GMA Brandtalk
Tracking
Archives
Why did Netflix choose Cebu as their Philippine destination for ‘Street Food Asia’?
When news broke earlier this month that Cebu is among the nine destinations to be featured in a new Netflix documentary centered on food, not a few asked: Why Cebu?
The short answer is “Why not?”
Cebu is a haven of culinary delights: from fine dining (hello, Ñ and Pig and Palm) to the deliciously accessible street food like sugbo (grilled meat) and pungko-pungko (platter of finger food) to, of course, lechon.
It’s no wonder the team behind the Emmy-nominated show Chef’s Table chose the Queen City of the South as their first Philippine destination in their newest show Street Food Asia.
At the show’s launch on April 24 at Toyo Eatery, GMA News Online spoke with two Cebuanos who helped the Netflix team flesh out the Philippine episode: award-winning author and chef Tatung Sarthou and veteran journalist Jude Bacalso.
RELATED: Fresh tips and recommendations from ‘Cebu City Tourist Map’ insider
It was Jude’s article about Tatay Entoy’s Bakasi (reef eel) in the March 2018 issue of Smile Magazine that caught the eye of the production team. When Jude got the call and she found out it was the people behind Chef’s Table, she said she literally screamed.
Netflix’s production team was very specific about what they were looking for: something that hasn’t been seen before.
“I believe they chose Cebu over Manila because there are already thousands of videos about the street food in Manila like fishball, sisig, and kwek kwek. Why would they go all the way here to make a documentary about something that they can just Google?” Tatung, a native of Talisay, Cebu, pointed out.
“More than the food itself, they want a story behind the dish,” Jude adds.
It was the stories of tireless men and women that served as threads in the vibrant Cebuano culinary tapestry that enticed the production team.
“I’ve been writing about Tatay Entoy and his Bakasi for a while now," Jude said. "I’ve even brought other publications from here and abroad to try the Bakasi, but I’ve only known about Tatay Entoy’s story [when we worked with Netflix]. It’s an incredibly touching story.”
The local heroes shared how the team refused to change or stage anything during the shooting. They filmed the featured heroes and food in all their natural glory, preserving its grit and grace that only their team can do.
“[When they watch Street Food Asia] I hope they’ll understand that we’re just scratching the surface right now,” Jude said when asked about the message of the show.
“Us Cebuanos will be the first to admit that Cebu is not the best representation of the street food culture of the entire Philippines, but we hope through this show, the audience will understand that there’s so much more to explore, to taste, to try. We’re just scratching the surface.”
“Filipinos have a very deep, very intimate relationship with food. To a certain extent, we can say our cuisine is our identity. What we serve is a reflection of ourselves,” Tatung said.
“For storytellers like us, seeing our stories come to life is an incredible feeling,” Jude mused. “But to see it get the 'Chef’s Table' treatment while highlighting the food you grew up with, it just makes me feel so proud to be a Filipino.” — LA, GMA News
Street Food Asia will start streaming on April 26, Friday, 3pm (Manila time).
