SO Local

Starting a Business in a Crisis: How the Global Lockdown Built Sampa LA | So Local

“I took every opportunity I saw to push my dream.” In this episode of So Jannelle TV, Chef Josh Espinosa shares the inspiring story of Sampa LA’s rise. From starting as a home-based delivery service during the pandemic to opening a premier location in the LA Arts District without outside investors, Josh proves that a […]

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Chef Josh Espinosa Explains Why He Chose Kitchen Over a Traditional Medical Career | So Local

SO Local / By Jannelle So-Perkins

What does it take to go mainstream with Filipino cuisine? Host Janelle So talks with Chef Josh about the “three gambles” that led to the success of Sampa LA: choosing culinary over a traditional career, focusing specifically on Filipino flavors in a fine-dining space, and the leap into entrepreneurship. Learn how he transitioned from a

Chef Josh Espinosa Explains Why He Chose Kitchen Over a Traditional Medical Career | So Local Read More »

Building Manila Inasal: A Story of Family and Leadership | So Local

SO Local / By Jannelle So-Perkins

Manila Inasal shares behind its vision as a father–son team talks about legacy, identity, and the responsibility of representing Filipino ingenuity. They open up about their dynamic, how they communicate, how they reconcile generational differences, and how they choose a middle ground to keep both family and business intact. They describe how they challenge each

Building Manila Inasal: A Story of Family and Leadership | So Local Read More »

Lav Diaz & Gael García Bernal Talk Magellan and the Philippines’ Oscars Entry | So Local

SO Local / By Jannelle So-Perkins

Acclaimed Filipino filmmaker Lav Diaz and Golden Globe–winning actor Gael García Bernal dive deep into Magellan, the Philippines’ official entry to the upcoming Oscars. In this candid discussion, they reflect on collaboration, history, and the shared colonial past between the Philippines and Latin America. The two explore the gray areas of truth, indigenous identity, and

Lav Diaz & Gael García Bernal Talk Magellan and the Philippines’ Oscars Entry | So Local Read More »

Noche Buena Mukbang Challenge at Kuya Lord

SO Local / By Bituin Aquino

Kuya Lord brings the comfort of a Filipino Noche Buena and Media Noche to Los Angeles with its unique spin to southern Tagalog flavors you wouldn’t want to miss! Available for pre-order for the Christmas and New Year’s. In this last part of our So Local feature, Chef Lord Maynard prepares us a feast from

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What’s in Kuya Lord’s Noche Buena Feast?

SO Local / By Bituin Aquino

Noche Buena for Filipinos is a memorable occasion because it is a time when we ring in Christmas day with our loved ones, always over a good feast. In this third part of this So Local episode, Lord Maynard of Kuya Lord’s prepared a curated menu of dishes for us to try for their Noche

What’s in Kuya Lord’s Noche Buena Feast? Read More »

Kuya Lord Offers the Perfect Noche Buena this Christmas Season

SO Local / By Bituin Aquino

We’re giving you a taste of Southern Tagalog cuisine here at Kuya Lord located along Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles, California. And in just 5 months in, they’ve landed the #7 spot in Timeout LA listicle of 14 Best New L.A. Restaurants of 2022! In this So Local Episode, we sat down with Lord Maynard,

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Experiencing Filipino Culture in New York City

SO Local / By Bituin Aquino

In this So Local Segment, we’re bringing back stories of Filipino representation from our trip to New York City. We highlight Jollibee’s opening of its flagship store in Times Square and how locals, tourists, and Filipinos gathered to celebrate this huge milestone. We were also able to visit some Filipino-owned business located in NYC such

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Exploring the South Coast Botanic Garden in Palos Verdes

SO Local / By Bituin Aquino

Can you imagine how an old landfill turned into 87 acres of wonder? The beautiful South Coast Botanic Garden in the Palos Verdes Peninsula is a collection of space made for everyone to see and what sets it apart from other gardens is the character and grit that it has because of its history. In

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Purple Patch: A Filipino-Owned Restaurant Serving the Best Filipino-American Dishes

SO Local / By Bituin Aquino

We’re now back with the second part of our So Local segment on The Purple Patch, where we see more from this Filipino-owned and operated restaurant in the nation’s capital. In this episode, we’re able to get a taste of their bestsellers – Miso Caesar Salad, Mushroom Adobo in Coconut Milk, Red Snapper Relleno, Pancit

Purple Patch: A Filipino-Owned Restaurant Serving the Best Filipino-American Dishes Read More »

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