Slow Food & Bistro Lokal
It is not the first time I heard about “Slow Food.” Although, it is just now that I carefully researched it and understood how this holistic restaurant in Baguio City supports local farmers through the “Slow Food” movement. Bistro Lokal is one of the restaurants in the city that boasts its farm to table initiative to their gracious diners and this is what the owner, Chef Miko Dy wants to highlight.
What is Slow Food?
Founded in Italy in 1989, Slow Food is a global movement to ensure awareness to everyone about local food cultures, traditions, production of clean food and fair trade of the producers (the local farmers). Slow Food is obviously the opposite of Fast food because of the process of food production, from farm to table. The Slow Food movement had already established a sweet start of 1, 600 communities around the world, including the Philippines.
How Bistro Lokal helps the local farmers
Through Slow Food Community, Bistro Lokal is able to tap organic farmers to supply for the restaurant’s ingredients. The restaurant ties together the pleasure of savoring good food with the commitment to support the local farmers. The chefs and the servers engage with their diners that what they eat on their table came straight from the local farmers’ grassroots. Chef added, “Habang kumakain kayo, i-didiscuss ko yung mga organic farmers kung paano yung effort nila sa pagtatanim ng vegetables.” The bistro also gets supply from the Baguio Dairy Farm for their butter and to bake their pastries. The chocolates they use for desserts come from the local product, Dulce.
More About Slow Food
“Slow Food is global network that works to help ensure GOOD, CLEAN and FAIR food for everyone,” said on their Youtube Video. Watch their introduction about what they do below:
Ark of Taste
We also asked Chef Miko how he is able to concoct and source creative ingredients to cook. He also gets from “Ark of Taste.” The Ark of Taste is actually a Slow Food’s online catalog of traditional foods that risks extinction in today’s modernization. The list now consists of over 1000 products. Over 64 food products are enlisted all over the Philippines. Want me to name a few from the Cordilleras? The Baya Rice Wine, Benguet Coffee, Cordillera Native Pig, “Ayusip” (wild berry) and more! Check out the full list here: Ark of Taste products in the Philippines.
More About Bistro Lokal
Bistro Lokal offers home-cooked comfort food but spins a more creative approach to local dishes. I wrote more about the owner, Chef Miko Dy and the restaurant in my previous blog post. You may read it here: A Creative Restaurant Offering Spectacular Filipino Food
I also uploaded a vlog during my first gastronomic food experience at Bistro Lokal. Watch the first part of my Vlogtober here:
Bistro Lokal’s NEW MENU
I’ve mentioned in my previous blog, Chef Miko wants his restaurant to be dynamic wherein he would change the menu whenever he likes it. During our second visit to Chef Miko’s food haven, he presented to us a few dishes of the new menu. He opted more vegetables because he supports the advocacy of helping our local farmers; 10% of the sales go to them. The menu is going to be launched by the end of February 2020, after Valentine’s Day specials. Here are the stellar dishes which again, all the ingredients are locally produced and in line with their advocacy with Slow Food movement.
Bistro Lokal’s version of “Kombucha” using Strawberries, fermented tea
A traditional cooking technique wherein they use hot river rocks to cook the seafood. It is to be cooked from the table side, good for 4-5 persons
A traditional cooking technique wherein they use hot river rocks to cook the seafood. It is to be cooked from the table side, good for 4-5 persons
-used Shrimp heads’ fat to give a distinct flavor
1-2kilos Chicken, the sauce is homemade Banana ketchup
Sides: Cucumber- drenched in mango vinegar, dried shrimp & sitaw with garlic bits, Kale cooked in chicken stock served in soy and lime)
1-2kilos Chicken, the sauce is homemade Banana ketchup
Sides: Cucumber- drenched in mango vinegar, dried shrimp & sitaw with garlic bits, Kale cooked in chicken stock served in soy and lime)
That is how a holistic restaurant in Baguio City supports local farmers through the “Slow Food” Movement. Are you going to be part of the advocacy of Slow Food? Dine at Bistro Lokal as another way to help out local farmers!
📍 Bistro Lokal is located at 307 Upper Magsaysay Ave., Baguio City. In front of Baguio Central University’s main gate.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BistroLokal2600/
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