HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – A local chef is sharing his Filipino culture and comfort food through his catering business Mama’s Boy and cooking classes at Hana Kitchens.
Rob Vasquez, an Army veteran, trained chef, and founder of Mama’s Boy, a globally inspired catering company, joined Hawaii News Now Sunrise to show a simple way to make lumpia and share how he found his passion.
“It’s a way to reconnect with my heritage, too. As a son of immigrants, I never lived in the Philippines, so I’ve begun to learn more about my culture through food, among other things,” Vasquez said.
For 23 years, Vasquez was on active duty in the Army. As he eventually approached retirement, he decided to follow his true calling: cooking.
He earned a degree in culinary arts and founded Mama’s Boy, which seeks to spread goodwill through good food.
Though he returned to the legal profession, this time as an Army civilian attorney, he continues his culinary work on weekends and dedicates himself to service organizations at the local and national levels.
Chef Vasquez also hosts group cooking classes to bring people together to make lumpia and other comfort food.
“Sitting around a table rolling lumpia is just like what so many of us did growing up with our families,” Vasquez said.
Classes offered at Mama’s Boy include gnocchi, lumpia, pasta, sushi, and more, out of Hana Kitchens at 55 Merchant Street.
His next lumpia making class is on Oct. 24. Register here or follow Mama’s Boy on Instagram for Vasquez’s next class.
For more information on Hana Kitchens, visit this website.
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Dining and Cooking