The first Michelin star Filipino restaurant in the world | Kasama in Chicago 

To everyone who says we are missing the point here. Nope, we are not. Rather, we are making a point. It would be a real challenge to achieve that fine dining quality and consistency abroad if you don't do fusion. We all know that traditional Filipino food is meant to fill us up. It's a comfort food, and it's hearty. But if you want to elevate it according to fine dining standards (which Kasama is), then you have to twist it. As long as our food is represented, and as long as it resembles the flavor of our food, I'm fine with that.

Love Kasama! The food is so creative, and they are so deserving of their Michelin star! Always thrilled to support Filipino/Asian/POC owned fine dining establishments. Need to change the narrative that Asian foods are reserved for home cooking while fine dining is reserved for European tastes!

Definitely added this to my bucket list🥹 Filipino fine dining is a yes for me. And yes, I am Filipino. Tama na yung pagkulong sa Filipino dishes and ingredients. Innovation and creativity is not a crime.

It's not fusion, it's evolution. In order to improve, the dish needs to evolve. In addition, the core filipino food are fusion of Chinese, Spanish, American, Malay, and indo cuisine. So just stfu and be glad that there is a representation of filipino cuisine! Kasama, you did great!!! Keep it up!!!

The elevation of Filipino food and presentation is so amazing

Thank you for sharing your experience with us ❤️

Everything looks delicious!😋

A Simple Filipino dish turns into classy version. 👏👏👏

Love it!!!! got try this place! Thank you

Bravo! Mabuhay kayo, Kasama.

due to the constantly evolving food tastes and the growing appeal of fusion dishes, margarita araneta fores (2016 asia's best female chef) and some of the finest filipino chefs had team up in creating a book that showcases filipino dishes (from spanish to modern time) -- wherein filipino cooks or international chefs must strictly and compliantly adhere to its originality (most especially with regards to the ingredients and the process or the technique of cooking) the book is called "kulinarya: a guidebook to philippine cuisine (1st & 2nd edition)"

The thing is, it's using Filipino elements as a niche or as a color palette - whereas high level Filipino dining can be produced with having it as a Filipino color palette, materials, canvas, and everything. I frequent degustation experiences myself, and I get the charm of this, but then I also know myself how much other fine dining Filipino restaurants are doing the take much better. It appears to me, Kasama is not traditional Filipino with contemporary flair, but rather a refined contemporary restaurant done with some Filipino flair. Their are a handful of refined dining institutions in the Philippines where they push boundaries of how Filipino food can be experienced all while having a total grasp of the context of the dish. Not just deconstructing and reappropriating elements as Kasama seems to do, albeit in a very high level. Take this for example - would you do a high end "traditional" sushi concept, with something like an "aburi halibut sushi": seared halibut on some flavor infused rice with an white wine and wildberry glaze type of thing... It's an idea, and good execution can pull it off, but it is simply not traditional. It's definitely not forbidden and these iterations have lanes of their own, but it's a disservice to those who want to explore what proper sushi is at a level above how it is traditionally done. So obviously how that would be done is with an exceptional piece of toro from a rarely caught wild Tuna, handled with the highest of standards, and sliced and prepared with exceptional mastery of technique... I could go on, but I think I illustrate the point here. Bottomline - it isn't with remixing the elements, it's with executing the individual techniques above high standard, along with sourcing materials in true environments but with top notch purveyors, selection, and curation. All that as well as looking deeper into the lineage and history of the dish or cooking method, and drawing out some elements that have been forgone. Do not get me wrong - I think Kasama being awarded is a step in the right direction, but know that the culinary world is barely scratching the surface with my people's culinary traditions, there's a long way to go.

Would love to taste all their dishes! ❤

That was so lovely food line up im really proud over here ✋🇵🇭

All the dishes seems delicious, flavourful and well presented. A gastronomic experience for Filipino cuisine inspired dishes, not really the real deal in terms of original taste and flavour of the cuisine that inspired these very impressive dishes of Kasama.

What an experience! Wow! ❤❤❤

I appreciate these kind of fusion food it elevates the traditional food..

A culinary experience of Filipino cuisine tastes worth a trip. I hope it is in a safe place in Chicago if such a place still exists. Chicago always had good food memories for me made more wonderful with friends there. Good luck!

Would definitely love to try it if I were in Chicago. The dishes look intricate yet delectable. For those complaining they don't look like the traditional Filipino food you know, please take note of the description at the start of the video. Kthx.

Nice chef! The upcoming of Filipino food 🤘🏽

Good job Kasama!

Finally a bourgeoisie Filipino cuisine!!! J’adore👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

The most epic ‘twistedness” o dios por santo🎉❤😂 I will go back after saving this worth savoring in my brain vlog

Wow this something that we Filipino’s should be proud of, that Filipino dishes has a lot of twists and I think that’s why they deserved that Michelin star 👌🏼❤️🇵🇭

congrats chef proud be pinoy

Adding kasama to my list of must tries

What an interesting take in Filipino food. Hope to visit someday.

Wow delicious food

The food and ingredients maybe not recognizable to some, yet the flavors and names are uniquely Filipino, very creative dish, high level menu that elevates pinoy food to international scene of fine dining experience. Kasama deserve the Michelin Star, for all the love and effort they put to make Filipino foods and flavors have its place in fine dining atlas.

Awesome!

Double thumbs up!

would love to visit this some day... hope that they can also add Vegetarian menus 😊

As a Filipino, these dishes are unrecognizable.

Our dishes are literally called their names from how they are cooked and not just from the flavor profile. As long as they actually cooked those the way they are supposed to be cooked, it does not matter how they plate it. A sinigang can be plated however but a sinigang cannot be a sinigang if you didn't "sigang"

Food look so pretty.

The food looks amazing. I grew up eating my moms Filipino food and it never looked like that lol or had those extra ingredients. We not eating Foie gras in our dishes at home lol. I'm not sure if you will get to taste the traditional Filipino food in these meals, but RW more for the rich rich who can actually afford it lol.. I would love to try it someday, but I'm not rich rich haha

Kasama is a bemba word too. What a world we live in.

When is Kasama coming to Seattle?! Yummm 😋!

Interesting how we have two views about this. Some would say this is evolutionary in how Filipino food will be recognized and presented especially in the fine dining scene. While others would argue it does not stay true to the Filipino cuisine. It is indeed remarkable considering this is the first Michelin star Filipino restaurant. Personally, I feel like while creativity and originality was not lacking on the presentation and the preparations made, there are some dishes that may have strayed from the original ingredients that was very distinct and very true to the Filipino flavors (though I am not sure if the taste is similar as its name but for the looks of it, not so much). So much fusion had made some of this well loved Filipino dishes lost it's real essence, and honestly came of as pretentious. However, it is intended as a fine dining experience after all so its easy for us to judge it unless we get to try it ourselves. Nonetheless, this is still an amazing feat.

“I’m shy….” ‘Excuse me?’ Kilig moment. Ayieeee.

So jealous ❤ making me hungry

Not here to hate. I think what they’ve done in getting a Michelin star is amazing and I am proud that the food is Filipino inspired. But, my main concern surrounds the fact that we as a culture have to go great lengths just for our food to be recognized. I don’t see Michelin Japanese sushi restaurants go out of their way in modifying a nigiri piece just for a star, nor do I see the simple food vendor in Bangkok alter the classic take on Thai noodles just for a star. But let’s be honest, that wasn’t sinigang, and that wasn’t kare kare. Glad we got recognition, but my fear is that those who go to eat here will claim that an unfried lumpia is Filipino - nah that was a spring roll you can get from a Pho restaurant. Ima take flak for this post, but just my take on it. Looks delicious, but to put a piece of salmon on a plate covered in fish roe and call it sinigang? C’mon guys, y’all know that did not look like sinigang.

The presentation is really good but it has a twist with different ingredients I still prepare the traditional Filipino food .

After watching this...Kasama is a Tagalog word and the place is Filipino American owned, other than that, the true Filipino food aspect is just below 20% or less. More of a fusion restaurant but it works!

Wow very fancy

Wow, that was a lot of Yummy noises in the background....

It seems like we “need” European ingredients to be taken seriously. It feels like the food looks and tastes amazing but I have to agree that the ingredients that seem to elevate the dishes are those that a western/European palate would recognize. I guess we need to have a conversation about: - Does it really elevate it? - Is it the same dish? - Do we need to elevate it? - Is it truly a marrying of both worlds and do they compliment each other? The word elevate implies that the origin food is below. Just a thought.

This is my girlfriends bother and sister in-law his sister name is Jane Flores which I'm dating I love kasama they came a long way and I'm so proud of them.

rich version of filipino food. 😍

Nice

Looks much better than the Orlando Jollybee! Need one in Miami or Orlando.

Still not used to seeing Filipino food at this level but I want more. I want it to dominate the culinary industry.

thank you for enjoying filipino food, there is more in new york you have to try it,

I’m a Filipino, those dishes looks nothing like a traditional Filipino food. But I like it, they made it like high end type of Filipino dish for high end consumers. It’s good in a way for other people who like small servings. Well deserved for that Michelin star. Hopefully this will be a start of introducing Filipino food to the world. End note I still like the traditional servings.😅 Give me that Unli Rice 😂

If you don’t mind me asking, how much did each person cost to dine there?

The food looks delicious. I hope they'll open a branch here in Manila. Btw, Ms. Zhang looks like the Chinese actress Jing Tian.

I understand the appeal of combining traditional and contemporary cuisine, it seems my fellow country men disapprove of how different it looks as well as the components of the dish are reiterated within the use of high-class produce. Again this was expected as it appeals to the bourgeoisie, however this may or may not represent the filipino taste hollistically as most dishes are not densely packed within a few bites. I hope no one tries to attack or scrutinize Kasama but rather provide constructive criticism. Maraming salamat po Godbless!

This tasting menu is $235 btw with an extra $125 for the beverage pairing, for a total of $360.

How much is the full course meal?

As long as the flavor profile matches. They pass. I wouldn't know but I hope to visit this place soon. You cannot force your "authentic" concept yet to the world. We have lots of dishes that require adjustment in the tastebuds. Food in general develops and goes to different interpretations. Even locally, we have different types and preferences for our dishes. So why don't we embrace change? I would want to see not just Western Techniques too though. Some flavors can only be achieved if done traditionally (palayok, bamboo, smoking techniques, use of local ingredients, etc.). Overall, they have done a wonderful job. I'd love to watch how they cook them too :D PS: I have the same way of appreciating food as Cat. The body movements tell it all. Thank you for sharing!

How much it cost to eat the 13 course meal per person?

A gourmet Filipino dishes.

Did the narrator say “ more accessible?” Hmmmm Not sure if this is more accessible. I will say that it is more elite and I’m intrigued. I’m gonna check them out.

A lot of you don't know the meaning of a michelin star restaurant. lol Don't expect the looks to be the same as a regular restaurant and the portions too. 😂

How much?

Server: adobo... Me as a Filipino: ???? Where????? and the sinigang????

Michelin star na rin Pinoy food ❤️

Looks delicious but the serving size isnt something im used to.. especially if youre used with a typical Filipino servings

Damn, the food looks delicious, but as a Filipino, I'll stick with fish head soup, blood stew, pinakbet, and papaet.

I'm hungry

How I wish they'd open a branch here in the Philippines! They'd definitely be a hit here as well.

The halo halo says it all

These are fushion..to make it more palatable to foreign taste..this is a good way to introduce the filipino food to the world..but i think the filipino taste remains with just a slight change in flavor..

Haters gonna hate. As opposed to cheering on the success of their fellow Filipino, it’s shameful to see some of the negative comments here (especially those posting in Tagalog). First, do you have any idea how hard this couple worked to get to where they are? Second, you haven’t tasted their food so how can you critique it and say it is not Filipino food? And third, fine dining is very different from your home cooked meals- and I’m not saying that the latter can’t be as delicious or awesome. Look up what it takes to earn a Michelin star. Then, hopefully, you can understand and be happy for this couple for such an amazing feat. Their success has nothing to do with your personal struggles. If you can overcome yours, then many of us will be proud of you, too. If you can’t, it doesn’t mean that you are less worthy as a human being. Spread love, not hate. Then perhaps you can achieve some of your hopes and dreams, too.

I want to apply

Ma'm i like your job.

The pancit had no noodles or didnt i see it

How about bigger portions ha ha.Filipinos do love massive servings too!

Sinigang with Salmon and no soup? I really don’t know how to feel about this 😅

my friend owns it :D

Praise the Lord Jesus 🙏 Congratulations

This food is unrecognizable

It's fusion food with a hint of filipino inspiration. Just because you name a dish sinigang , doesn't mean it's sinigang. I'm sure it's good.

Kasama, btw, is the modern Filipino name for "katulong" or housemaid. In a sentence: Inday ang pangalan ng kasama namin sa bahay. Translation: The name of our housemaid is Inday

MAKING ME HUNGRY. . . ..THANX

my only gripe with this is the dishes are too small like its for tiny stomachs. but ofcourse, fine dining is a comfort food.

It’s fancy filipino food with a twist

I didnt recognize the adobo

Kasama is companion in english.

mmmm i wanna try that ube drink so bad

Caviar in Pilipino a dish? Amazing? We do not have caviar in the Philippines, we have hipon na binagoong.

Small portion only is because it is fine dining

You had many more "mmmmm's" in this review compared to the Noma review lol

After this type of meal im going to steal cow... Im going to eat it alone... The serving is so small for me and im going to try going to sleep... Hahahaha 1st comment....

Iloveyou❤

The presentation is bit different for catering different nationalities purposely I guess. they mentioned the taste is Filipino

❤🎉🇵🇭👏

Swear to god those don't look like filapino foods. I went to the Philippines last year for 2 months and I haven't seen those things anywhere

i mean... the food are indeed based on well-known PH dishes, but are presented and served on a totally lavish way that even filipinos won't recognize what its supposed to be 😂

And here in the Philippines we buy that for less than a dollar in the streets. lol