Filipino cuisine is a fusion of different cultures and traditions mixed with Filipino ingenuity and inventiveness.
Si-KAT Pinoy Eatscetera owner Catherine Pascua said her menu at the Dandenong Market brought together Asian, European and American flavours with a flair that is unique to the Philippines.
“Our dishes are very simple yet appetising to the palate with the combination of different flavours – sweet, spicy and sour,” she said.
“TAPSILOG – Filipino beef jerky – is our best seller.
The dish combines three foods. TAP is short for tapa, or beef jerkey. SI is for sinangag – a garlic rice – and LOG is for itlog or egg.
“I marinate the beef slices overnight with our special homemade sauce, then we fry it on site just before plate up,” Catherine said.
“We serve it with garlic rice, fried egg and an accompaniment of pickled pawpaw, tomato and cucumber with a vinegar dipping sauce.
“We also sell pork adobo, chicken sisig, pork and chicken barbecue skewers.”
A vegetarian noodle stir fry called pancit and a pork bun – siopao – are also on the menu.
“We also have a variety of desserts such as halo-halo, mais con yelo, sapin-sapin…” Catherine said.
She said people new to Filipino flavours should start with the barbecue skewers.
“Ours are a bit different from others because they are basted with sweet sauce,” she said.
“TAPSILOG is my favourite dish because it is a full meal and is available all day.”
Si-KAT Pinoy Eatscetera opened at the market four months ago.
“I love the environment at Dandy Market because it is multicultural,” Catherine said.
“At Dandenong Market, we are able to showcase our delicious offering to not just to Filipinos but to other nationalities too.
“Due to Filipino cuisine not being popular or common food, it took some time for different nationalities to try our menu.
“After perseverance, thankfully now I have a diverse of regular customers enjoying our dishes.”
