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Kuya Lord chef Llera proud to represent Filipino food with James Beard win

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Steve Angeles

ABS-CBN News

<div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-1" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/C8e9yG3p5j0/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fnews-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A1%2C%22os%22%3A255531%2C%22ls%22%3A188092%2C%22le%22%3A188772%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="746" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-1" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>LOS ANGELES -- Lord Maynard Llera came to the United States 20 years ago to study culinary arts.</p><p>After stops at Bestia, and the h.wood Group, the Quezon-born chef made his name at pop-ups and cooking out of his garage.</p><p>In 2022, he opened his brick and mortar Kuya Lord in Hollywood, bringing him to a new title.</p><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/C8IWdkmPg15/embed/captioned/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fnews-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A1726179.3999996185%2C%22ls%22%3A1725554.299999237%2C%22le%22%3A1726167.299999237%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="1779" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>Last month Llera was awarded California’s Best Chef by the James Beard Foundation. The award is considered the Oscars of the food industry.</p><p>&quot;It’s so surreal. Hindi ako makapaniwala that I am really going to win the award. And second, I feel proud that I represent us as a Filipino and I represent our culture and I&#x27;m really happy that I made everyone proud, and it&#x27;s an honor to represent LA,&quot; says Llera, chef-owner of Kuya Lord.</p><p>Kuya Lord had already been a popular Filipino food spot since it opened in the summer of 2022 receiving rave reviews. However, since the James Beard victory, the 28-seat restaurant is more popular than ever.</p><div><ivs-player data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-vid="3062112"></ivs-player></div><script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script><p>&quot;I wasn’t really expecting this when I came back from Chicago and my restaurant and team so when we got back we got surprised and I actually had to close for a couple days just to start prepping. ...I only dreamed of opening a Filipino restaurant in America and that&#x27;s it, and I never ever thought I would be representing our country our culture on this bigger stage,&quot; Llera added.</p><p>Many folks that come in are eager to get a taste of what California’s best chef has to offer, especially when he’s using fresh ingredients to make familiar Filipino flavors.</p><p>&quot;This is one of the best Filipino restaurants I ever visited,&quot; customer Richard Ortiz said.</p><p>&quot;Freshly cooked, freshly made, fresh ingredients,&quot; customer Dulce Rivera shared.</p><p>&quot;It’s like I’m back in the Philippines it’s so good,&quot; Ethan Anciano of the Truffle Boys said.</p><p>For some of the Filipino foodies, seeing a Filipino chef win a James Beard award by serving Pinoy staples brings pride to their hearts as they fill their stomachs.</p><p>&quot;So flavorful the meat is like well cooked and I’m a sucker for good tomato’s so the whole balance of everything. It’s a complete bite in every spoonful,&quot; Rocky Anciano of Truffle Boys said.  </p><p>The Lucenachon, the hometown favorite of Llera, not only put Kuya Lord on the map, but also his province of Quezon. Definitely a hit, it&#x27;s been consistently good since the day it opened so we have to ask Kuya Lord what’s his next plans now that he’s won a James Beard award.</p><p>While Kuya Lord on the corner of Melrose and Western is a Hollywood hot spot, Llera who served as culinary Director of the h.wood Group has had bigger goals since Day 1.</p><p>&quot;Before I even opened this concept, I’ve been planning to open, after a year or two I’ve been planning to open my second concept which is more sit-down space, more fine dining, more elevated Filipino food,&quot; Llera said.</p><p>And while the James Beard award could help bring those plans closer to reality, Llera and his team which includes his wife Gigi and sous chef Josh Simpao, continue to share Pinoy food to wider audiences. Llera will be featured at the James Beard Foundation Taste America events on July 24 in New York and August 6 in Los Angeles. </p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/2024/6/11/pinoys-win-big-at-james-beard-foundation-awards-715" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Pinoys win big at James Beard Foundation awards</a></div><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/2024/4/4/2-filipino-chefs-are-among-james-beard-awards-finalists-for-2024-1416" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 Filipino chefs are among James Beard Awards finalists for 2024</a></div><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/life/12/02/22/kuya-lords-lucenachon-brings-a-taste-of-quezon-to-la" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Kuya Lord&#x27;s &#x27;Lucenachon&#x27; brings a taste of Quezon to LA</a></div><div><strong>Related videos:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yNDmDVPUIyE?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Lr1ukDrvHik?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Chef Kuya Lord Maynard Llera proud to represent Filipino food with James Beard win </p>

Chef Kuya Lord Maynard Llera proud to represent Filipino food with James Beard win