APRIL 10, 2026 – The Philippine Consulate General (PCG) in Toronto launched the fifth Filipino Restaurant Month in Canada (FMRC) at a press event held on Tuesday, March 31.
Filipino chefs, food influencers, media representatives, and members of the Filipino community joined the event, where Consul General Kristine Leilani R. Salle discussed the importance of the FMRC as a platform for celebrating Philippine culture, cuisine, and hospitality across Canada.
PCG Toronto Launches Filipino Restaurant Month
Created in April 2022, the FMRC is the flagship “gastrodiplomacy” program of the Philippine Embassy and Consulates General in Canada, together with the Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and restaurants across the country.
Held every April, the FMRC coincides with the Filipino Food Month (FFM), which celebrates Philippine culinary traditions and promotes Filipino cuisine as an expression of the country’s cultural identity.
This year, 30 restaurants from seven provinces in Canada have joined the campaign, according to a DFA news release. These include five popular establishments in Toronto, namely: Michelin Bib Gourmand awardee BB’s, Casa Manila, Makilala, Mineral, and Mother Tongue.
During the launching, Consul General Salle recognized the essential role of restaurateurs in promoting Filipino cuisine and strengthening ties between Canada and the Philippines, “one plate at a time.”
The Consul General also announced this year’s star ingredient: the Philippine mango. “Distinguished by its signature richness and unmatched sweetness, the Philippine mango is more than a tropical icon; it is our national fruit, a symbol of home and pride that we carry as Filipinos,” she stated. “It is a cornerstone of the country’s export industry, with its smooth, fiber-less flesh, making it ideal for value-added processing across multiple food and beverage formats.”
Notably, four of the five participating restaurants in Toronto were represented at the launching. Chefs Nuit Regular, Phillip Dela Cruz, Mila Nabor-Cuachon, and Justin Bella presented a tantalizing teaser menu: Fresh Tuna Kinilaw with Mangoes (Makilala); Sweet and Spicy Mango Shrimp Skewers (Mother Tongue); Chicken Adobo with Mango and Coconut Rice (Casa Manila); and Mango Float (BB’s).
These dishes were complemented by Gina Mango Nectar, a famous brand provided by APO Products Ltd/UNO Foods Inc., one of the biggest distributors of Philippine food products in Canada. Guests also received fresh mangoes flown directly from the Philippines by the Consulate.
After the presentation, a Q&A session followed. Guests were able to sample the delicious dishes, while the chefs shared their insights on introducing Filipino cuisine to new audiences.
In other news, Philippine heritage is also highlighted in Germany, where the much-awaited “Rizal Hiking Trail” is opening soon. Check out this article to learn more about this historic trail.