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MIKAELA MACKENZIE \/ FREE PRESS<\/p>\n
Palm City Winnipeg, a new Filipino restaurant opening in July.<\/p>\n
Growing up, Raynes has always been surrounded with Filipino food. Her family has an eatery and bakery business in the Philippines. Raynes fondly recalls being in high school and selling barbecue in the streets while surrounded with the smell of grilled meat. <\/p>\n
The 39-year-old moved to Winnipeg in 2013 to work as a child-care provider. Whenever she cooked for her employers, they complimented her dishes \u2014 it made her happy, she said.<\/p>\n
Raynes explained she\u2019s always loved to cook and feed people.<\/p>\n
The restaurant\u2019s interior will feature palm tree installations. She said she loves seeing them in the Philippines \u2014 the inspiration of the restaurant\u2019s name. Raynes said the space will not just be a place where the customer will walk in and eat.<\/p>\n
Palm City will be serving their signature dishes of pork barbecue, and Davao lechon belly \u2014 a rolled boneless pork belly cut with aromatics and herbs.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t have to go home,\u201d she said, noting it\u2019s an experience she hopes will transport the customer to the Philippines.<\/p>\n
Allan Pineda, a Filipino chef and executive director of Kultivation Festival, said each new Filipino business adds to cultural visibility. Kultivation Festival is a non-profit organization that promotes food, art, music, dance, education and culture within the Filipino community.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s awesome to see more Filipino-owned restaurants,\u201d said Pineda.<\/p>\n
He believes Filipino cuisine is still underrepresented in the mainstream food scene. Pineda said Filipino restaurants are important not only for introducing others to the culture, but also for Filipinos themselves to have a taste of home.<\/p>\n