We sit down with Jules Guiang — journalist, public servant, and third-generation food entrepreneur behind Urban Chick. We talk about the power of food memories, the unique fusion of Filipino cuisine, and how one street in Manila became a battleground for small restaurants rebuilding after the pandemic. Plus, we swap stories about Filipino spaghetti, sambal diplomacy, and the surprising identity of the Philippines as a ‘halo-halo’ culture.
Timestamps
0:00 - Intro
01:53 - Who is Jules Guiang? Urban Chick in Quezon City, growing up in Manila and family’s F&B business
05:45 - The Filipino Spaghetti and banana ketchup
08:56 - The Maginhawa Food Community (MFC)11:44 - Filipino dishes beyond adobo — from spicy Bicol Express to Pampanga’s Sisig
14:45 - How religious traditions influence Filipino food: eating fish and mungo during Lent; sticky rice cakes food stalls outside churches
21:23 - Representation of Filipino food abroad
26:37 - Filipino food: fusion vs authenticity; Filipino culture is Halo-Halo
29:53 - Sambal Survey
32:58 - Looking ahead: Urban Chick and Maginhawa food district
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