EP89: Part I Chef Maricel Gentil:Celebrating Filipino Heritage from Food Channel to PBS

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Voice4Chefs, we welcome Chef Maricel Gentile, a celebrated chef educator, and ambassador of Philippine cuisine. With roots in her grandmother's kitchen in Manila, Chef Maricel's career has spanned top restaurants in New York to founding Maricel’s Kitchen in New Jersey. She has been featured on Hulu, PBS, and the Food Network, sharing the bold flavors and stories of the Philippines. Chef Maricel discusses the influence of her grandmother on her cooking, her experiences at markets in Manila, the inspiration behind her career, her classes at Maricel's Kitchen, her cookbook and her experiences appearing on various TV shows. She also shares highlights from her cookbook and upcoming projects, emphasizing her passion for keeping Filipino cuisine authentic and accessible. Join us as we explore her journey and celebrate the rich culinary traditions of the Philippines. 00:00 Introduction to Chef Maricel00:53 Connecting Through Chef Mimi Lan02:07 Influences from Lola's Kitchen08:00 The Authenticity of Filipino Cuisine10:19 Chef's Table and Kamayan Feast17:41 Memories and Mentorship22:52 The Rising Cost of Seafood24:34 Corporate Team Building at Maricel's Kitchen27:32 A Picky Eater's Transformation28:45 From Cooking Class to TV Stardom29:14 Unexpected Opportunities and PBS31:03 Hulu and Food Network Adventures37:20 Family Competitions and Traditions40:56 Korean Seafood Ambassador43:21 The Journey of Writing a Cookbook46:27 Future Plans and Cooking Classes51:06 Final Thoughts and Contact InformationContact Chef Maricel:IG:@maricelskitchenusaWebsite: https://maricelskitchen.com/ Facebook: maricelskitchenusa Youtube: @maricelskitchenusa Season2 Welcome Chef Steven Leung as our new cohost.IG: themindfulwok Support the showYour support and contributions are vital in sustaining and expanding The Voice4Chefs podcast.Become a monthly supporter:https://www.buzzsprout.com/1432717/supportYour donations aid in amplifying the voices of chefs globally. https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/voice4chefs?locale.x=en_USShare your thoughts! Leave a comment or 5 star review.https://www.voice4chefs.com/reviews/new/Volunteer contact [email protected] with our Culinary Stories:https://linktr.ee/voice4chef