The SALO Project is a 50-week, 50-state journey bringing Filipino cuisine via underground pop-up dinners using local farms, chefs and ingredients to give back to those in need.
On Sunday, the SALO Project hits their 38th state with a pop-up dinner in downtown Louisville. The Filipino cuisine will highlight flavors from three regions: Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. The meal will be served “Kamayan” style. Kamayan means to eat with your hands. Everything is set on banana leaves, no plates, and no utensils -- a very tactile dining experience according to Chef and Founder of The SALO Project, Yana Gilbuena.
Yana is a self-taught chef. She was born in the Philippines on the Panay Island, in a city called Iloilo. Eventually she moved to New York City and after a decade living in the states, she craved the flavors of home. They say smell is the strongest sense that triggers one’s memories; so she worked to re-create and innovate the flavors of her island through ready and accessible ingredients --keeping it as close to “home” yet local and seasonal. For this project, Yana gave up her lease in Brooklyn, sold all of her belongings and with one backpack and her knives, set out on her 50-state, 50-week journey.
In addition to promoting Filipino food, Yana is giving back to her country. She is from the Visayas region, where Typhoon Haiyan hit hard back in November 2013. She has partnered with ARK: Advancement for Rural Kids (www.ruralkids.org) to build a school that will self-sustain itself for 3 years with their farm and feeding program. A SALO dinner will give 15 kids lunches for an entire school year.
What: The SALO Project Filipino Cuisine Pop-Up
When: Sunday, December 7, 2014 at 7:00 pm
Where: Downtown Louisville, location sent with ticket purchase
How: Tickets are $50. Here’s your invite and where you can get tickets. www.eatfeastly.com/salo
To learn more about Yana and The SALO project visit thesaloproject.com
Photo Courtesy of The SALO Project
