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This Alaska City Has a Thriving Filipino Food Scene—and It's Breeding a New Fusion Cuisine

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Summary

Juneau, Alaska's capital, is home to a long history of Filipino chefs and a thriving Filipino food culture. The culture dates back to the late 1700s when Filipino immigrants came to Alaska for gold mining and cannery jobs, and the community has remained strong since then. Traditional dishes like adobo and lumpia can be found in family-owned restaurants that have been around for decades, while new fusion dishes like sweet and sour foraged greens and pasta with a miso sauce are being created by innovating chefs. Food is an important part of the Filipino culture, and the new generation is bringing unique flavors to the cuisine while still being inspired by local ingredients.

Q&As

What is the history of Filipino immigration to Alaska?
The biggest wave of Filipino immigration to Alaska occurred in the early 1900s when the U.S. temporarily held colonial power over The Philippines. Later, in the 1920s, more immigrants came to Alaska due to the boom of gold mining and an increase in cannery jobs. Filipino immigration is still substantial in Alaska due to family ties and continued job opportunities.

What are some traditional Filipino dishes served in Juneau?
Popular Filipino dishes served in Juneau include adobo, lumpia, BBQ, dinuguan, silog, sinagang, pancit, and more.

How has the Filipino community in Alaska kept their culture alive through food?
Food plays an important role in the Filipino community, and communal settings and dishes are a big part of the culture back in The Philippines. In Juneau, Filipino immigrants and cruise workers line up at food carts for dishes that remind them of home.

How are Filipino chefs in Juneau creating unique fusion dishes?
New generations of Filipino chefs are bringing innovation and unique flavors to Filipino cooking. Dishes are being created with Alaskan-Filipino fusions, such as sweet and sour foraged greens or pasta with a miso sauce. Restaurants are focusing on keeping it local and foraging for fresh ingredients to create a uniquely Alaskan flavor.

How has the Filipino cuisine in Juneau embodied the relationship between Alaska and The Philippines?
The Filipino cuisine in Juneau encapsulates the relationship between Alaska and The Philippines with family-owned restaurants serving time-tested comfort food and up-and-coming chefs creating dishes inspired by their neighbors just as much as they are by local ingredients. The Tlingit Nation has created its own adobo which includes apple cider vinegar and pickling spice, and the Utqiagvik people have made whale lumpia, which is as Alaskan as it is Filipino.

AI Comments

👍 This article is an amazing look at how Filipino cuisine has evolved over time in Alaska, and how the Filipino community has grown and adapted to become a part of the local culinary scene.

👎 This article fails to acknowledge the significant influence of other cultures on Alaskan cuisine, and the lack of diversity in ingredients used in Filipino cuisine.

AI Discussion

Me: It's about the thriving Filipino food scene in Juneau, Alaska and how it is creating a new fusion cuisine. It talks about how Filipino immigrants first arrived in Alaska in the late 1700s and the role food plays in the Filipino community. It also mentions how some restaurants are experimenting with new flavors and how indigenous cultures are incorporating Filipino flavors into their dishes.

Friend: That's really interesting! It sounds like a unique cultural experience. It's great to see that Filipino culture is thriving in the US and being appreciated.

Me: Yeah, it's really cool to see how the culture is being embraced and how it has evolved over the years. It's also great to see how Filipino flavors are being incorporated into dishes from other cultures. It's a testament to the power of food to bring people together.

Action items

Research Filipino restaurants in Juneau and plan a visit to experience the unique fusion cuisine.
Learn more about the history of Filipino immigration to Alaska and the role food plays in the Filipino community.
Support local Filipino restaurants in Juneau by ordering takeout or delivery, or by leaving a positive review online.

Technical terms

Adobo: A traditional Filipino dish made with meat, seafood, or vegetables marinated in a mixture of soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, and other spices.
Lumpia: A type of Filipino spring roll filled with vegetables, meat, or seafood.
Dinuguan: A Filipino stew made with pork or beef offal cooked in a rich, spicy gravy of pig’s blood, garlic, and vinegar.
Silog: A Filipino breakfast dish made with garlic fried rice, a fried egg, and a choice of meat.
Sinagang: A Filipino soup made with tamarind, pork, and vegetables.
Alaskeros: Filipino immigrants who came to Alaska in the early 1900s.
Tagalog: The largest cultural-linguistic group in The Philippines.
Fusion Cuisine: A type of cuisine that combines elements of different culinary traditions.