NOW here is some good news.
Three known Filipino chefs and food enthusiasts namely Abi Balingit, Abi Marquez and local video channel FEATR founded by Erwan Heussaff have each earned a spot under different categories for this year’s James Beard Awards. They carry with them what has always been a part of Philippine culture—food.
Filipino cuisine is slowly getting recognized by foreign people, thanks to a lot of Filipino chefs and food personalities that are on the move to showcase the vibrant flavors and diverse stories behind every plate. In last year’s James Beard Foundation Awards, also known as the culinary world’s Oscars, Filipino chefs and content creators made headlines for being nominated—and eventually winning in their respective categories.Thankfully, it looks like this year our luck hasn’t gone out.
For the 2024 Book Award under the Baking and Desserts Category, A New York-based Filipino-American baker, Abi Balingit, who made waves during the pandemic “by selling pasalubong treat boxes filled with incredibly imaginative Filipino-inspired desserts and donating the proceeds to help those impacted by COVID-19,” is one of the three nominees for her cookbook, Mayumu: Filipino-American Desserts Remixed.
Screenshot from: @theduskykitchen/Instagram
She took to Instagram to announce the good news to her followers and supporters.
“LITERALLY CRYING thank you so much @beardfoundation for the Baking and Desserts cookbook nomination for #MAYUMU!!! Never in a million years would I have thought this would happen for me,” she wrote in the caption proceeding to thank her publishing company.
Screenshot from: @theduskykitchen/Instagram
Meanwhile, internet personality and content creator Abi Marquez, or most known by Filipinos as “Lumpia Queen” for her experimental lumpia recipes, where she tries to cook with fillings that you won’t usually put inside a lumpia wrapper, is nominated for the foundation’s Broadcast Media Award under the Social Media Account category with two other nominees.
In a video posted in her Facebook page, Marquez tearfully celebrated her nomination after looking up the good news herself.
“ABI MARQUEZ??? Idk her[.] I only know JAMES BEARD NOMINATED ABI MARQUEZ 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭🙌🙌🙌🙌🔥🔥🔥🔥 Another INCREDIBLE international recognition for Filipino food and talent. This is literally MY DREAM,” she wrote in the caption thanking everyone who supports her.
Screenshot from: Abi Marquez/Facebook
With over three million followers on TikTok, the 2024 James Beard nominee recently emerged victorious at the 28th Annual Webby Awards where she was named the People’s Voice Winner in the General Social: Food & Drink Category.
On the other hand, FEATR has three works nominated in Broadcast Media Award categories: the Philippine Salt Series under Docuseries Visual Media, and their Most Expensive Chocolate in the World (Heirloom Ingredients of Negros Occidental Philippines) and Why Is the Filipino Calamansi Being Left Behind? videos under Visual Media—Long Form.
Screenshot from: FEATR/YouTube
Heussaff himself has won in last year’s James Beard Awards under the social media category for his Instagram account @erwan, along with chef Tim Flores under Best Chef: Great Lakes (Il, IN, MI, OH) category and chef Margarita Lorenzana-Maske under Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker category.
FEATR, founded by Erwan Heusaff, is a digital video channel from The Fat Kid Inside Studios, “dedicated to food, travel, Filipino culture, and telling better stories over a hot meal.” The channel also featured instructions on recipes, cooking competitions, travel shows, features and documentaries, with the aim “to unite people through essential human needs: connection and food.”
Looking back, the annual awards has been “shining a spotlight on the people behind the food we were learning to appreciate and enjoy” since 1990. James Beard, a pioneer foodie has “laid the groundwork for the food revolution that has put America at the forefront of global gastronomy.”
Winners for the prestigious award will be announced on June 8, Saturday in Chicago during a ceremony at the Columbia College Chicago Student Center.
The full list of nominees is available at James Beard Foundation’s website.
With reports from Jacqueline Beatrice Dejesa
