John Paul 'JP' Tanchanco - Tha Good Life

<div><span style="line-height:1.6">The Cutting Board is a hip and friendly Filipino gastropub that&#x27;s making waves in the Las Vegas mainstream food scene.</span></div><p>I was able to drop by the newly opened place to check out their leveled-up Filipino food concoctions that my US-based family and friends have been raving about.</p><p>Resto owners Barry Picazo and Jennifer Le graciously hosted me and my family, while they passionately told us about their vision to elevate Filipino food for the mainstream US market.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2016/global-filipino/06/12/pub1.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">Barry Picazo, JP Tanchanco, Jennifer Le</div></figcaption></figure></div><div><strong>The Filipino Gastropub</strong></div><p>According to its fun and passionate owners Picazo and Le, Filipino food is the next big thing in the US restaurant scene.</p><p>&quot;I think Filipino food is the next big thing. Filipino food has not been showcased to the mainstream market here yet and we want to be pioneering it. Barry and I have been in the same page because we share one vision. We really want to introduce Filipino food to the main stream market in the US,&quot; said Le.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2016/global-filipino/06/12/pub2.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">Cutting Board Gastro Pub offers favorites like Pork BBQ, Adobo Rice and Callos</div></figcaption></figure></div><p>Picazo explained that there is a large untapped demand for Filipino food.</p><p>&quot;I think it&#x27;s high time for Americans and non-Filipinos to be introduced to Filipino food. There are Filipino restos but they only cater mostly to the Filipino community. It&#x27;s high time for non-Filipinos to get a taste of Filipino food. And we&#x27;ve seen this positive response to Filipino food thru our restaurant at San Fransisco. So, for this concept, we got an American chef to take Filipino food to the next level,&quot; said Picazo.</p><p>&quot;Our executive chef Marcus Morin from Pennsylvania is well-known as a gastropub chef. He uses a lot of spirits, beer, wine, brandy with the tapas. He also started pairing out our food with the wines etc,&quot; added Le.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2016/global-filipino/06/12/pub3.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">The Choriburger Mini Meatballs is cooked with Bourbon lime tomato sauce</div></figcaption></figure></div><p>Several American food critics such as Andrew Zimmern of &quot;Bizarre Foods&quot; and TV culinary expert Anthony Bourdain have given their predictions about the rise of Filipino cuisine.</p><p>In 2012, Andrew Zimmern went on the record to forecast the rise of Filipino food in 2 years. In 2009, Anthony Bourdain ranked the Philippines number one in his “Hierarchy of Pork.”</p><p>&quot;It&#x27;s already happening. The success of our leveled-up Filipino restaurant and bar called Fort Mckinley in San Francisco shows that these predictions about Filipino food are already being fulfilled,&quot; explained Picazo.</p><p>The fun and friendly Filipino gastropub is situated in a very accommodating space of about 500-plus square meters. The ambiance had a mixture of urban industrial elements with a bit of modern gastropub touches such as perforated steel sheets and LED TVs showcasing favorite sports games. Aside from dining tables, the place has several bar tables around the venue to accommodate the after-office and tourist-drinking crowd.</p><p>The interiors create a nice global urban atmosphere that definitely expresses the owners&#x27; vision to present a leveled- up Filipino food concept and make it significant to the modern mainstream market. Design elements complement the groove music that provides ear candy for guests.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2016/global-filipino/06/12/pub4.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">Inside Cutting Board</div></figcaption></figure></div><div><strong>A Gracious Gastronomic Experience</strong></div><p>The gastropub&#x27;s colorful team greeted me and my family with T-shirts carrying the slogan Get a Slice of Filipino. They all welcomed us with the warm, homey hospitality that Pinoys are known for.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2016/global-filipino/06/12/pub5.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">Cutting Board&#x27;s friendly staff Lacey, Anita, Jill, Nadine, Bernadette and Martha</div></figcaption></figure></div><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2016/global-filipino/06/12/pub6.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">Sonny Tanchanco, Ina Tanchanco, Brian Tanchanco, John Gaddi</div></figcaption></figure></div><p>The night was filled with happy chatter about the awesome food we were eating.</p><p>I really loved their Dulong x 2 which was composed of Silver Fish sautéed in two different ways: Saffron Garlic and Squid Ink. They also served Choriburger mini-meatballs that was a blend of Beef Pork Longanisa in sweet Bourbon Lime Tomato Sauce. Another dish that was an instant gastronomic hit was Bone Marrow roasted in compound butter and herbs.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2016/global-filipino/06/12/pub7.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">Dulong X 2 is a popular dish that customers rave about</div></figcaption></figure></div><p>The menu also featured some Filipino-Spanish favorites such as Oxtail Kare Kare or Oxtail stewed in Peanut Sauce and Pastel de Callos Stew Puff Pastry composed of Tripe, Beef Tendons, Bacon, Chorizo in a rich tomato stew.</p><p>I liked their Pinoy take on Babyback Ribs, which they glazed with sampaloc (tamarind)-honey served with plantains.</p><p>For vegetarians and pesco-vegetarians they also have Tofu and Bangus Sisig.</p><p>They also serve Pinoy favorites such as Crispy Pata or Crispy-Brinded Pork Hocks and their leveled-up version of Beef Steak Filipino that was sliced and served with Grilled Onions and Gremolata.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2016/global-filipino/06/12/pub8.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">Tofu and Bangus Sisig are vegetarian-friendly dishes</div></figcaption></figure></div><p>My ultimate favorite dish of the night was their version of Crispy Tadyang or super-tender Crispy Beef Shortribs that they served with a special house gravy. This dish really went well with their signature Adobo Rice.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2016/global-filipino/06/12/pub9.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">Crispy Tadyang with Gravy</div></figcaption></figure></div><p>They also served an interesting take on American burger sliders called Kobe Sliders. This popular gastropub dish had Kobe Beef with Horseradish Sauce, Tabasco, Smoked Cheddar Cheese, Onion and Grilled Pinoy Longanisa.</p><p>For dessert, everyone praised their Bibingka Soufflé that was perfectly moist and served with salted egg.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2016/global-filipino/06/12/pub10.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">Kobe Sliders</div></figcaption></figure></div><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2016/global-filipino/06/12/pub11.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">Bibingka Soufflé</div></figcaption></figure></div><p>The food complemented the modern homey atmosphere and provided a perfect venue for all of us to catch up on some family bonding with our relatives from New York, San Diego, Las Vegas and San Francisco.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2016/global-filipino/06/12/pub12.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">Louie Marco from San Francisco, New Yorkers Cora and Kit Reyes</div></figcaption></figure></div><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2016/global-filipino/06/12/pub13.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">Philipp Moore and Pierre Santiago from San Diego, Mikki And Ross Sclafani from New York</div></figcaption></figure></div><div><strong>Filipino Food is crossing over</strong></div><p>Picazo said the response of the market shows that there is growing appreciation for Filipino food from non-Filipino Americans.</p><p>&quot;We just opened and we&#x27;ve already been getting inquiries for franchising this Filipino food concept. Word of mouth has really helped us cross over and there are days that we can&#x27;t even accommodate customers and reservations. Currently our market of 40% non-Filipino customers love it. We see the percentage of non-Filipinos growing fast. So this goes to show that the mainstream market appreciates Filipino food,&quot; said Picazo.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2016/global-filipino/06/12/pub14.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">Margie Gonzales, Louie Marco, Jennifer Le, Barry Picazo, Cindy delos Santos</div></figcaption></figure></div><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2016/global-filipino/06/12/pub15.jpg"/></figure></div><p>&quot;5 years from now I see us being the forefront of Filipino food,&quot; added Le.</p><hr/><div> </div><div><em>Cutting Board Filipino GastroPub is located at 2131 Rock Springs Drive Las Vegas Nevada, USA 89128. (Photography for this feature is by Brian Tanchanco)</em></div><div><em>John Paul C. Tanchanco is a travel, food, party, film and music aficionado. He is also an economist, businessman, MYX/Awit award-winning media producer and Kala guitarist.</em></div><div><em>&quot;ThaGoodLife&quot; is a special feature for news.abs-cbn.com about pop culture, travel, music, entertainment, business, food, clubbing, shopping and events.</em></div><div><em>For questions, features and comments, e-mail him at <a href="mailto:jptanchanco@yahoo.com">jptanchanco@yahoo.com</a> or <a href="mailto:tanchancotrimediaproductions@yahoo.com">tanchancotrimediaproductions@yahoo.com</a></em></div>

The Cutting Board is a hip and friendly Filipino gastropub that's making waves in the Las Vegas mainstream food scene.

Filipino Gastro Pub conquers Las Vegas

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Filipino Gastro Pub conquers Las Vegas

John Paul 'JP' Tanchanco - Tha Good Life

Published Jun 12, 2016 09:01 PM PHT

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