Amboy: Recipes from the Filipino-American Dream

by Alvin Cailan, Alexandra Cuerdo

Filipino recipes from the the creator of the legendary Eggslut in LA, host of the hit online series The Burger Show, and the most prominent Filipino chef in the US.

Alvin Cailan has risen to become arguably the most high-profile chef in America's Filipino food movement. He took the food scene by storm when he opened the now-legendary Eggslut in Los Angeles, a foodie cult favorite specializing in affordable but sophisticated egg sandwiches. Alvin is now based in New York City, where his latest critically acclaimed restaurant is The Usual. Alvin also hosts the popular The Burger Show on First We Feast's YouTube channel, with many episodes exceeding 1 million views and guests such as Seth Rogen and Padma Lakshmi. Alvin's story of success, however, is an unlikely one. He emerged from his youth spent as part of an immigrant family in East LA feeling like he wasn't Filipino enough to be Filipino and not American enough to be an American, thus amboy, the term for a Filipino raised in America. He had to first overcome cultural traditions and family expectations to find his own path to success, and this unique cookbook tells that story through his recipes.

Genres: Cookbooks, Food, Cooking, Nonfiction, Asian Literature, Memoir

352 pages, Hardcover

First published August 25, 2020

Reviews

[Whatsupdate · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG this is the most amazing cookbook of all time!!!

I never thought I’d binge read a cookbook, like a thriller novel turning page after page anxiously to see what is next...but that is exactly what happened. Like every page was a new OH WOW moment for me. I should have prefaced this to say I’ve spend the last couple of years trying to learn to cook Filipino foods, but even beyond that he has included so much more...sauces...stocks everything. I cannot begin to tell you how much I love this book. Everything about this from his story to the recipe comes across as honest and sincere. A guy who has a remarkable story and a genuine love of food and wants to share those truths with you in a way you can actually use. As a for instance he starts with his personal technique for cooking the perfect Jasmine rice without a rice cooker. A lot of people might say “I already know how to cook rice” but it is the foundation on which every recipe is built, so he makes sure you know how to do it right. It’s just one example of how he really explains to the home cooks of the world exactly what they need to do for success. He gives brand names he recommends for the ingredients some readers might not be familiar with which is a true rarity in cookbooks, and a real life saver...you might be able to relate if you’ve ever been overwhelmed by all the choices in an Asian grocery store. The photography is so warm and soothing, taken with a real shallow depth of focus and well lit, they are every bit as beautiful as you might expect from a restauranteur who holds the distinction of possibly having created the most instagrammed foods of all time. It feels like a warm soothing dream of comfort foods, which is in a way what this book is all about. And something else that’s remarkable, is there is no ego here. In a day and age when so many celebrity chefs are raging balls of ego, it is so refreshing to find a chef that is just sincerely sharing his love of food and sharing the love for the people who inspired his food love. If you have any interest at all in cooking Filipino food I can categorically tell you this is the best cookbook to get, I have purchased and tried just about every one Amazon sells, and although I have not cooked the recipes from this book yet I can tell from reading them this one is really special. And as a side note, do you know how many Filipino cook books don’t even include a recipe for pan de sal? This may be the only one I’ve found that actually includes it. If there is any justice this cookbook will be an award winning best seller. I will update this review as I cook the recipes, but I have never been so enthusiastic about getting started trying all the recipes in a new cookbook. And Alvin if you happen to read this I want to thank you personally for this. The most special person in my life is Filipina and the food love you shared from your family will be loved and cherished by ours. Much love to you.

[Katherine]

Recipes I want to try from this book:
- Lola's Pancit Bihon (p. 93)
- Embutido (Pork Meatloaf) (p. 241)
- Ratatouille Adobo (p. 250)
- Kare-Kare Lentils (Peanut Butter Curry Lentils) (p. 316)
- Kare-Kare with Japanese Curry (p. 342)

[Liquidlasagna · Rating 3 out of 5]

honestly it seems to just be mostly the same as any other mainstream cookbook of the Phillipines

yes you get good instruction, and clear photographs, unlike the older books with just a recipe and rarely a photo.... but i don't really see anything other than pretty traditional stuff.

If you taste a dish in a cafe or restaurant or take out, and love it, yes than the book will be far far more useful

There has not really been all that many phillipine cookbooks over half a century, and some people used to look down on it compared to the rest of asia, because certain things are slightly americanized 'spanish-asian' cuisine, with lots of spam and hot dogs.

But anything with coconut and pineapple are usually great.

Grilled Pork with coconut, sugar, chiles, vinegar flavors

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the best thing one can say is this:

"Cailan’s 'slut' recipe is shared as well. This dish ignited his rise to fame after Ruth Reichl ate the dish."

the recipes you may not like:

Dinuguan (Pork and Blood Stew) with Cream and Pickled Jalapenos

heavy cream - garlic - pork belly
pickled jalapeno chiles - cane vinegar - yellow onions
pork blood - boneless pork shoulder

Fillipino Spaghetti

onions - garlic - ground pork
tomato paste - bananas - strained tomatoes
red bell peppers - rice vinegar - Filipino soy sauce
hot dogs - spaghetti pasta - Edam cheese

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I'd still rate it a 4 5 or 6
depending on my mood

just pick what appeals to you, and slowly grow into the cuisine, i guess
if you haven't already tried a dish

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what is in the book
17 beef dishes
5 cabbage dishes
19 cheese dishes
14 chicken dishes
8 coconut dishes
17 egg dishes
6 fish dishes
2 hot dog dishes
5 noodle dishes
2 pineapple dishes
18 pork dishes
6 potato dishes
13 rice dishes
4 sausage dishes
2 shrimp dishes
1 spam dish
10 tomato dishes
6 vinegary dishes

with a fair amount of overlap

[Ivy Digest · Rating 5 out of 5]

This autobiographical journey is set to Filipino dishes and cooking techniques. Alvin is a trained chef who elevates traditional favorites to gastronomical delights. The storytelling is gripping. Everyone can relate to the struggles of finding your calling, or at least employment. Then we celebrate when Alvin strikes gold. He cooks what he likes to eat. And he eats SO WELL!

It's a massive undertaking to tell Alvin's story on how he began his wildly successful Eggslut food truck in Los Angeles then went on to further the Filipino food movement in the US. He has a popular YouTube channel “The Burger Show” and adds his Filipino voice to Asian American literature and heritage. There's no other book like this.

I love perusing the pages repeatedly and salivating over the food. I've tried the recipes and when my family loves it, they ask, "Whose recipe did you use?"

"It's Amboy!" Sarap!

[Aileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I appreciated this book. A lot. And I’m inspired by it. The honesty. And the recipes. It’s a rare treat to find a famous chef’s cookbook with recipes immensely doable with the ingredients available at the locally-owned shops on an island in the Gulf of Alaska. In this case, it is also a privilege. Would Alvin Cailan be amused that I am excited for a PTA potluck opportunity to bring a crockpot of Pulled Pork Adobo & a sheet of pan de sel? I hope so. I also plan to strew it around my 13 year old son for summer cooking projects. I’ve already sent out a family text advising everyone that there will be a week dedicated to Slow-Cooked Crispy Pata…..

[Mary Amper · Rating 4 out of 5]

This rating’s for seeing more authentic FilAm stories out there. This was really interesting to read through, kinda more like a memoir featuring recipes than a cookbook with some pre-recipe anecdotes. I liked how the randomness of the recipes (You want a Pinoy lechon? Lemme show you how to make a brick firepit) tied in with his experience, though I would have liked to see more pictures of his recipes. And dude really tried to make vegetarian versions of Filipino dishes, which is respectable. He deserves all the success he’s had and way more visibility with Filipino Americans.

[Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

So much butter, other fats, and Filipino style soy sauce! Amboy is more than a cookbook. Alvin Calin and Alexandra Cuerdo have written the story of a Filipino-American young man who found and followed his dream. He is refreshingly honest about his personal failures and well as his successes. It also offers a behind the scenes reminder of the grinding work that goes into operating a successful restaurant. Don't miss the Preface, which is delightful.

[Nisa Simila · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book from cover to cover. I was fascinated by Cailan’s journey to where he is now. He seems a little tough with the talk, but when you read his stories, he’s a really sensitive kind of guy. But this is about food and showcasing the Filipino-American experience. This is a book that is all at at once homey and comforting with some splashes of fine-cooking thrown in there for good measure. Really enjoyed this.

[Bridgette Guerzon Mills · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved his voice and storytelling. And reading a Filipino-American story and being able to relate to it was actually pretty meaningful for me as I don’t read that very often. Brought back a lot of food memories from my childhood. I’m definitely going to try some of these recipes. Definitely will try out his adobo recipe and his lumpia recipe is pretty similar to the one I make- looking forward to giving it a try.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

While some cookbooks are just a list of recipes, Amboy sets the example by having a lot of interviews and introspections of Alvin Cailan. His journey from a young SoCal boy to a celebrity chef is impressive and tied well to the featured recipes.

My only complaint is that I would have liked more pictures to go along with each recipe.

[Julie Botnick]

Pretty sure if I was a dude I’d like this more. It’s very honest and he gives you the good, the bad, and the ugly, like losing friendships and getting caught up in legal battles, but sometimes you just want someone who doesn’t have so much of the bad to dish? It feels very of-the-moment in so many ways, and I’ll be interested to see how it holds up.

Did not cook anything yet.

[Nick D · Rating 4 out of 5]

About as good as a cookbook can get - full of recipes I will actually try and spanning the simple to the way-too-complex. The stories were also very interesting, at least at first - toward the end I was not interested at all anymore and they really dragged on.

[Edrienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this book brought me feelings of joy, nostalgia, and hunger. His stories are so genuine and funny. It even provides instructions on how to cook lechon (roasted pig)... Including how to make a roasting pit LOL

[Brianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful cookbook. I want to make the beet-cured hard-cooked eggs among other things.

[Ryan Juno · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful story. Not a lot of recipes I want to try, but an incredible educational experience!

[Anna Ruth FL · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting life story and some recipes I want to try.

[Luz Luna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent recipe book especially for Filipnos.

[Soleil · Rating 4 out of 5]

haven't tried any of the recipes but I enjoyed learning about alvin's childhood, time in culinary school, and the grind of starting food trucks/restaurants. a good coffee table book for filipinos!

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

2024 Decolonize Reading Challenge: Book about food from a BIPOC author