Thai noodles and Indian curries are well known among young, gourmet-loving Japanese women, but dishes from the Philippines have yet to find their way into the hearts and stomachs of this key demographic.
In an effort to remedy the situation — and in the process draw more visitors to the Philippines — that nation's Department of Tourism organized monthly cooking lessons on traditional Filipino cuisine in cooperation with ABC Cooking Studio Co., the major cooking school chain. The courses were held from September to December.
Their popularity exceeded the organizers' expectations. Most participants had never tasted Filipino food, and many left the class excited to also have the chance to learn more about other aspects of the country's culture.