Marvin Gapultos - The Adobo Road Cookbook: A Filipino Food Journey-From Food Blog, to Food Truck, and Beyond

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

While 2011 was a year of great joy for me, it was also a year fraught with sadness. It was the year in which I was blessed to sign a contract with Tuttle Publishing for the cookbook you see here. And it was the year in which I was able to happily walk away from my successful and pioneering food truck, The Manila Machine.

Despite these joyous events, that year started with the sad news of my maternal grandfather, Gregorio Ladera, passing away in the Philippines in January. When I was very young, my Grandpa Guyo lived with us in the States and practically raised me and my brothers while my parents worked long hours. Because of my Grandpa Guyos influence, I learned to find contentment in the simplest of things. And for that, I am thankful. Ill always remember his love of pancit noodles.

Just a few short weeks after my Grandpa Guyos passing, I learned that my paternal grandfather, Juan Gapultos, had fallen ill and perhaps did not have much longer to be with his family. Although I had previously decided to end my food truck business to spend more time with my wife and son and to focus on this cookbook, the news of my Grandpa Johnnys health made my decision that much easier. I now had the luxury to spend time with my family and to visit with my Grandpa Johnny on most weekends until he finally passed away in August of that year. My Grandpa Johnny taught me many things in life, but chief among them was a love of family. And for that I am thankful. Ill always remember his love of the bitter Filipino soup; papaitan .

I am forever grateful for the guidance my grandfathers provided me throughout my lifewithout that guidance, this cookbook would not have been possible. I am also fortunate to have a close circle of family and friends who have helped to make this cookbook possible. This cookbook truly is a longtime dream come true for me.

First and foremost, Id like to thank my grandmother, Estrella Gapultos (AKA Grandma Esther). Thank you for instilling in me a love for our food and our culture.

Thank you to my Great AuntiesAKA Grandma Carling and Grandma Puyongfor keeping it real. Your miki and pinakbet are unrivaled and unequaled.

Thank you to my wonderfully supportive, loving and understanding wife, Barbara. No matter how zany and crazy an idea Ive had, youve always been there to push me forward to reach my goals. Thank you for keeping our household in order while I was toiling away on a food truck. You are an incredible wife and mother.

To my son, Bruce. One day itll all make sense. To my parents, Mario and Clarita Gapultos. You are the first to doubt, but I always get the last laugh. Thanks for keeping me fed all these years.

My older brother, Claudell, tested a few of the recipes in this book and provided some very positive feedback when I was expecting a punch to the stomach. He also let me raid his cupboards for a few pieces of dishware that I used as props in some of the photos in this book (I got tired of buying and returning dishes to certain housewares stores). Thanks big brother!

My little brother, Darren, a wielder of heavy cameras and deep sighs, provided me with much needed photography and computer advice during the creation of this cookbook. He also loaned me his fancy-pants camera and lens that I used for a handful of photos throughout this cookbook. And hes also responsible for photographing my snazzy headshot on the back flap of this book. Thanks, little brother!

My cousin Kathy Fermin perhaps has the best palate and taste buds of anyone I know. I learned a lot about balancing flavors from her. Thank you Kathy for recipe testing, and thanks for double-checking my Tagalog!

Thank you to the entire team at Tuttle Publishing for giving me the wonderful opportunity to share a part of my culture with the rest of the world. Thank you to William Notte for recognizing the potential in my proposal. And thank you also to Rowan Muelling-Auer, Gail Tok, and Christopher Johns. My gratitude also goes to Jon Steever, June Chong, and Irene Ho for making sense out of my words and images and transforming them into a great cookbook.

Many thanks to Norman Kolpas at UCLA. You read the very first draft of my cookbook proposal, and instead of throwing it in the trash, you encouraged me to pursue my dreams of writing this cookbook. Thank you for finding the promise and spark in that proposal.

The title of this cookbook is due in large part to Amy Scattergood of LA Weekly. Back in 2011, Amy wrote a very nice story about me entitled Adobo Road. The team at Tuttle liked that article title so much, that we decided to use it as part of the title for this cookbook. Thankfully, Amy gave me her blessing to use the title. Thanks again Amy, and thanks for doing what you can to promote Filipino food.

Nerissa Silao went above and beyond in her efforts to help promote this cookbook. Thank you so much for spreading the word and for helping me toot my own horn when you thought I was being much too timid!

My friend, Cameron Rhudy, gave me a kick in the pants to start a food blog oh so many years ago. Thanks for those words of encouragement. And thanks for all the free legal advice I needed to navigate my food truck.

Thank you Nastassia Johnson for partnering with me on The Manila Machine.

Thank you to my Friend of Friends, Matt Hurst. Your positive attitude and your attempts at levity during stressful times were greatly appreciatedeven though I hardly ever laughed. Drinks soon.

Thank you to Bee Yin Low, for all the camera and cookbook writing advice you gave me.

Thank you to blogger and author extraordinaire, Jaden Hair, for opening the door for me at Tuttle and for all the blogger/business advice you gave me in the past.

Many, many thanks to Pat Tanumihardja. Youve helped me in so many ways over the last few years that I really dont know where to begin. Thank you for all your help with my proposal and thank you so much for always being so candid and honest with all of your advice.

Thank you Andrea Nguyen for always taking the time to answer the glut of questions I always seemed to have for you. Your advice, words of wisdom and encouragement meant so much to me. You are truly an inspiration.

When I first started my food truck, cookbook author and restaurateur Amy Besa reached out to me and offered some honest advice and well wishes. Since that time, Amy has continued to be nothing but helpful and supportive of my efforts in promoting Filipino food. Thank you, Amy.

To Claude Tayag. Thank you for fighting the good fight and for being the keeper of the Filipino culinary flame. Youre a great role model for all of us. Salamat .

I also would like to thank the readers of Burnt Lumpia. Honestly and truly, this cookbook would not be possible without you. I couldnt have gotten to this point without making the connections Ive made with all of you. Thank you for supporting me and Filipino food all these years!

And lastly, I want to give a big thanks to all the recipe testers that helped make this cookbook what it is. The following people provided the brutally honest feedback I needed by volunteering their time, and their discerning palates, to test each recipe in this cookbook: