Spice Up Your Feed | Our fave FilAm & CanFil Food WIzards to Follow On IG Right Now
What’s more fun than aimlessly scrolling through Instagram, you ask? We like aimlessly scrolling through food content that makes us drool. These eight Filipino American and Filipino Canadian food gurus are continuously populating the digital world with insightful and captivating content that brings delicious dishes to our fingertips. Here are some of our favorite pages to scroll through!
Jen Balisi - @indulgenteats
Jen Balisi is the co-founder of Barkada, a restaurant in Hong Kong that specializes in merging traditional Filipino food with fun twists. Originally from New York, Jen set off on a journey across the globe to Hong Kong, where she currently resides, on a mission to share the beauty of Filipino Food through her restaurant and platforms. On her page, you can find drool-worthy content of food, of all sorts, that sparks joy for her. From delicious desserts to mind-blowing menu items, her page has it all. Outside of Instagram, she has been dubbed as one of Prestige Hong Kong Magazine’s 40 Under 40 awardees and even authored her own book, Indulgent Eats at Home.
Follow her on Instagram at @indulgenteats.
2. Woldy Reyes - @woldykusina
Woldy Reyes is a Chef and Founder of Woldy Kusina, a boutique catering company in Brooklyn, New York. Aside from stylish OOTD photos, you can find a wide range of delicious dishes, both created and enjoyed by him. Beyond his Instagram page, you can find more mouthwatering food content through his hashtag #InTheKusina, which he uses to share recipes, meals he cooked, and food that inspires him. Woldy and his company stand firm in their philosophy: providing good food and good experiences with sustainability and culture at the heart of it all. This first-generation American has continuously put Filipino cuisine on the map through his work, which has been recognized by the likes of the TODAY Show and New York Times, and most recently announced he is working on a cookbook.
Follow him on Instagram at @woldykusina.
3. Abi Balingit - @theduskykitchen
There is no denying the fact that self-taught baker Abi Balingit is a filipina on the rise in the world of food. This Filipino-American game changer is the woman behind www.theduskykitchen.com, a blog that she started in August of 2020. While kick-starting her blog, Abi launched “PASALUBONG”, selling Filipino-inspired treat boxes to raise funds for Bed-Stuy Strong, lending a helping hand to those affected in the height of the pandemic. Since this, her work has been featured in a number of remarkable media platforms like VICE, Eater, Thrillist, and Bon Appetit. Her cookbook Mayumu: Filipino American Desserts Remixed launched on February 28, 2023 and has made waves within the Asian community and beyond, sharing imaginative remixed Filipino American dessert recipes, plus insights in the form of essays on the Filipino American experience, all by Abi. When she is not promoting her book, she enjoys sharing fun food that she cooks, from sweet treats to staple dishes.
Follow her on Instagram at @theduskykitchen.
4. Caitlin Sakdalan - @befathappy
Caitlin Sakdalan is a social media influencer, storyteller, and content & community expert. She initially started the @befatbehappy Instagram account as a food & travel page for fun, as she was living in New York for college. From a visual diary of amazing food that she enjoyed to a globally recognized platform that people turn to for inspiration, Caitlin was able to impact countless lives through her posts. Outside of the culinary world, she enjoys making a significant social impact by supporting small businesses and highlighting organizations that make a difference and give back on Instagram page and website. As an influencer, Caitlin stands firm in her passion for F.A.T. (Food And Travel) experiences, which she believes is a call to ‘stay hungry’ to feed her appetite, feed her soul and feed others.
Follow her on Instagram at @befathappy.
5. Jason Marasigan - @chefblackbeard
What’s up, ketchup? Chef Jason, popularly known as Chef Blackbeard on Instagram, is no stranger to the foodie scene. His page is filled with video tutorials, walking followers through the process step by step on how to cook Filipino favorites, each with interesting twists to make the dishes so much more exciting! In addition to fun food content, Jason enjoys reviewing products like snacks and drinks. He recently held a Kamayan event at Next Door Provisions with Chef Ruby Felix, showcasing culture through the beauty of food and practicing the tradition of eating with hands. This was just one of many ways that he puts the spotlight on the wonders of the Philippines while pursuing his passion at the same time.
Follow him on Instagram at @chefblackbeard.
6. Tita Becky - @hungrycakes2x
Tita Becky, popularly known by her Instagram handle @hungrycakes2x, is continuously putting Filipino cuisine on the map through her insightful Instagram reels. She was born and raised in the Philippines, and moved to the US at 15 years old to be with her grandparents. Tita Becky started from the ground up, and used food as a source of comfort to deal with homesickness and culture shock. She now has built her online presence to inspire Filipinos and non-Filipinos alike to explore the deliciousness that our traditional food has to offer. On her Instagram page, you can find recipes and instructions for Adobo, Lichen Kawali, Chicken Tinola, and so much more! If you are trying to figure out what to cook for your next meal, we highly recommend that you take a trip to her page and follow along with a video that fits your fancy.
Follow her on Instagram at @hungrycakes2x.
7. Tony Ramirez- @tfti.bbq
With over 10 years of experience in the bag, the “𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙩’𝙨 𝙈𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙮” 𝙈𝙖𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝘽𝘽𝙌, Tony Ramirez enjoys sharing his passion for cooking and barbequing throughout all of his social media platforms. On his Instagram page, “Thanks for the Invite” BBQ @tfti.bbq, he shares reels and content, breaking down ingredients and instructions for all of his followers to give his recipes a try themselves. Tony’s page has gained major traction and even opened up opportunities to work with companies like Ninja Kitchen, Primal Kitchen, Smithfield, and so many more. If you’re into Cajun, Filipino, or American influenced cooking, you have got to check out his page! From Korean Barbeque short ribs to Beef Cheek Lumpia with Chimichurri, Tony’s page features countless delicious dishes that will leave you wanting more.
Follow him on Instagram at @tfti.bbq.
8. Ian Rivero - @iankewks
Ian is a first generation Filipino-Canadian self-taught home cook, content creator, and foodie. His culinary passion began when he was 9 years old, watching Food Network everyday and analyzing his parents as they cooked Filipino food. Since the start of his passion for cooking, he has made it his mission to promote Filipino culture in his work, proving that there is more to Filipino food than spaghetti and fried chicken. Ian uses his platforms, website (iankewks.com) and Instagram page, to spotlight a wide variety of Asian food, providing recipes and insights for everyone to enjoy. Through following his reels, one could easily whip up a meal in a short amount of time.
Follow Ian on Instagram at @iankewks.
Written By Nico Belasco
Photographer, Writer, Speaker, Podcast Host, Creative
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