Growing up in Southern California as a first-generation Filipino American, Woldy Reyes felt like an outsider, always straddling two worlds. At home, his family ate adobo with rice, gathered in the kitchen to roll lumpia, and roasted a whole goat in the backyard to make kalderetang kambing (celebratory goat stew). At school, all he wanted was Lunchables and Flamin’ Hot Cheetos. It wasn’t until he discovered the power of food as a means of connection—to strangers and friends, to his heritage, and even to himself—that he began cooking in earnest and sharing his story through the dishes he made. His signature style, now beloved by his catering clients in New York City and beyond, highlights classic Filipino food but with a focus on local, seasonal produce and artful presentation.
In the Kusina is Woldy’s story told through a collection of vibrant, vegetable-forward recipes and his distinct lens as a queer Filipino American. These aren’t your lola’s traditional dishes; here, Filipino tastes and techniques are reimagined for a new generation of home cooks, resulting in a trove of elegant and boldly flavorful recipes organized by season, including:
- Garlic Furikake Rice with Fried Egg
- Pancit Salad
- Adobo Green Beans
- Kabocha Squash Lumpia
- Decadent hot and cold drinks, luscious desserts, and much more
Featuring inspired combinations of texture, technique, and flavor, these recipes are uncomplicated yet taste complex. A section covering foundational sauces and pantry items—such as Coconut Hot Sauce, Miso Mushroom Bagoong, and Sweet and Spicy Banana Ketchup—rounds out the offering and makes it easy to begin experimenting with Filipino flavors.
Brimming with gorgeously stylish photos of food that’s as lovely to look at as it is to eat, this is more than just a carefully curated selection of recipes. In the Kusina is a joyful story told in Woldy’s charming voice, a love letter to Filipino food, and, most of all, a cookbook filled with delicious recipes that you’ll turn to again and again.
UNIQUE TAKE ON FILIPINO CUISINE: Woldy's approach to Filipino food is light, fresh, and uniquely his own. His focus on in-season ingredients and beautiful presentation transforms classic Filipino dishes into contemporary renditions that will appeal to first-generation and modern home cooks looking for novel recipes with Asian influence.
SEASONAL COOKBOOK: In the Kusina highlights the benefits of eating with the seasons, shopping at your local farmers market, and enjoying produce in its prime, which is better for you as well as the planet. Organized by season, these colorful, healthy recipes show you how to make plant-based and vegetarian dishes that taste divine, sing with flavor, and leave you feeling nourished and energized.
COOKING GIFT: With a distinctive exposed binding, gorgeous cover, and interiors brimming with artful images, this luxe book looks as beautiful as the recipes taste. Perfect for gift-giving or displaying on a cookbook shelf, kitchen island, or coffee table.
Perfect for:
- Fans of Asian cuisine, including the food of the Philippines
- Curious home cooks who love trying new recipes
- Filipino Americans eager to enjoy dishes they grew up with in a more veggie-forward way
- Eco-conscious eaters looking to incorporate more plant-based meals into their diet
- Birthday, wedding, or housewarming present for food lovers
