Ep 3. Maria's Secret Recipe

Food Lore is a stunning and intricate anthology that centers around the importance of food in people's lives and how it connects them. In season one episode three, titled "Maria's Secret Recipe", the series takes us on a journey to the beautiful and mystical city of Vigan, in the Philippines.

As the episode opens, we get a glimpse of Maria, a woman in her late 70s, preparing a delectable traditional Filipino breakfast consisting of longganisa, sinangag, and itlog na pula. She cooks with precision, using her experience and intuition to create the perfect blend of flavors for a hearty meal. We are then introduced to her grandson, Ryan, who helps her run a small food stall in Calle Crisologo. Ryan speaks nostalgically about his time growing up in Vigan, with his grandmother teaching him how to unlock the secrets of their family's age-old recipes.

Food is a big part of Filipino culture and Maria is a master of it, renowned for her culinary skills. She's been in the business for over 50 years, making traditional delicacies in her small shop. Her specialty is her signature dish, the Vigan empanada, which is a delicious savory pastry filled with grated papaya, carrots, onions, and ground pork. It's a popular Filipino street food and everyone in Vigan seems to have their own unique recipe for it. However, Maria's secret recipe is famous for its unique blend of spices and flavors, which makes her empanadas stand out from the others.

Along with Ryan, Maria's daily routine includes waking up early and heading to the market to source for fresh ingredients for her recipes. She uses traditional techniques and methods, hand-rolling the empanada dough, mixing and blending her unique spice mix, and preparing the filling from scratch. The whole process takes hours, but the results are worth it.

As the episode progresses, we learn about Maria's backstory and her journey to becoming a successful businesswoman and chef. She tells Ryan about how she started making empanadas at the age of 18, using her grandmother's recipe. Maria didn't have much formal education but she was determined to make a living and support her family. She worked hard, honing her skills, and adding her personal touch to the recipe. Her empanadas quickly gained a good reputation, and slowly but surely, her business grew.

In the Philippines, families often pass down their recipes from generation to generation, and Maria's family is no exception. She talks about how her mother taught her the value of food, and how it can connect people and bring them together. It's a lesson she's taken to heart all through her life, and it's evident in the way she interacts with her customers, many of whom are regulars that have been coming to her shop for years.

As we approach the end of the episode, we see Maria and Ryan working together, preparing for a big event. Every year, Vigan holds a fiesta to celebrate its history and culture, and every food vendor in town is given a chance to showcase their specialties. Maria and Ryan are excited to participate, but Maria doesn't want to reveal her secret recipe. Instead, she decides to put a twist on her famous Vigan empanadas, creating a new flavor that combines her traditional recipe with a modern, surprising twist.

In the end, Maria's Secret Recipe is an incredible episode that celebrates the power of food and how it connects us to our past, present, and future. It's a beautiful tribute to family traditions, the importance of hard work and determination, and the magic of sharing food with others. In this episode, we are transported to the stunning city of Vigan, and we are introduced to a legendary chef whose delectable creations have captured the hearts of thousands of people.