Filipino culture & cuisine: An interview with Ramar Foods
Filipino cuisine was listed in many articles as one of the hottest ethnic trends for 2016, and that trend is sure to carry over to this year as well. As consumers become more aware of the differences in regional cuisine, a generic term like “Asian food” doesn’t really satisfy anymore. While some of the native dishes to the Philippines have close ties to dishes from Japan or China, there are other influences at play that make the food stand out.
Ramar Foods is a third-generation producer of Filipino cuisine, located in Pittsburg, Calif. Since its start in the 1960s, the company has produced more than one billion lumpia (a Filipino-style spring roll). It also makes, under a variety of brand names, filled steamed buns, meat skewers, longanisa sausages and ice cream. I had the chance to speak with PJ Quesada, vice president of Ramar Foods, about not only his family’s business but also about Filipino food trends in general.