Our Lunch Excursion at FOB Kitchen, 2025

Seven THD Residents along with Ted ( our Host/Organizer) and Sean ( our driver) had   lunch at FOB Kitchen- A well rated Filipino Restaurant in the Temescal District of Oakland yesterday. It was a repeat gastronomic delight to some of us who were there last year. However, it was a gastronomic adventure for half of the Diners, since this was their first time to taste Filipino food. The menu at FOB is typical filipino cuisine not upscale compared to the Filipino restaurant in Lafayette ( Tropa).  https://www.tropaeats.com/

We dined Filipino style and shared an appetizer ( lumpia),  three main dishes, Pork adobo, Pancit sotanghon and Pork Sinigang💚. We have mango juice for drinks. At the end we have two desserts, suman( sticky rice) with mango slices and Turon ( banana fritters) with purple yam ice cream. With our dishes we have both garlic and just plain steamed rice. The cost was $40 each including tips. Here are photos of our lunch from FOB website below. 

Veggie Lumpia- Veggie lumpia, or lumpiang gulay, is a Filipino appetizer similar to a spring roll, consisting of julienned or cubed vegetables like carrots, cabbage, and bean sprouts, sometimes mixed with other ingredients, and wrapped in a thin wrapper, then deep-fried until crispy. It is a vegetarian version of the more common lumpiang shanghai, which traditionally includes ground meat.

Pancit Sotanghon-Pancit sotanghon is a popular Filipino stir-fried noodle dish made with sotanghon (bean thread or glass noodles), with or without meat, and a variety of vegetables like cabbage and carrots, all seasoned with a savory broth and often finished with a squeeze of calamansi or lemon. The dish features thin, transparent noodles that absorb the flavors of the other ingredients, making it a flavorful and filling meal often served at gatherings or as a main dish.

Pork Adobo- Pork adobo is a classic and popular Filipino dish made by braising pork in a flavorful mixture of soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, peppercorns, and bay leaves. The slow-cooking process tenderizes the pork, resulting in a tangy, salty, and savory dish with a rich, reduced sauce that is often served over steamed rice.

Pork Sinigang- Sinigang is a popular and iconic Filipino sour soup, traditionally flavored with tamarind and featuring a savory broth with various meats (like pork or shrimp) and vegetables such as tomatoes, onions, and leafy greens. Its distinct sour taste is a fundamental characteristic of Filipino cuisine, and the soup is often served with steamed rice. While tamarind is the most common souring agent, other fruits and souring agents like guava, green mango, and calamansi can also be used. 

Suman ( sweet sticky rice) with mango slices- "Suman" is a traditional Filipino sticky rice cake . The Filipino suman is a sweet delicacy made from glutinous rice cooked in coconut milk, then wrapped and steamed in leaves like banana or palm leaves, and is often eaten with sugar or coconut caramel sauce. 

  Turon ( banana fritters) and Ube ( purple yam) ice cream 

Turon is a sweet Filipino snack typically made from ripe saba bananas and/or jackfruit (langka), coated with brown sugar, and then rolled in a spring roll wrapper (lumpia wrapper) before being deep-fried until golden and crispy

The food was great as expected but ambiance was poor as there was a screaming baby near our table.  The background music was loud at first. I requested our Server to lower the back ground music. However, in general we had a grand time. Again, I want to thank Ted Treat (THD Activity Guru) who organized this lunch per my suggestion, several months ago.  I forgot to take pictures during our lunch, as I was busy enjoying my food. However, I took two photos before lunch and Ted took one(promised to send it to me-will add on later) during our lunch.  

The Seven THD Residents are: Jay P, Steve K, Rita R, Lee C, Andi S, and Anne L.and Me. 
  

💚 Sinigang was not voted the "best soup" by TasteAtlas in 2024, but it did rank #41 on their "100 Best Dishes in the World" list with a score of 4.51 out of 5. The Filipino sour soup was previously crowned the best soup in the world by TasteAtlas in 2021, but has not held that specific title since then. 

Details of the 2024 ranking: 

• Rank: Sinigang was ranked #41 out of the 100 best dishes in the world.
• Rating: It received a score of 4.51 out of 5.

Personal Note: I found it amusing and surprising that employees at FOB Kitchen do not speak Filipino ( Tagalog) at all. Our waiter speaks fluent English and Spanish. I am not sure about the Kitchen Crew ( they look more hispanic than Filipino).     

For Details about the Restaurant, visit:

https://www.fobkitchen.com/

Lastly,  Here are some memorable quotes about Filipino food—celebrated for capturing its essence, emotion, and cultural depth—from both iconic figures and cherished authors. Enjoy this flavorful journey through words, whether the creators are alive today or have passed on: Memorable Quotes by Notable Figures Doreen Fernandez (Filipino writer and culinary historian, 1934–2002): “Filipino cuisine is a testament to the creativity and resourcefulness of the Filipino people. It’s about making the most of what’s available and turning simple ingredients into extraordinary dishes.” Another gem from her: “Filipino cuisine is the best-kept secret of Asia.” Great Pinoy EatsBiyo POS Claude Tayag (Filipino chef, artist, and writer): “Each dish in Filipino cuisine is a love letter to our land, our people, and our shared heritage.” Great Pinoy Eats Jessica Soho (renowned Filipino journalist and TV host): “Filipino food is bold, colorful, and complex, just like the Filipino spirit. It’s a culinary journey that captivates the senses.” Great Pinoy Eats Marvin Gapultos (author and food influencer): “To understand the Filipino soul, one must taste the flavors of our cuisine—a blend of passion, tradition, and hospitality.” Great Pinoy Eats Margarita Fores (award-winning Filipino chef): “Filipino food is like a warm embrace, comforting and familiar yet endlessly surprising with its depth of flavor.” Great Pinoy Eats Anthony Bourdain (celebrated chef and global culinary storyteller): “Filipino food is different. It’s unique and entirely its own thing.” Biyo POS April Bloomfield (top U.S. restaurateur and chef): Predicted that Filipino cuisine would become “the next big thing,” praising its balance of flavors during a San Pellegrino event. TIME Carlo Lamagna (chef behind Portland’s Magna Kusina): Celebrates Filipino food through “precise and bold” dishes—honoring rich, sour notes of sinigang and pungent bagoong—and forging a space that feels like "a dinner party at home.” Food & Wine Playful Lines from Chef Boy Logro (Filipino TV chef): Known affectionately for the exclamations “Ping, ping, ping!” and “Yum, yum, yum!” Wikipedia Filipino Proverbs & Sayings That Reflect Culinary Wisdom These timeless proverbs may not be from specific celebrities, but they embody the philosophy of Filipino cooking and life: “Kapag may tinanim, may aanihin.” “If you plant something, you will harvest something.” Chef Earl Briones “Ang hindi marunong lumingon sa pinanggalingan ay hindi makararating sa paroroonan.” “He who does not look back to where he came from will never reach his destination.” Chef Earl Briones “Bilog ang mundo, parang kawali.” “The world is round, like a pan.” Chef Earl Briones “Kung ano ang puno, siya ang bunga.” “The fruit does not fall far from the tree.” Chef Earl Briones “Pag may tiyaga, may nilaga.” “If you persevere, you will have stew.” Chef Earl Briones “Ang hindi marunong magmahal sa sariling wika, masahol pa sa malansang isda.” Literally: “He who does not love his own language is worse than a smelly fish.” A witty reminder of the importance of heritage and identity. Chef Earl Briones From “Arsenic and Adobo” (Mia P. Manansala) Capturing deep emotion and identity through food: “I’ve never met people so enthusiastic about their food before.” Goodreads “In typical Filipino fashion, my aunt expressed her love not through words of encouragement or affectionate embraces, but through food. Food was how she communicated. Food was how she found her place in the world.” Goodreads Summary: Your Flavors, Your Stories Whether through the inspiring words of culinary enthusiasts like Doreen Fernandez or the practical—and deeply emotional—wisdom of Filipino proverbs, these quotes beautifully illustrate how Filipino food is interwoven with identity, heritage, creativity, and community. From the poetic to the playful, each line offers a taste of what makes our cuisine so uniquely resonant.  Here's my previous posting why Filipino Food is not as Popular as other Asian Foods.   https://chateaudumer.blogspot.com/2025/04/why-filipino-food-is-not-as-popular-as.html