This May marks 34 years since President George H.W. Bush proclaimed the first Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month, since changed in 2009 to Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The monthlong celebration was created to recognize the many contributions to every facet of U.S. life made by Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

It’s San Diego’s good fortune that, according to the 2022 U.S. census, 13.6 percent of residents in San Diego County identify as Asian, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander.

Among them are Filipino American chefs Evan Cruz, corporate executive chef with Cohn Restaurant Group, and John Bacolod, executive chef at Vintana Wine + Dine in Escondido. Both men were born in the Philippines and immigrated here with their families as kids. To celebrate AAPI Heritage Month, Cruz and Bacolod prepared three beloved dishes from their Filipino upbringing for my new story for The San Diego Union-Tribune’s Food section: Señorita Bread, a variation on pandesal that includes a sweet filling; Pork Belly Liempo with Atchara, strips of marinated and grilled pork belly accompanied by pickled green papaya salad; and Kare Kare, a decadent stew of meat and vegetables enveloped in peanut sauce and served with Fried Fermented Shrimp Paste. They are stunning examples of traditional Filipino food and have some amazing family stories behind them. Check them out and make them in your kitchen!