Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 27) — Philippine dishes take center stage in the new Filipino-produced Netflix Original series “Replacing Chef Chico,” with lead actors hoping that it would invite the world to try the country’s cuisine.
“Replacing Chef Chico” sits currently as the top TV show on the streaming platform in the Philippines after its global premiere on Nov. 24.
Speaking to CNN Philippines, Piolo Pascual said director Dan Villegas and showrunner Antoinette Jadaone wanted the concept of the eight-episode series to focus on Filipino cuisine.
“It’s nice to actually expose that because, for the longest time, wala tayong representation ng [we don’t have representation of] Filipino cuisine,” Pascual said during an interview that aired on CNN Philippines’ New Day on Monday.
“And for this to be a global project, it will open doors for Filipino cuisine and people to know more about our dishes and our culture,” he added.
Pascual is joined by other big names in the entertainment industry Alessandra de Rossi and Sam Milby in the Netflix limited series.
De Rossi said they had proper training and conducted a simulation to learn the ins and outs of the culinary world.
“Na-feel namin ‘yong tension na talagang nakaka-stress pala ‘yon,” she said during the interview.
[Translation: We felt the tension and it was really stressful.]
Milby said every episode features a restaurant patron’s story which they will recreate as a dish.
“I think the true heart of ‘yong kwento namin [of our story] is also the other cast…and [in] each episode there’s so much heart in the stories of the other cast,” he said.
The cast said dishes featured in the series have a lot of fusion such as kare-kare risotto and lumpia sisig.
