MELBOURNE — Philippine Ambassador Antonio Morales and Consul General Jesus Gary Domingo attended the Filipino Chefs Association of Victoria's 15th Chef's Long Table dinner on April 20, celebrating Filipino Food Month with culinary leaders and community members.
The event at Anaia Sanctuary Lakes featured a six-course degustation menu curated by Chef Alizza Reyes. The dinner showcased contemporary interpretations of Filipino flavours, including Kilaw of Hiramasa kingfish with coconut spiced vinegar, Ilocos Empanada de Kaliskis, Chicken Inasal skewers and Caldereta Lasagna.
The celebration brought together renowned Australian pastry chef and chocolatier Kirsten Tibballs alongside members of the Filipino culinary community. FCAV leaders Alex Sy and Rommel Cao organized the gathering to highlight Filipino gastronomy and creativity.
Filipino Food Month, observed every April, marks its eighth year under the 2026 theme "Connected by Taste: The Filipino Food in the Flavors of ASEAN." The Department of Foreign Affairs established the observance through Proclamation No. 469 in 2018 to celebrate the country's rich culinary heritage and promote Filipino cuisine as an important expression of national culture.
Ambassador Morales commended the FCAV for showcasing Filipino cuisine to wider Australian audiences and strengthening cultural ties through food. He said such initiatives play an important role in promoting cultural exchange and deepening appreciation of Filipino cuisine.
"Across Australia, appreciation for Filipino cuisine is steadily growing," Morales said. "This momentum is something we hope to sustain and build on as we deepen recognition of Filipino gastronomy across Australia."
For Filipino-Australians, this celebration reinforces the growing recognition of their culinary heritage in their adopted home. The event demonstrates how Filipino food serves as a bridge for cultural diplomacy and community connection, helping second and third-generation Filipinos maintain ties to their heritage while introducing Australian society to authentic Philippine flavours and cooking traditions.