Why This Filipino Chef Left Everything to Serve Adobo in New Zealand скачать в хорошем качестве

Why This Filipino Chef Left Everything to Serve Adobo in New Zealand

What would drive someone to leave a stable career, years of study, and the comfort of familiarity behind? For David, a former marine engineer from Negros Occidental in the Philippines, the answer was food. Not just cooking—but sharing something personal, something cultural, something deeply connected to home. Though he trained in engineering, David quickly realised his brain was wired differently. Creative, hands-on, and solutions-focused, he found the kitchen was where he could move faster, think clearer, and express himself more fully. After moving to New Zealand ten years ago, it wasn’t until 2022 that he and his wife Monette launched Namets, a Filipino food truck based in Christchurch. “Namets” comes from the Hiligaynon word for “delicious,” and their mission is simple: to serve authentic Filipino flavours with heart. But behind that simplicity lies years of hard work, sacrifice, and a dream that didn’t always go to plan. This short food documentary tells the story of two Filipino migrants who traded in convention for community. Through four key dishes—Silog, Adobo, Cansi, and Lechon—we follow their journey from early-morning marination in a home kitchen to the buzz of night markets where hungry Kiwis line up to taste something new, yet comfortingly familiar. Adobo, often considered the unofficial national dish of the Philippines, is more than just a recipe. For David, it’s a reminder of the life he left behind, and the one he’s now building through food. Silog, a Filipino breakfast classic, brings with it the warmth of childhood mornings. Cansi, a slow-cooked beef marrow soup from David’s hometown in Negros, carries a piece of home in every bowl. And Lechon—reserved for special occasions—celebrates how far they’ve come, and where they hope to go next. This film captures more than recipes—it’s a story of cultural preservation, identity, and what it means to start over. At a time when representation of Filipino food in New Zealand is still growing, Namets stands as a powerful expression of tradition made accessible, one dish at a time. And with pop-ups on the horizon, this is only the beginning. For us at StoryBites, this was a special project. As filmmakers based in the same city, we grew up eating rice, adobo, and tocino at family tables too. So to help tell this story—not just of food, but of belonging—felt close to home. Filmed on location in Christchurch, Aotearoa A heartfelt thank you to the team behind this documentary: Adrianne – Director of Photography Katrina – Assistant Producer HJ – Second Editor Justin – Executive Producer Follow Namets:   / namets_nz   Follow StoryBites:   / storybites._