Dirty Kitchen: An Ilokano-American Story

$22.00

Dirty Kitchen is a story about a Lola (Grandmother) and her three Apo (grandchildren) who spend the day together at her house learning how to cook the Ilokano dish - Pinakbet, or ‘Pakbet.’ We witness their journey through Lola’s garden harvesting the parya (bittermelon), okra, tarong (eggplant) and spending time in her backyard’s ‘dirty kitchen’ to prepare the meal for their Sunday family dinner.

We hope to increase the representation of Ilokano-American culture and storytelling by elevating:

  • Connection of the power of Land, food, and our bodies

  • Showcasing intergenerational familial relationships

Essentially, we hope this story encourages curiosity and conversation around (1) cooking as ritual, (2) storytelling, and (3) connection to family & the re-membering of traditional and ancestral foods.

Authors: Melisa Anne "Missy" Bagasao Bautista, Jean Torres Juarez, Kharyl Anne Bugaoisan Piano
Illustrator: Marielle Navasca Atanacio

Dirty Kitchen is a story about a Lola (Grandmother) and her three Apo (grandchildren) who spend the day together at her house learning how to cook the Ilokano dish - Pinakbet, or ‘Pakbet.’ We witness their journey through Lola’s garden harvesting the parya (bittermelon), okra, tarong (eggplant) and spending time in her backyard’s ‘dirty kitchen’ to prepare the meal for their Sunday family dinner.

We hope to increase the representation of Ilokano-American culture and storytelling by elevating:

  • Connection of the power of Land, food, and our bodies

  • Showcasing intergenerational familial relationships

Essentially, we hope this story encourages curiosity and conversation around (1) cooking as ritual, (2) storytelling, and (3) connection to family & the re-membering of traditional and ancestral foods.

Authors: Melisa Anne "Missy" Bagasao Bautista, Jean Torres Juarez, Kharyl Anne Bugaoisan Piano
Illustrator: Marielle Navasca Atanacio