Palm Grill, a restaurant serving Southern Mindanaoan Cuisine, just got the seal of approval from the Best Ever Food Review Show, thanks to the dish Tiyula Itum.
In an episode of Best Ever Food Review Show on YouTube titled “Eating Asia’s Worst Rated Food!” Chef Miguel “Miggy” Cabel Moreno introduced Tiyula Itum, a black beef soup prepared with marinated beef and a mixture of burnt coconut meat, garlic, turmeric, ginger, lemongrass, red onion, black pepper, salt and served with charred bone marrow.
This unique combination of flavors, from the smoky burnt coconut to the aromatic turmeric, creates a culmination of flavor into one dish.
Born and raised in Jolo, Sulu, Chef Miggy included Tiyula Itum to tell the story of the Tausug people of the Sulu Archipelago, from where the dish hails.
“I believe that’s my way of changing people’s perspective when they get to try the food and they try to understand the history and culture behind it, then they get to have more appreciation for it,” Chef Miggy, who is the husband of GMA entertainment journalist Nelson Canlas, said on the show.
“As a chef, it’s important that we just don’t cook the food. We have to tell the story of the people who prepared it for us,” he added.
Sonny Side, the show’s host, gave the dish a 5-star rating and said it’s one of his favorite dishes in the Philippines.
“This is delicious. This is probably one of the best foods I’ve ever had in the Philippines, if I’m being 100% honest,” Sonny said.
Speaking to GMA News Online, Chef Miggy said it’s a “proud moment” for Palm Grill and Mindanaoan cuisine to get a high rating from the food show.
“From its humble beginnings as a ‘lowly’ black beef soup of the south, Tiyula Itum has risen to represent our nation’s bold, rich, and diverse flavors,” he said.
“And now, it has earned Sonny’s ‘Best Food Review’ sticker, a testament to the world-class quality of Filipino cuisine!” he added.
Chef Miggy also said for more than eight years of being a restaurateur, being a purveyor of Mindanao and Filipino cuisine has always been one of his passions.
“In a time when food is often consumed without context, it is essential to remind diners that behind every plate is a cultural tapestry,” he said.
“By sharing these stories, we have not only introduced people to Mindanao’s flavors but also fostered a deeper understanding of our people internationally,” he added.
This is the first time a Filipino establishment has been give a seal of approval from The Best Food Review Show, which has more than 11M subscribers on YouTube.
Palm Grill is located at 179 Tomas Morate Ave., Quezon City. It also has an outpost at The Gateway Mall in Cubao.
— LA, GMA Integrated News
