Animae Chef talks Filipino food, family, becoming James Beard Award finalist

Chef Tara Luansing Monsod dreams about food.
"It's definitely a lifestyle, I'm very much immersed in this craft," said Monsod.
The Animae Executive Chef is San Diego's first-ever James Beard Award finalist. She got the news in April.
"I just went 'Holy Crap! I made it to the finals.' I had no idea. It didn't occur to me I was the only one," she said.
"I kind of honestly sat there, 'Wow. They chose me. Someone who's always been underestimated,' There you go, it's happening," she added.
The Filipina-American chef moved to San Diego in 2006. She originally had plans to become a nurse. However, she realized her true passion was food. She's been working in the food industry for the past 14 years.
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[@jimmiller1686]

we have many many Filipinos in our area but not a single Filipino retaurant. anybody know why?

[@Liz-sc3np]

Filipino restaurants don’t cook for a general audience. They cook for their community, so you won’t see a lot of Filipino fine dining establishments. You’ll mostly see food to-go places like Tita’s. The best place to eat Filipino food are at Filipino family parties.
And in terms of careers, not many Filipinos are in the restaurant business. Filipinos in the US are not entrepreneurial like other Asian groups. If they were to start a business, they go back to the Philippines where labor and overhead is cheaper.