The Department of Ethnic Studies UC Berkeley

This book talk celebrates the reprinting of Doreen G. Fernandez’s “Tikim: Essays on Philippine Food and Culture” in the Gendering the Trans-Pacific World book series edited by Catherine Ceniza Choy and Judy Tzu-Chun Wu and published by Brill. The event will feature reflections on the impact of Tikim in the Filipino American diaspora by chef and educator Aileen Suzara, who authored a new foreword for the book, and by historian and Asian American studies scholar Catherine Ceniza Choy, who wrote the editor’s preface.

Tikim is a groundbreaking work that introduces readers to the wondrous history of Filipino foodways. First published by Anvil in 1994, Tikim explores the local and global nuances of Philippine cuisine through its people, places, feasts, and flavors. Doreen Gamboa Fernandez (1934–2002) was a cultural historian, professor, author, and columnist. Her food writing educated and inspired generations of chefs and food enthusiasts in the Philippines and throughout the world. This Brill volume honors and preserves Fernandez’s legacy.

“Tikim” literally means to taste. In this spirit, this celebration of words will be complemented by bites made by local, Filipina-led food businesses.