This week, Spice to Life takes audiences to the city by the bay, cosmopolitan and trend-setting San Francisco, where Chef Tim Luym has figured out the algorithm to playing big in the food and restaurant industry with competitive strategy and good food, with the help of some secret ingredients. Join him on the show’s upcoming episode on Sunday, April 10 at 7:30pm Pacific.
At three years old, Tim Luym’s family moved to San Francisco from Manila. Music and food quickly became a passion for Luym, who also had a long stint in music, performing under the name DJ Mosquito. The music-lover amassed thousands of records and still keeps over 10,000 to this day. But food posed a greater interest for Luym, who has successfully integrated Filipino dishes and flavors into his predominantly Asian-themed ventures, from Poleng Lounge, to the Wow Silog food truck, Attic Restaurant, Frozen Kuhsterd, Neighbor’s Corner, and Mekong Kitchen. This June, he puts his stamp on yet another enterprise, Buffalo Theory, a 33 taproom beer bar with Asian American inspired bar bites, drawn from his heritage and travels.
“I love food, cooking, and eating. The camaraderie, respect, and discipline in the French brigade-style system was appealing to me and there’s an honesty about good food and chefs making it happen,” shares Chef Tim Luym, featured chef on Spice to Life. “It’s a never-ending learning journey. Every day is a good day. No two days are the same, with new challenges to face and problems to solve that can affect the community and even change the world.”
San Francisco is known to be a melting pot city, home to a plethora of migrant communities whose cuisines have created a competitive, complex, and refined reputation for the city’s food scene. Ever wonder where the chefs go to eat? On this episode, Chef Tim Luym visits his favorite food spots, revealing history and local secrets, from Polk Street to Geary.
Luym is a San Francisco Chronicle three-star chef. In 2007, he was recognized as the San Francisco Chronicle Rising Star Chef. His first restaurant, Poleng, was awarded Top 10 New Restaurants of 2006, Michelin Bib Gourmand, and the San Francisco Chronicle’s Top 100 restaurants in the Bay Area in 2007 and 2008. His Crispy Adobo Wings made it on 7×7’s ‘100 Things to Eat Before You Die List.’ In 2015, Luym’s work in the community was recognized with a CAAMFeast Trailblazer Award, one most meaningful as philanthropy, working with the community, and creating a healthy and sustainable workforce have become his entrepreneurial focal points.
“Filipino cuisine was put on the map by entrepreneurs and artists like Tim Luym,” said Lifestyle Network Channel Head Aileen Paredes. “His genius behind the stove, compassion for his hometown, and enviable joie de vivre harmoniously make him a thought-leader in the global Filipino food movement.”
Join Tim Luym as he explores and uncovers the best of San Francisco. Learn his kitchen tricks to make the perfect meal for any time of the day. This Sunday, he covers all that and talks about why every household pantry should have the magical ingredient behind his success: fish sauce.
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