The brilliance of global chef Christina Sunae stems from the three continents that she calls home, yielding dishes with complex flavors and innovative touches.
This is an excerpt from Lifestyle Asia’s September 2023 Issue.
Popular Asian restaurant Sunae has now rebranded to Señorita Sunae Asian Kitchen and has unveiled a delectable selection of Asian-inspired dishes. Renowned Chef Christina Sunae flew back to Manila to personally prepare her new dishes and show the kitchen how it is done.
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Sunae is Korean-American and was born in the USA but now lives in Argentina. She grew up in Pampanga, Philippines, learning all about Filipino cuisine from her Filipino grandmother and mother. Having spent her life in and growing up with the cuisine from three continents, one can just imagine the flavors going through her mind when she creates her dishes!
SOUL FOOD
Her success in Latin America promoting Southeast Asian cuisine did not deter her heart from remaining tethered to the cherished Filipino dishes lovingly prepared by her Kapampangan grandmother and the memorable flavors she encountered during her travels across Asia. Her deep-rooted connection to these culinary delights inspired her to cook from the soul. She has authored a Filipino cookbook called Kusinera Filipina published in Spanish.
Enjoy her classic fare and start with the Seafood Peanut Curry, a blend of prawns, calamari, and vegetables in a luscious curry sauce. Try the Sunae Sisig, a Kapampangan dish she grew up with and her version offers a perfect balance of savory and tangy flavors. She also offers hand-pulled Roti Canai and the delightful Adobo Pao–a Filipino dish in a Chinese bun. Two of her chicken dishes remain a crowd favorite to this day–the Korean Style Fried Chicken made with marinated free-range chicken thigh on a bowl of rice and her version of Chicken Inasal– flavorful grilled free range chicken thigh filet marinated in lemongrass, ginger, lemon, turmeric served with steamed rice.
Señorita Sunae Asian Kitchen is open daily and is located on the 28th Street 2nd Floor View Deck of One Bonifacio High Street Mall, PSE Tower, Taguig City. Call (0916) 607 4903 or (0956) 469 2863 for inquiries or reservations. View the menu on nikkei.com.ph/sunae-asian-cantina-ph.
Read more by purchasing a copy of the Lifestyle Asia September 2023 magazine via SariSari.shopping or select newsstands in National Bookstore and Fully Booked. Subscribe to the E-Magazine via Readly, Magzter, and Press Reader.
Photos courtesy of Señorita Sunae Asian Kitchen.
