As a journalist, I've long had a love affair with documentaries that bring untold stories to life - particularly if they’re about food! So when I learned about a Filipino food documentary called “Ulam: Main Dish”, I knew I had to chat with its director and find out more. Alexandra Cuerdo is a California-raised, New York-based filmmaker who graduated from the UCLA Film School and has worked for places like Buzzfeed. In this episode, Alexandra (or Allie) and I talk about Filipino restaurants, chefs and Filipino food culture in North America - and why community support is vital for the restaurants featured in her film. There’s no better way to tempt your (visual) tastebuds than with “Ulam”! Show notes 02:40 A story about avocados 06:45 About Allie 07:20 Growing up in California 10:30 A longing for home 13:00 The question of authenticity 14:25 Food as the gateway to culture 15:50 Social dynamics around shared meals 17:15 "Amboy" 19:00 A need to keep building 20:15 "Will Filipinos go to Filipino restaurants?" 21:15 The power of personal experience 23:05 Letting people tell their stories 25:00 Supporting a new, creative generation 26:25 "Food is a personal subject" 27:05 An introduction to who we are Links for this episode * Visit ulamthemovie.com to check out the trailer for “Ulam: Main Dish”, learn about featured chefs/restaurateurs in the film and find links to stellar reviews from the New York Times and more. Also to get tickets to film screenings across the US and Canada! * Learn more about Allie’s work on her website. SUBSCRIBE TO EXPLORING FILIPINO KITCHENS AND SHARE YOUR COMMENTS BELOW!