[Hot Off the Press] What Recipes Don’t Tell: Philippine Food History in Fifty Words

New release from the Ateneo Press, What Recipes Don’t Tell explores the vibrant history behind everyday Filipino culinary words 

How much do you know about the origins of everyday Filipino culinary words? A new book from the Ateneo University Press, What Recipes Don’t Tell: Philippine Food History in Fifty Words by Felice Prudente Sta. Maria reveals the vibrant stories behind now-commonplace food-related terms to deepen understanding and appreciation of Filipino culture. 

What Recipes Don’t Tell immerses the reader in the history of everyday Filipino food, allowing one to appreciate its journey across time as it connects us to our ancestors, a journey that stretches from pre-colonial to colonial to more recent times. It showcases the richness and specificity of Filipino food vocabulary, spotlighting the forgotten, hidden, and ignored details of 50 culinary words and emphasizing their integral role in our culture: from guisa to kilaw, ensaymada to halohalo, tuba to tsokolaté, and linamnam to nayánayá. It also unearths the global influences on Filipino food and its historical interconnectedness with other countries, as well as its resilience in the face of colonialism, war, and natural disasters. 

Ultimately, the book is an informative dive into the past; readers will discover something surprising on every page. Every Filipino deserves to know more about the food they consume, as well as the processes and innovations that make it so delightfully unique. It’s the perfect read for food enthusiasts and anyone interested in Filipino gastronomy!

About the Author

Felice Prudente Sta. Maria is a multi-awarded nonfiction author, cultural advocate, and pioneer food historian of the Philippines' colonial era (1565–1946). She is the author of numerous books and essays, including The Governor-General’s Kitchen: Culinary Vignettes and Recipes, 1521–1935 (Anvil Publishing, 2006); The Foods of Jose Rizal (Anvil Publishing, 2013); What Kids Should Know About Filipino Food (Adarna Books, 2017/2022); Kain Na! An Illustrated Guide to Philippine Food (with Bryan Koh; RPD Publications, 2020); and Pigafetta’s Philippine Picnic: Culinary Encounters During the First Circumnavigation, 1519–1522 (National Historical Commission of the Philippines, 2021). Her works have received the National Book Award, the Celes Alabado Award for Outstanding Children’s Literature, and the Gourmand Cookbook Award. She is a recipient of, among many recognitions, the Gawad Pambansang Alagad ni Balagtas from the Unyon ng mga Manunulat sa Pilipinas; the Gawad Tanglaw ng Lahi from the Ateneo de Manila University; and the S.E.A. Write Award. She is currently on the board of advisers of the Ayala Museum and is vice president and cofounder of the Food Writers Association of the Philippines.

What Recipes Don’t Tell: Philippine Food History in Fifty Words is published by the Ateneo de Manila University Press under the Bughaw imprint. The book retails at PHP 425 and is available at the Ateneo University Press Bookshop in Bellarmine Hall, and the Press’s official Lazada and Shopee stores.

Grab your copy in paperback: Website | Shopee and Lazada