Meat Free Mondays Visits The Philippines

The June destination on Meat Free Mondays Waiheke's plant-based tour of world cuisine is the beautiful Republic of PHILIPPINES! Our guest chef Dominique will present some beloved Filipino dishes reimagined with a plant-based twist, in the traditional 'Boodle Fight' style.

Don't worry, no violence is involved — a Boodle Fight is a Filipino dining practice where meals are spread across a long table lined with banana leaves, and guests typically eat with their hands. This communal setup fosters sharing and a sense of togetherness. (Guests are welcome to enjoy the meal using either their hands or cutlery, based on their comfort and preference.)

You'll be treated to an absolute array of Filipino delights including:

Lumpia – Fried Spring Rolls

This is a classic Filipino Lumpia recipe — crispy fried spring rolls filled with a savoury mix of cabbage, bean sprouts, mushrooms, and carrots, all marinated in a blend of soy sauce and mild spices. 

Pancit Bihon 

The ultimate comfort dish, combining tender tofu, crisp vegetables, and delicate rice noodles tossed in a flavourful savoury sauce.

Ginataang Kalabasa with Garlic Fried Rice or Plain Rice

A traditional Filipino vegetable stew made with pumpkin simmered in rich coconut milk and spices. Often paired with beans, this creamy dish is naturally slightly sweet from the pumpkin and packed with umami flavour.

Palitaw

Say hello to mochi’s Filipino cousin — Palitaw! These chewy rice cakes are coated in grated coconut, lightly dusted with toasted sesame seeds, and just the right amount of sugar for a perfectly balanced sweetness. 

Biko

Traditional Filipino rice cake crafted from sticky rice (called malagkit locally), coconut milk, and brown sugar. It belongs to the category of kakanin — rice-based delicacies named after “kanin,” the Filipino word for rice — and is commonly enjoyed as a dessert or meryenda (a mid-afternoon snack). Customarily, this tasty rice cake is served on banana leaves placed in a bilao, which is a round woven bamboo tray, and topped with latik, the caramelized coconut milk residue.

Preparing food together is an important part of cultural sharing, and we welcome volunteers to help Dominique and the MFM team cook for the evening. You'll learn first-hand about the dishes, make new friends and of course dine for free! Just choose the $0 'volunteer' ticket option and we'll be in touch.

This is a non-profit event staffed by volunteers, so if you are able to bring your own plates and cutlery and take them home to wash, we would really appreciate it.

Bring a bottle to share if you like, kids are welcome as are well-behaved canine companions.

See you in The Phillipines!