Rooted in Flavor Culinary Series to Feature Filipino-inspired Cuisine
IRVINE...The popular Rooted in Flavor Culinary Series presented by the Asian American Museum at Great Park returns Sunday, August 23 from 5 until 8 PM at TERRACE by Mix Mix at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa.
By: Dan Pittman
Published: August 5, 2026
The inspiring evening will feature a curated four-course, Filipino-inspired menu paired with a stimulating conversation exploring the evolution of Asian American culinary identity. Designed as immersive gatherings, the museum’s Rooted in Flavor encounters invite participants to listen, learn, and connect—celebrating food not just as nourishment, but its connection to storytelling, memory, and cultural preservation.
Tickets are $95 per person including dinner and wine. To purchase tickets, visit www.eventbrite.com/e/rooted-in-flavor-an-exploration-of-filipino-cuisine-tickets-1993111081899
Guest speakers for the evening are Ross Pangilinan, a talented chef and founder of TERRACE By Mix Mix, and Asian American culture expert Oliver Wang, Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Sociology at Cal State, Long Beach.
Pangilinan's eclectic style, which is influenced by French, Italian, and modern Filipino flavors, is a result of his rich culinary experience including studying at Le Cordon Bleu and working at the two-Michelin-starred Les Trois Marche in France. He was named "Rising Star Chef" in 2018 at the Golden Foodies and "Chef of the Year 2019" by the Orange County Business Journal.
Wang teaches courses in popular culture, the sociology of food, social issues, and race/class/gender, and is a regular writer on music, arts, and culture for outlets including NPR's All Things Considered, Los Angeles Review of Books, Los Angeles Times, and PBS SoCal’s Artbound.
He has co-hosted the podcasts Pop Rocket and Heat Rocks and is currently developing a new podcast on the songs of Asian America. He is a project curator for the Japanese American National Museum, working on an exhibit about Japanese American car culture in Los Angeles.
“We are delighted to continue our exploration of the many flavors of Asian American cuisine available to us right here in Southern California,” said the museum’s Executive Director Jack Toan. “This unique sensory journey of discovery serves up delicious food complemented by the stories and cultural connections behind it.”
For more information, visit www.aamuseumgp.org.
Photos: TERRACE by Mix Mix