Umi Nom And Kuma Inn In New York

Easy Meals Everyday Yummy.ph

09 Feb 2012 · Thu ABOUT US · CONTACT

Quick Links:

Features

November 19, 2009

Two Filipino restaurants get raves in New York and on the web.

By: Angelo Comsti

The sign by the entry of the restaurant

Manhattan chef King Phojanakong indeed deserved to be called king as his two Asian restaurants, Kuma Inn and Umi Nom (tagalog for "to eat" and "to drink", respectively), are not only drawing people in but also introducing them to Filipino dishes and flavors. Born to a Thai father and Filipino mother, the Culinary Institute of America graduate grew up in the States but never lost his connection to his roots and his love for food, even after being a energy engineer and club DJ first before becoming the esteemed chef that he is now. He trained under celebrity chefs Daniel Boulud and David Bouley and worked in restaurants such as Jean-Georges, Cendrillon, The Beekman Kitchen, and Fatapples, before opening his own, Kuma Inn, which started operations in May 2003 and has since then gone on to receive recognition in New York Times, New York Magazine, and Time Out New York, just to name a few. The same fate is being enjoyed by his sophomore venture, Umi Nom, which opened just July of this year and was immediately cited in nytimes.com as "a destination worthy of a trip on the G train." Serving reasonably priced Asian-inspired tapas such as Manila clams in spicy black bean sauce, pancit bihon, and pan-roasted ocean scallops with bacon, kalamansi and sake, dining in Kuma Inn and Umi Nom will definitely prove to be one juicy bite of The Big Apple.