Filipino restaurant Kasama in Bucktown, Chicago, has been honored with its first Michelin star, the mark of culinary excellence awarded to restaurants.
James Beard Awards finalist Kasama is among the four newly-starred restaurants in Chicago making their first appearance in the Michelin Guide Chicago of 2022.
The newcomer restaurant was awarded one star for “high-quality cooking” by the Michelin Guide which praised the establishment’s “creative, contemporary spin” on traditional Filipino food in the list released on April 5, 2022.
Kasama, an acclaimed bakery and modern Filipino restaurant located in the East Ukrainian Village neighborhood of Chicago, is run by husband-and-wife team Genie Kwon and Timothy Flores who opened the establishment in 2020 in the midst of the global pandemic.
The chefs were cited for their modern take on traditional Filipino dishes such as their “maitake mushroom adobo sauced with mussel emulsion,” as well as their pancit dish which reflects a “Spanish influence with thin squid ink noodles, with scallop conserva, and shaved Serrano ham.”
Chef Kwon, a pastry chef who worked at Eleven Madison Park and Flour Bakery, was praised for her elegant take on the all-time favorite Filipino dessert halo-halo, which she serves with Asian pear granita and pandan ice cream.
The cozy neighborhood cafe in Chicago was earlier featured in Michelin’s Bib Gourmand list along with Filipino restaurant Purple Yam in Brooklyn, New York City in 2021.
Kasama was also listed among America’s 50 most vibrant and delicious restaurants last year.
SEND CHEERS in the comments below to Filipino restaurant Kasama in Bucktown, Chicago, for receiving its first Michelin star!
Good News Pilipinas is a Lasallian Scholarum Awardee. TELL US your good news story tips by messaging GoodNewsPilipinas.com on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or e-mail editor@goodnewspilipinas.com and WATCH Good News Pilipinas TV YouTube & Good News Pilipinas TikTok for more Filipino Pride stories!
