Balikbayan
Vegetarian Filipino Cookbook
Balikbayan is a vegetarian Filipino cookbook produced and designed by Mikko Mananghaya. Mananghaya took on this project as a way to gain back his pride and identity of being Filipino-American. Through the act of cooking, Mananghaya was able to explore his culture, pay respect to his heritage, and can now share his experience through this cookbook.
Problem
Growing up we are introduced to nostalgic cultural meals that we take for granted. Meals that are special to our heritage, recipes that are passed down, that fill parties with the same types of food every time. But once we leave home, we stop eating these meals, we don’t know how to cook the food from our own culture or even cook in general. Learning how to cook is an essential skill, but also an act of love when shared with others. We can easily learn this life skill and at the same time spread this act of love with friends and family while showing respect to your own heritage and culture.
Solution
As an exploration of his culture through culinary skills, Mananghaya took on the task of creating a personal cookbook titled, Balikbayan. Balikbayan is about a Filipino American who went off to college and his story of learning how to cook his favorite childhood meals. But the biggest obstacle is trying to make vegetarian versions of Filipino dishes which are traditionally meat based. His goal is to create plant based Filipino dishes while still staying authentic and delicious. All while going through college, he is able to explore his culture through food and at the same time share it with friends.
Methodology
Recipe development will consist of Mananghaya creating personal recipes based of core Filipino dishes. Each recipe will be written down on a personal book, and will have photos taken of the process and final product of each dish. The production of a cookbook requires knowledge in typesetting and layout, as well as print production.