Chef Maynard Llera and the Rise of Filipino Cuisine

From Lucena to Los Angeles: Chef Maynard Llera and the Rise of Filipino Cuisine

Every so often, a story comes along that makes me smile, not just because of the achievement itself, but because of what it represents for Filipinos around the world.

One such story is that of Chef Lord Maynard Llera, owner of the Los Angeles restaurant Kuya Lord, who won the 2024 James Beard Award for Best Chef: California. The James Beard Awards are often called the "Oscars of the culinary world," recognizing excellence in American dining and hospitality. To receive such an honor is one of the highest achievements a chef can attain.

For Filipino Americans, Chef Llera's victory is much more than a personal accomplishment. It is another milestone in the growing appreciation of Filipino culture and cuisine in the United States.

Born and raised in Lucena City in the Philippines, Maynard Llera brought with him the flavors and memories of his childhood when he immigrated to America. He trained in some of Los Angeles' finest kitchens before deciding, at the age of forty, to pursue his dream of introducing Filipino food to a broader audience.

His journey was far from conventional.

He began with a small barbecue pop-up during the pandemic, cooking from his own home and garage kitchen. Through word of mouth and social media, customers eagerly ordered trays of kare-kare, pancit, lechon, and other Filipino favorites. What started as a modest operation quickly became one of Los Angeles' most talked-about restaurants.

In 2022, he opened Kuya Lord on Melrose Avenue. "Kuya" is a Filipino term of respect meaning "older brother," a fitting name for a restaurant that welcomes guests with warmth and hospitality. His menu combines traditional Filipino flavors with refined culinary techniques, elevating dishes such as lechon kawali, pancit, and roasted pork while remaining faithful to their roots.

Critics and diners alike took notice. Kuya Lord earned recognition from the Los Angeles Times, Bon Appétit, Time Out, and many other publications, establishing itself as one of America's premier Filipino restaurants.

When Chef Llera accepted his James Beard Award in 2024, he also accepted the role of ambassador for Filipino cuisine. In interviews, he expressed his hope that Filipino food would one day be as familiar and beloved as Chinese, Japanese, or Thai cuisine. His mission is not simply to serve meals but to share Filipino culture through food.

As someone who immigrated to America many decades ago, I find his story especially meaningful.

When I first arrived, Filipino restaurants were few and far between. Many Americans had never heard of adobo, sinigang, pancit, or lumpia. Our cuisine was often known only within our own community.

Today, that is changing.

Young chefs like Maynard Llera are introducing the richness of Filipino cooking to diners of every background. They are proving that our food belongs on the world stage alongside the finest cuisines anywhere.

Their success mirrors the achievements of Filipino Americans in medicine, law, education, science, public service, and the arts. Every accomplishment helps tell a larger story, that immigrants bring with them traditions and talents that enrich their adopted homeland.

When I read about Chef Maynard Llera receiving his medal, I felt a quiet sense of pride. It reminded me that every generation builds upon the sacrifices of the one before it.

When I came to America decades ago, Filipino restaurants were few and far between, and many Americans had never tasted adobo or pancit. Today, a Filipino chef has won California's highest culinary honor. It is a reminder that culture travels through food as much as through language, and every plate served tells a story of family, history, and home. For Filipino Americans like me, Chef Maynard Llera's achievement is not just his victory, it is another chapter in the growing recognition of our community's contributions to America.

AI Overview:

Lord Maynard Llera’s journey from Lucena City in the Philippines to Los Angeles showcases the meteoric rise of Filipino cuisine in America. By blending classical culinary training with the flavors of his childhood, he earned the prestigious 2024 James Beard Award for Best Chef: California for his restaurant Kuya Lord. 

Llera, who immigrated to the U.S. in his early twenties, refined his craft as the opening sous chef at Bestia and as culinary director for the h.wood group. During the 2020 pandemic, he shifted gears and began hosting a celebrated garage pop-up in La Cañada Flintridge. This eventually evolved into his brick-and-mortar fast-casual restaurant in Los Angeles' Melrose Hill neighborhood. 

The menu at Kuya Lord focuses heavily on regional Southern Tagalog cuisine and street-food concepts, elevating familiar Lucena favorites. Standout dishes include:

• Lucenachon: Slow-roasted, crispy pork belly that serves as the centerpiece for his popular rice bowls and sisig.
• Chami: A regional stir-fried noodle dish that became a signature staple during his pop-up days.
• Ginataang Prawns: Grilled New Caledonia blue prawns sautéed in a rich, garlicky crab sauce. 

Llera’s success highlights the mainstream breakthrough of modern Filipino-American dining, shifting the perception of the cuisine from simple comfort food to recognized culinary artistry. 

Meanwhile 

BURJ KHALIFA TO LIGHT UP IN PHILIPPINE COLORS

The world's tallest tower will display the colors of the Philippine flag today, June 12, in celebration of the 128th Philippine Independence Day.

The lighting is set for 8:10 PM (GST) at the Burj Khalifa in Downtown Dubai.

Lastly, My Photo of the Day: Me and My Heart Creation: Photo Credit-Jenny S

Dye Event at THD, A Colorful Success

Yesterday,  Dye Event was indeed a Colorful Success. Sixteen Brave THD Seniors signed up for the event. I have to cancel my bridge Game so I can join the FUN. Attached are some of the Photos I took including my Heart Creation,  

My Heart Creation-Excellent Gift for Valentine's or Mothers's Day  
 

Here are ten of today’s top news items, based on major headlines circulating right now:

1. Trump says the Iran agreement is not final and is still being negotiated.

2. World leaders are managing tensions with Trump at the G7 summit in France.

3. Trump-backed candidate won the GOP Senate runoff in Georgia.

4. The Trump administration agreed to pay $765 million to end four offshore wind leases.

5. Tropical Storm Arthur formed near the Texas coast and may bring dangerous flooding.

6. U.S. retail sales rose more than expected in May, showing consumer resilience.

7. The U.S. SEC is moving toward a policy that could allow stock token trading.

8. Reuters reported that deaths in ICE detention have more than doubled under Trump’s mass deportation campaign.

9. The Federal Reserve is expected to hold rates steady while weighing inflation pressures tied to the Iran conflict.

10. The FBI says it thwarted a plot targeting a White House UFC event, with multiple suspects in custody.

My Photo of the Day: Golden Gate Park with Mt Diablo in the Background

Discovering My Ancestral Roots on My Father Side of the Family

Discovering My Roots: A Journey into the C(K)atague and Javellana Family Tree

Don Cristino Javellana y Lopez- My Great, Great- Grand Father Uncle (https://javellana.wordpress.com/)

For most of my life, genealogy never captured my interest. I was busy raising a family, pursuing a career in chemistry, serving the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and later writing blogs that reached readers around the world. Looking back, I realize that I knew very little about the generations who came before me.

That changed about two decades ago. 

One day, a blogger from Iloilo, Philippines asked me a simple question: "Was your great grandfather on your father's side Victoriano Catague?

Honestly, I did not know or was not sure of the answer. 

Our family name is now spelled with a "K"-Katague-but I knew from family stories that our original surname began with a "C." Curious, I admitted that I was uncertain. The blogger then suggested that I visit a genealogy website devoted to the Javellana family (highlighted in blue above).

I did. What I discovered was nothing short of remarkable. It assured me of my ancestral roots.  

The research confirmed that my great-great-grandparents were Don Manuel Javellana and Doña Gertrudis Lopez of Jaro, Iloilo. Suddenly, names that had existed only in history became part of my own story. My family tree stretched back several generations, connecting me with relatives I had never met but who had made significant contributions to Philippine society.

The experience gave me a new appreciation for genealogy. It is more than a collection of names and dates. It is a bridge connecting the present with the past.

As I continued reading, I learned that many of my distant relatives became politicians, educators, writers, actors, actresses, and sports enthusiasts. Their accomplishments reflected a tradition of public service and intellectual achievement that has endured across generations.

Interestingly, I could not find any ancestors who became famous musicians. But I did discover one or two who earned recognition as talented painters and writers, proving that artistic gifts also flowed through the family lineage.

What impressed me most was the large number of educators and public servants among my ancestors. Education has always been one of the greatest gifts a family can pass from one generation to another, and public service represents a commitment to improving the lives of others. Knowing that these values existed in my family long before I was born gives me a deeper sense of identity.

As I reflect on my own life, as a chemist, FDA reviewer, teacher, blogger, husband, father, grandfather, and now great-grandfather twice, I see how each generation contributes its own chapter to the family story. We inherit not only our genes but also values, traditions, and aspirations.

Genealogy has taught me that our roots matter. They remind us where we came from and help explain who we are today.

Perhaps somewhere in the future, one of my great-grandchildren will become curious about our family's history. They may trace their roots back through the generations and discover not only politicians and educators, but also a scientist who loved to write and share his experiences with readers around the world.

If that happens, I hope they will feel the same pride and gratitude that I felt when I discovered my own roots.

Our family tree is not simply a record of the past, it is a living legacy that continues to grow with every generation.

AI Overview: 

My Father, Dr David Jamili C(K)atague, DDS, 1949  

https://javellana.wordpress.com/genealogy/marcelina-javellana/

Tracing your roots through the C(K)atague and Javellana families reveals a rich lineage deeply intertwined with the history and gentry of Iloilo in the Philippines. Both surnames represent prominent, historic bloodlines with strong roots in Western Visayas.

The Javellana Lineage: Iloilo’s Elite

The Javellana family traces its roots to the late 19th-century gentry in the historic district of Jaro, Iloilo. Historically considered one of the leading families of the region, their legacy encompasses prominent ancestral estates, business enterprises, and notable descendants. 

Key Ancestor: Don Cristino Javellana served as the gobernadorcillo (municipal leader) of Jaro in the 1890s. 

• Ancestral Homes: The family's wealth and refined lifestyle are memorialized by historic landmarks such as the Casa Mariquit Javellana-Lopez (built in 1803 by Ramon Javellana) and the opulent Nelly Garden Mansion. 
• 
  
  When I was a child growing up in Jaro, every time we passed the Nelly Garden Mansion, my father would mentioned it is owned by relatives and I often dream if I could just walk inside and see it all, But never Did!  
• Today, the House is Open For Public Tours

• The house is in Beaux-Arts style influenced by Western aesthetics. evident on its façade. It is designed to portray the extravagant lifestyle of Iloilo's most affluent families during the American colonial era in the Philippines. Profusely adorned with ornately carved columns and pilasters, the house is constructed to look imposing outside just as it does inside. Two set of wooden stairs lead to the family cavernous common room where most of the furniture and paintings are placed. Even the poster beds in its rooms at the second floor are carefully preserved for public viewing. High up in the ceiling are crystal chandeliers that give off a soft, warm glow, illuminated the wooden brandishing that serves as an elaborate divider to each room.

  In the centerpiece of the dining room is a hexagonal table which can sit up to twenty-four guests. A huge chandelier hangs from the ceiling which is fifteen-feet high. The door-length windows allows the light to get inside the room, creating a bright atmosphere as the guests dine together.

• Ancestral Homes: The family's wealth and refined lifestyle are memorialized by historic landmarks such as the Casa Mariquit Javellana-Lopez (built in 1803 by Ramon Javellana) and the opulent Nelly Garden Mansion. 

• Genealogy: The family tree is well-documented; known branches trace back to early patriarchs like Don Manuel Javellana (born 1815) and matriarch Doña Gertrudis Lopez(born 1819). []

The C(K)atague Connection: Visayan Roots

While the Katague surname has a slightly broader dispersion, family history databases and historical records place their origins securely within the Philippines.

• Lineage Mergers: Genealogical research shows significant crossovers between the two families; for example, historical records document the descendants of Marcelina Javellana marrying into the Catague/Katague line (e.g., the lineage of Julio Roberto Javellana Catague and Consolacion Golez Jamili). 
• Meaning & Origin: The name is believed to originate from local Philippine dialects, evolving from early groupings by location, clan, or occupation

Personal Notes:

This week, my massage therapist moved our Monday schedule to Tuesday morning conflicting with my chair volleyball, corn hole and ladder ball schedules. At 12 Noon yesterday while on my way to lunch after my massage two of our regular chair volley ball players, greeted me that they missed me. The other one, even said he was worried I may not be feeling well. It's good to know that some of my fellow residents missed me or worry and wonder If I am ok or not. Thanks JP for your concern and to everyone who missed me at Chair volley ball yesterday. 

Finally, My Photo of the Day: More Photos of the Dye Event soon

The Dye Event was Fun, Thank You Activity and Susie B for helping!