The Joy of Eating with Your Hands: A Filipino Cultural Experience

This ancient tradition, forgotten for centuries, now its being revived by a new generation of Filipino chefs.

In New York City, there is a restaurant called Tradisyon. It is a small Filipino restaurant.  During the day, it is a regular restaurant serving Filipino food. But it has a secret, at night, it changes into a special dining experience.

After the regular customers leave, the restaurant staff change the look of the restaurant. The staff joins the tables and chairs together, creating a long communal table.  They cover the table with banana leaves and will get ready for a special dinner. This feast called a unique Filipino feast called Kamayan. It’s speciality, you eat with hands from a shared platter.

So, in New York City, if you’re looking for a unique and delicious dining experience, here we go Tradisyon is the place to go.

Kamayan is a special Filipino meal where everyone eats together from a big platter of food. Without forks and spoons, you use your hands to eat. It’s a delicious and interactive way to experience Filipino food.

In the Philippines, eating with your hands is a very old tradition. Many other cultures around the world also have traditions of eating with their hands. It’s a great way to connect with family and friends while sharing a delicious meal.

In recent years, Filipino food has become more popular. Thanks to the positive spotlight shone on it by chefs like Anthony Bourdain and Andrew Zimmern. This feast of Kamayan has become a symbol of pride and cultural heritage from the Philippines people.

Chef Nicole Ponseca played a major role in making Kamayan feasts popular in the United States. In New York City, she opened a restaurant called Jeepney. In this restaurant, people could enjoy a Kamayan meal with many different Filipino dishes.

Jeepney was performing successfully, and other chefs have started offering similar Kamayan dining experiences in their restaurants.

Chef Dayrit said he loves Kamayan feasts because they bring people together. He remembers his childhood in the Philippines, where his nannies would cook delicious food on the beach. They would use simple ingredients and cook over a fire, and the food would be served on banana leaves. “You’re on the beach, you don’t have any utensils, but you’ve got everything you need,” he said. “You’ve got a grill to cook, you’ve got a fire going, a table, and banana leaves.”

At Tradisyon, they prepare a special Kamayan feast and they start by preparing the table with banana leaves. Then they bring out a variety of dishes, including grilled pork, chicken, and pork knuckle, along with seafood and vegetables, and with that, they serve rice and a delicious sauce.  All the items are placed on the banana leaves and people eat with their hands. It is the best way to celebrate this feast with your friends and family by sharing a delicious meal.

“Food to the Filipino is History. It is also bonding culture and Identity”