Empowering women and celebrating Filipino flavors: Chef Frances Tariga’s journey of finding her culinar y identity

by MoMar G. Visaya / AJPress

Frances Tariga has embarked on a remarkable journey of embracing her dedication to Filipino cuisine and honoring her heritage. As a proud Filipino and talented chef, she now aims to bridge the gap between Filipino flavors and the palates of the mainstream American audience. With a strong determination to empower women and introduce the cuisine of her homeland to a wider market, Chef Frances hopes to make a difference and inspire others along the way.

Chef

After spending some time in the corporate world, Chef Frances is now at the helm of the recently opened Trust Bae, ready to make a comeback in the culinary scene. One of the cornerstones of her vision is empowering women in the culinary industry. Having faced her own share of challenges as a female chef, she understands the importance of creating opportunities and fostering an inclusive environment.

“I want to be a bridge to the American palate so they can taste the Filipino influences in my food,” Chef Frances expressed.

At the newly-opened Trust Bae, she has assembled an all-female leadership team, with her partner Erica London and renowned chef Rachael Ray lending their expertise and support. The new restaurant offers an intimate and timed counter-style dining experience, offering a delectable 16-course tasting menu priced at $150. Seating just eight guests at its intimate counter, the restaurant ensures a captivating and memorable culinary experience.

Through her work, she intends to overcome the barriers of a male-dominated industry and pave the way for future generations.

Chef Frances’s passion for elevating Filipino cuisine is apparent. She firmly believes that Filipino food has so much to offer and deserves a prominent place on the global culinary stage. However, she is also aware that introducing unfamiliar cuisines to people can be a challenge. experiences as a female chef, she understands the importance of creating opportunities and fostering inclusivity. “I intend to change the narrative and pave the way for future generations,” Chef Frances shared, acknowledging the limited representation of female omakase chefs in a predominantly maledominated industry.

This first dish on the tasting menu is a statement of the chef’s technical expertise. She calls it Kinilaw Pod which she does by encapsulating the kinilaw into a pod or spherical form, something she attempted more than a thousand times before she found the perfect one.

To overcome this hurdle, Chef Frances has meticulously developed a menu that artfully blends traditional Filipino flavors with modern twists. The result is a cohesive and progressive 16-course degustation at Trust Bae, which serves as a gateway to the rich and diverse flavors of Filipino cuisine.

Creating the Menu

The carefully curated tasting menu showcases a symphony of tastes, ranging from kaiseki, nigiri, to robata-style dishes. Each course highlights the delicate balance between bold Filipino spices, exquisite textures, and meticulous presentation. Her technical expertise shines through in every dish, starting with the impressive Kinilaw Pod—a statement of her culinary prowess, achieved after countless attempts to create the perfect encapsulation of

Drawing from her PAGE 15

The chef’s personality shines through the entire 90-minute dining experience. Here, Chef Frances puts on finishing touches for the Binalot dish, a reimagining of the Filipino human made with coconut sticky rice, king crab and topped with crispy shallots and paksiw foam.

BEST BITES. Among the highlights of 16-course