourced from Filipino farmers, and her long-standing involvement with Traveling Spoon, where she hosts intimate Filipino cooking classes and food tours. Isi emphasizes the importance of family traditions, regional Filipino cuisine, and the adaptability required to thrive in changing circumstances.

Exploring the diversity of Filipino food, the role of local ingredients and cooking methods, and the cultural significance of rice cakes (kakanin) as a national culinary symbol, Isi discusses the challenges and rewards of teaching, collaborating with other chefs, and maintaining work-life balance. The conversation concludes with reflections on personal growth, advice for navigating career stress, and ways to connect with Isi online.

00:00 Introduction to Chef Isi Laureano

01:34 Reconnecting and Reflecting on the Pandemic

05:49 The Birth of Chili Asylum

08:12 From Spices to Chili Products

13:12 The Evolution of Haynayan Ketchups

15:59 Traveling Spoon and Culinary Tours

20:03 Malabon Food Tour and Local Heritage

26:42 Finding Passion in the Kitchen

27:11 Dreams of a Filipino Deli

27:56 Recognition and Local Bookings

29:40 Challenges of a Demanding Client

32:31 Rediscovering Joy in Cooking

36:30 A Memorable Trip to Washington

40:48 The Philippines' National Dish Debate

43:42 Regional Cooking Styles in the Philippines

48:59 Final Thoughts and Farewell

Connect with Chef Isi:

https://eatmattersph.wixsite.com/eatmatters
https://www.instagram.com/eatmattersph/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/isilaureano/

Recent artice about Chef Isi:

https://sawasdee.thaiairways.com/cooking-with-the-quiet-ambassador-of-filipino-cuisine/

Original  episode:

https://www.voice4chefs.com/cooking-through-the-philippines-with-isi-laureano-of-eat-matters/

Season2

Welcome Chef Steven Leung as our new cohost.

IG: themindfulwok

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