Chicago Filipino Restaurant Week Successfully Launched

10 October 2019 – The Philippine Consulate General in Chicago joined the launch of the fi rst-ever Chicago Filipino Restaurant Week (FRW) at the SX Sky Bar on 6 October 2019.

Organized by the International Society of Filipinos in Finance and Accounting (ISFFA) Chicago and the Consulate, Chicago FRW runs from 6-21 October 2019. Twenty-two (22) participating restaurants are offering prix-fixe menus and other Filipino cuisine to their diners.

Speaking on behalf of Consul General Gina Jamoralin, Consul Ryan Gener, shared that FRW originated in New York and has expanded to other cities such as Washington and Honolulu, through the initiative of Philippine Foreign Service Posts in those jurisdictions. A cultural diplomacy initiative of Consul General Jamoralin, Consul Gener espressed that it was high time to hold the FRW in Chicago, The city was recently named the Best Big City in the US by Condé Nast Traveler for the third consecutive year for, among others, its “brilliant chefs” and “robust restaurant scene”. Consul Gener commended ISFFA – led by JP Ferrer, Paula Arnedo and Karen Montejo – for partnering with the Consulate in making Chicago FRW a reality.

The Consulate thanked FRW partner companies – Mama Sita’s, Tanduay Rhum, GMA Pinoy TV, Adelfi a LLC, Madrid Crost Law Group, and Crowe for their support. The Consulate also thanked its partner organizations – Filipino American Historical Society of Chicago, Filipino Young Leaders Program (FYLPRO), Gawad Kalinga USA, Philippine American Cultural Foundation – Midwest, Philippine Medical Association in Chicago, and Sama Sama Project for their participation in the event. The Consulate also urged the community to partake of delicious Filipino cuisine during FRW and help promote the viability of offering Filipino cuisine by the participating restaurants.

Diners of participating restaurants are given stamps in their respective FRW passports, which qualifi es them for raffl e tickets with a chance to win prizes during the Block Party at Mora Asian Kitchen- Bolingbrook on 27 October 2019 at 1:00-4:00pm. The following are participating restuarants: Mora Asian Kitchen (Oak Park and Bolingbrook), Mora Asian Fusion (Plainsfi eld), Yelo (Geneva), Kusina de Manila (Des Plaines), Pinoy Grill (Arlington Heights), Chicken Ati-Atihan (Niles), Lola Tining’s (Oak Park), Bacolod Chicken Haus (Lincoln Ave), Uncle Mike’s Place (W Grand), Unimart One Stop Shopping (Woodbridge), Meat on the Street, (Milwaukee, WI), and Jennivee’s Bakery (N Sheffi eld Ave).

Partner restaurants that are part of FRW but do not provide stamps/raffl e tickets are the following: Bayan Ko (W Montrose Ave), Sunda (W Illinois St), Isla Pilipina (W Lawrence Ave), Grand Café (Bloomington), Finley Dunne’s Tavern (N Lincoln Ave), Mesa Manila (Naperville), and Kawayan (N Milwaukee Ave). END

Consulate offi cials, ISFFA offi cers and Filipino community representatives participated in the launch of Chicago Filipino Restaurant Week (L-R): Jun Turija, Joanne Turija, Ragan Maning, Karen Montejo, Paula Arnedo, JP, Ferrer, Bridgit Au-Gener, Ryan Gener, and Noly Dulay.(Photos courtesy of Philippine Consulate and ISFFA)

John Blair (2nd from left ), Lennie Blair (3rd from left ) and their grandson David Isaiah Bianco (front), representing Mama Sita’s, pose with (L-R) Paula Arnedo and JP Ferrer of ISFFA and Consul Ryan Gener.