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Phil-Am Kusina Brings Traditional Filipino Food to Staten Island

By Nicholas Rizzi | January 23, 2015 3:25pm | Updated on January 28, 2015 2:47pm
 Phil-Am Kusina in Rosebank offers up traditional Filipino dishes, and some with American twists.
Phil-Am Kusina
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ROSEBANK — The flavor of the Philippines is being savored on Staten Island after the borough's first restaurant featuring the nation's food opened.

Phil-Am Kusina opened its doors this month and serving traditional Filipino dishes at 556 Tompkins Avenue.

"We hope to be able to bring the Filipino food experience to Staten Island because it's already growing throughout New York and New Jersey," said Manny Imperial, owner of the spot.

Aside from traditional favorites like lumpia pork, adobo and crispy pata (pork knuckle), the spot also has several dishes with an American twist, like sigsig tacos. Instead of traditional sisig — made with the face of a pig — Imperial uses chicken marinated in the same seasoning and puts them in crunchy shells.

Imperial originally didn't have plans to open the restaurant but planned to help cook at his parent's grocery store on the same block, Phil-Am Foods.

However, after six eateries failed to last at 556 Tompkins Ave., the landlord offered the space up to Imperial and, since he recently graduated from a culinary school in the Philippines, he decided to give his fresh skills a go.

Unlike other Filipino spots, Imperial wanted to move away from buffet style eateries and create a place where people can sit down.

Imperial also plans to show work from local Filipino artists on the walls of the eatery.

And, starting in February, Imperial will host a traditional Kamayan Night every Thursday. The night will offer parties of six or more the chance to have a Kamayan feast where several dishes of grilled or barbecued meat with rice are laid out on a large banana leaf.

"We'll have a spread of food right in the middle [of the table] and we'll be teaching everyone how to eat with their hands," he said.