Astig Vegan featured on a TV show

I’m still pinching myself. Astig Vegan has made it on television! Last Thursday I was on the television cable station, The Filipino Channel, to feature my vegan Filipino dishes.
 
The show is called “Adobo Nation“, a magazine television show that features food, entertainment, fashion, and other hot topics in the Filipino American community.

 

The show’s associate producer emailed me several weeks ago saying she was interested in my work. Of course, I said yes! Granted I did know her in the past when I was freelancing for the station ten years ago (on a different show called “Balitang America”), I was still pretty amazed that they haven’t forgotten about me and that they were interested in what I’ve been up to.

I was asked to bring my vegan shrimp paste and some of my cooked dishes. I researched and reviewed past segments on Adobo Nation’s Youtube channel and realized others had brought in massive spread of food. And by massive, I mean at least 15 dishes! I almost fainted when I saw just how much food they had brought in to the show. The guests were restaurant owners and chefs so of course they had a team to whip up their food in no time.  Good thing my mom and my sister were able to volunteer a bit of their time to help me. They were life savers.
 
Two days before the studio taping, I was cooking like a mad woman. I made vegan Sisig, vegan Menudo Stew, vegan Munggo Stew, vegan Dinuguan, vegan shrimp paste or Bagoong, vegan Bicol Express, vegan Pinakbet, grilled eggplant, and sliced mangoes and jicama. Yes, I was on a roll. Why did I torture myself, I had no clue. The producers had made it clear I didn’t have to bring the same number of dishes the past guests did because the producers understood I don’t have a restaurant. Yet, I challenged myself to step it up and bring it on. 

As hectic as everything was, I finished cooking on time.  I also finished getting ready on time – quite rare! Lucky me, my sister who is into make up (actually two of my sisters are), was able to doll me up. She was also able to go with me to the studio and help out with plating and presentation. She was also able to take photos during the show. I don’t know what I would have done without her help.

 

Here are some of the photos she took during the segment:

 
The segment will air on The Filipino Channel via cable subscription on March 8. I believe I will also get a digital copy so I could upload it on my YouTube channel. I’m looking forward to share the episode with you and hear your reaction. Crossing fingers that I didn’t make a fool out of myself. I guess we’ll find out soon!