Growing up in a household where cooking lumpiang shanghai and adobong manok was child’s play inspired Ai Magno to seek a career in the kitchen.
The 30-year-old home cook shares what she has learned through the years of cooking Filipino food with guests around the world through her interactive “Philippines, Food, Drinks, History” Online Experience on Airbnb.
Airbnb’s Online Experiences program was launched in April 2020, allowing the platform’s hosts to continue offering services in a safe way.
In the Online Experience she hosts, Magno, who specializes in Filipino staples such as kare-kare, sisig, and sinigang, as well as sweet treats such as halo-halo and leche flan, shares a list of ingredients to prepare and tips on where to procure them.
Guests taking part of the workshop held via Zoom also learn more about about the dishes they’re making.
“Filipino food is the ultimate fusion food. Thousands of years in the making, it was prepared by our Malay ancestors, sautéed by the Chinese, stewed by the Spanish, grilled by the Americans, and enjoyed by the modern Filipinos. It should be shared around the world for others to enjoy,” opines Magno.
Meanwhile, Filipino sous chef, lawyer, and educator Michelle Africa, and French chef Sébastien Chamaret team up to offer an Online Experience that showcases Filipino cuisine with a French twist.
Africa and Chamaret’s “Filipino Cooking with a French Flair” Online Experience takes guests on a cultural journey where they learn how to create adobo, lumpia, and pancit, among others.
This popular Experience holds a rating of 4.88 out of 5, with over 40 positive reviews from guests globally. “Thanks for a great evening learning to cook something brand new to me. You were very patient! It was a great way to celebrate a friend’s birthday during this pandemic. I wish we could have met you in person,” shared Sherri, one of their guests from San Diego.
Airbnb Online Experiences connect the global community to various activities in cities around the world, providing a new way for people to connect, travel virtually, and earn income during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to cooking, other activities such as tarot card reading, wine tour, guided meditation, and more are available on the platform.
Here in the Philippines, 51 percent of Online Experiences hosts are women, with 35 percent of them saying they started to offer this service to replace income lost from a full-time or part-time job.
“The Airbnb Online Experiences is for everyone who wants to share their passion and interact with people from all over the world,” shares Amanpreet Bajaj, general manager for India, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.