Recipes by Nora is a thriving blog site about Filipino food in Facebook (30K followers), Instagram (184K follower), and YouTube (3.8K subscribers). Her followers from the Filipino American community have embraced her mission to promote memory evoking Filipino culinary favorites – from our comfort dishes to her creative twists on our street food. Second generation Fil-Am families have gained exposure to regional specialties from the home provinces of their parents and grandparents. Family members who enjoy cooking found enjoyment in whipping up meals using her recipes to recreate their favorites from back home.

Reviews indicate Nora is enabling wider recognition and appreciation of Filipino food in the US. Foodies have found her recipe adaptations using locally sourced ingredients quite useful and practical given the busy nature of American living. With her artful photos and step-by-step recipes, the preparation of favorites such as kare-kare and lumpia shanghai has been less complicated – especially for the budget conscious and time-pressed younger second and third generation Fil-Ams who are trying to please their picky parents.

Nora’s success comes from the easy functionality of her social media pages where she offers a wide array of printable recipes and detailed tutorials with colorful photos. Having experienced the challenges of cooking authentic Pinoy dishes abroad, she makes her recipes accessible to home cooks anywhere through clear instructions and creative ingredient substitutions. She continues to add interesting recipes and share culinary ideas for her subscribers and followers – not only about Filipino food but Southeast Asian cuisine as well.

Her culinary journey

Nora was born into a close-knit Filipino Chinese family in Naga City. Her grandparents were in the butchery business.

For the Reyes family, gathering in the kitchen was a cherished pastime and a nod to their family trade. Her mother Alice, who worked in a bank, was an excellent cook herself. She owned a food catering business and a café which offered homestyle Bicolano specialties. Nora showed a talent for cooking at a young age. She could cook adobo at age seven and was helping out in the family food shopping which included a bit of haggling with the vendors in the Naga public market. She learned her ways around the kitchen hands-on by watching her mother, aunts and grandmother prepare dishes.

Nora’s deep appreciation for Filipino cooking was nurtured by memories of preparing meals with her family. These were always joyous occasions to compare recipes, share stories over food while enjoying the scents, flavors, and colors. She pursued her education in culinary arts and business in Manila. She attended a top culinary school honing her techniques and did internships at renowned restaurants and hotels to gain hands-on experience and hone her skills.

Her family moved to New York and California twenty years ago. In New York City, she held a key position for many years as a training director for a restaurant chain. Subsequently she became a restaurant consultant and then worked as a personal chef, introducing her well-heeled clients to Filipino cuisine through private dining experiences. Each role gave her a unique perspective on the food services industry.

How Recipes by Nora got started

Nora lived in Los Angeles for some time where she honed her skills and passion for cross-cultural cuisine. It was there she reunited with her kindergarten classmate, Mark, who would later become her husband. They eventually moved to New Jersey where they now live with their three wonderful boys.

Nora recounts how she got started in her Recipes by Nora website:

“My blogging adventure began in 2013, centered around baking—particularly crafting fondant cakes. Over time, I found myself drawn more to cooking, something I’ve always loved. That’s how “Recipes by Nora” came to life in 2018.

It is more than just a collection of recipes; it’s a celebration of my Filipino heritage, expressed through the universal language of food. Filipino food is my comfort food, reminiscent of my childhood—of good times and meals shared with family and friends.

My approach to cooking is a blend of traditional Filipino methods and modern techniques I’ve learned through my formal education in culinary arts and immersive experiences from restaurant internships to roles as a private chef.

While my husband, Mark, is a nurse by profession, he’s always had a passion for photography and all things technical. He’s the skilled photographer, videographer, and troubleshooter behind Recipes by Nora. Through his encouragement, I was inspired to begin sharing my recipes online.”

– Nora Reyes

Bringing Filipino dishes to the American table

Joshua Castillo, US-based correspondent for Inquirer.net (Los Angeles, November 08, 2023) credits Nora Reyes’ adaptability for the success of Recipes by Nora. He writes:

“While dedication to tradition is important in maintaining a cuisine’s cultural integrity, Nora understands the necessity of adaptation to make Filipino cooking accessible everywhere. Locating authentic specialty goods presents challenges abroad, so she initially experimented extensively to find versatile substitutes preserving unique Pinoy flavors.

For example, calamansi is crucial but limited outside Southeast Asia. Nora tests various citrus blends to replace their floral sourness, settling on lemon juice as an excellent compromise. Similarly, bagoong alamang or shrimp paste is replaced using readily available version in jars for those unable to source the authentic condiment.

Beyond direct substitutes, Nora creatively reimagines recipes when certain ingredients prove prohibitively difficult to obtain. Unable to find fresh ube, Nora turns to purple sweet potatoes as a close alternative. She tweaks her dishes to capture the unique taste and vibrant color of the original Filipino yam. Through such explorations, Nora discovers that achieving balance, rather than perfection, should guide interpretation.

This spirit of pragmatic adjustment while maintaining cultural connections resonates beyond Filipino cooking alone. Her adaptations empower home chefs worldwide to prepare dishes evoking memories of the Philippine islands using local supermarket staples. By tweaking proven recipes to suit modern lifestyles, Nora also ensures treasured culinary traditions remain relevant to new audiences.

Above all, Nora believes the heart and soul of her cuisine lies not in rigid fidelity but flexible evolution. Only through respecting both tradition and necessity can one truly globalize Philippine flavors as she strives to do.”

Joshua Castillo

Sample Recipes from Nora’s Kitchen

Conclusion

Nora Reyes invites her readers to browse her extensive collection of recipes. They are beautifully illustrated tutorials. From home style favorites to regional delicacies, each recipe captures the hungry heart. New visitors and seasoned chefs alike are sure to find inspiration on their journey across Filipino and Southeast Asian cuisines. Her recipes are tested in her kitchen and adapted to available ingredients from US sources.

Readers can explore and learn more by clicking the links below. Bon appétit and Mabuhay!

LEARN MORE ABOUT RECIPES BY NORA : Click link to view website

VISIT RECIPES BY NORA ON FACEBOOK: Click link to visit her Facebook page