Bringing Filipino Food to Charleston with Nikko Cagalanan of Mansueta’s

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On this week's episode, we have chef Nikko Cagalanan. Born and raised in the Philippines. Nikko grew up in a family that loved food. His dad cooked. His aunt cooked. And his grandmother, Mansueta, cooked. Sure, he didn’t always want to be in the kitchen, but food was an integral part of their family. 

Eventually, he moved to the United States, landing in Massachusetts. Cooking wasn’t his career back then. Nursing was. But, like many of us who feel the kitchen calling us, Nikko decided he wanted to start a career in cooking. With no formal training, he essentially had to start at the bottom. 

You’ll hear the story of how he got his start, and eventually launched his own pop-up. If you’re someone who’s thought about starting one, Nikko will share how he did it, and some things to consider. We also talk about collaborations and his recent appearance on the show Chopped where he had to cook pork uterus, among other bizarre food items.

NIKKO CAGALANAN
Nikko’s Instagram
Mansueta’s Instagram

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