Intentionalist: Where to Celebrate Filipino American History Month in Seattle

by Kristina Rivera

The intentionalist is based on a simple idea: Where we spend our money matters. We make it easy to find and get to know small businesses and the diverse people behind them, and to help them make daily decisions about where to eat, drink and shop. #SpendLikeItMatters

October is the month of Filipino American History, and we at Intentionalist encourage you to spend #SpendLikeItMatters in the incredible Filipino Small Businesses in the area.

The Filipino American History Month was recognized by the state in 2009 and draws attention to the important role Filipinos played in American history. Filipino Americans are the second largest Asian American group in the United States. The Philippines is made up of over 7,000 islands, each with their own unique cuisine and culture, so the experiences of Filipino Americans can be similarly diverse and unique.

This month is not just about honoring the rich history of Filipino Americans, but also celebrating the Filipino Americans who are making history today. Here are three restaurants in the Seattle area celebrating their Filipino history and heritage while building a heritage for themselves:

archipelago

Amber Manuguid (left) and Aaron Verzosa (right) plate dishes in the Hillman City archipelago. (Photo: Jackie Warren)

Amber Manuguid and Aaron Verzosa combine their passion for sharing Filipino-American history and culture with their upbringing in the Pacific Northwest at their Archipelago restaurant in Hillman City. First and foremost, Archipelago is about storytelling. Your 8-12-course tasting menu (depending on the season) takes guests on a journey through three waves of Filipino-American immigration to the region with ingredients from the PNW.

Amber and Aaron are one of a kind fit for the job – Amber’s background is in the area of ​​experience design and she contributes well thought-out elements to the culinary experience in the Archipelago. Her mission is to use her talents to create awareness of Filipino history and culture and uplift the Filipino people around them. Aaron has now worked in fine dining for years. He noticed the lack of diversity and representation in fine dining, not just from Filipino Americans like him, but from blacks, indigenous peoples, and coloreds across the board. Together, their goal at Archipelago is to remain authentic to their experiences as Filipino Americans growing up at PNW and to promote diversity in all areas of the culinary world and food systems.

“As children of parents with a migrant background, we felt it was our responsibility to make and realize a dream that was about fighting and overcoming hardship despite discrimination. For us, it was about representing this story, this story, not just the Filipino wave of immigration from our parents, but also the waves of immigration that preceded it. ”

– Aaron Verzosa

CheBogz Filipino Food truck

The burger joint Feed Co. Burgers is nestled in the Central District. Co-Owner Chef Francis Fernandez is a first-generation Filipino American whose parents immigrated to California from the Philippines in the 1980s. He always dreamed of having his own business and first opened a poke truck, which taught him a lot about building one from scratch. He later moved to his co-owner of Feed Co., Lan Bun, and has served delicious, fresh burgers with seasonal PNW ingredients ever since.

Francis’ favorite part about running Feed Co. is the neighborhood around him and the people in it. He loves talking to people in the Central District, learning about its history, and helping his community whenever he can. Last Christmas they closed the restaurant to business, but Francis was there with friends and family to feed the community. They made 220 hot meals and 160 packed lunches and collected enough donations to make 160 sets of scarves, thermal socks, hats, gloves and hygiene kits.

Bonus: You can now find Feed Co. Burgers at their new location at 7130 Woodlawn Avenue Northeast in Greenlake!

“Me, [Filipino American History Month is] celebrate where I come from. My family moved to California in the 1980s. I am the first child born in the USA. When I grew up here in Washington, I didn’t hang out with many Filipinos. But for me it’s the food and how it brings us all together. ”

– Chef Francis Fernandez

Kristina Rivera is the Marketing and Communication Coordinator at Intentionalist. She holds a degree in Journalism and Public Relations from Western Washington University and has worked with organizations ranging from local nonprofits to global public relations firms.

📸 Pictured picture: Madrona smoked hazelnut suman, Lola Smith apple caramel, elderflower leche flan pudding and young pine from the archipelago. (Photo courtesy of the archipelago)

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