Chefs in Chicago Pinoy resto 'Kasama' named best new chefs in America; land on cover of Food & Wine magazine
It's time to raise our glasses to our local cuisine as Food & Wine, one of the leading American magazines on restaurant reviews and culinary travel, has recognized two chefs from a Filipino restaurant as among the best culinary artists in the US in their October edition.
Tim Flores and Genie Kwon of Kasama, a modern Filipino restaurant and bakery in Chicago, were not only included in the magazine's class of best new chefs, but they were also made the cover photo of the edition, with Genie shown managing their wide array of esteemed pastries.
Sharing the cover on their Instagram account, the married couple stressed how elated they were and thanked the magazine, its restaurant editor Khushbu Shah, and photographer Aubrie Pick for featuring them.
"Look Mom! We’re on the cover of FOOD AND WINE MAGAZINE! Thank you Khushbu Shah and Food & Wine for including us this years class of best new chefs," the couple wrote.
They added, "Thank you Aubrie Pick for going above and beyond to capture these moments at Kasama! We never could have imagined that this would be the result. What a dream."
Food & Wine described them as a food spot that delivers "inventive breakfast items and pastries by day" and "modern interpretations of Filipino staples by night".
According to Shah, Flores and Kwon are "reinventing Filipino cuisine" through their "extraordinary breakfast sandwiches" and their "unskippable" selection of baked goods and pastries.
Flores and Kwon first opened the establishment in 2020. Despite being in the midst of a global pandemic, the restaurant went on to receive numerous awards and recognitions, such as the much-coveted Michelin star as well as being included in New York Times list of 50 Most Vibrant and Delicious Restaurants 2021.
Their menu contains a variety of Pinoy classics such as lumpia shanghai, adobo, and their own take of the Filipino dessert halo-halo.