In 2016, we started a very special project focused on heirloom Filipino rice. We traveled all around the Cordillera region, from Kalinga to Banaue and Ifugao, to meet communities and diving again into a deep understanding of the different rice varieties in the rice terraces and the traditions behind them.
We also worked with scientists at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) to develop a program centered on the Tinawon variety, and to better understand the entire rice ecosystem in the country. We learned about the heirloom rice project, where we discovered that there are thousands of indigenous varieties in the Philippines that IRRI keeps in a seed bank to prevent their disappearance.
For years, the rice served in our restaurant came directly from these trips and connections, specifically from the Rice Terraces Farmers’ Cooperative.
We are so excited to reconnect with one of the biggest treasures of the Philippines, the heirloom rice, to create a new experience around this magical produce for the next menu at Gallery by Chele.