’Sweet, spicy and sour’: Meet the hospitality trio helping bring Filipino cuisine to Hobart

Longtime hospitality friends Vincenzo Laginestra and Alberto Wisco will bring authentic Filipino fare to Hobart. Here’s the secret to the cuisine.

Vincenzo Laginestra, Eva Wu and Alberto Wisco. Picture: Makit Mak

The idea of holding a Filipino food pop-up started as a joke for these two friends.

Vincenzo Laginestra and Alberto Wisco were working at the casino when they landed upon a shared dream of opening their own Filipino restaurant, offering authentic dishes with cocktails to match.

Two years later and with the help of Hobart hospitality maven Eva Wu, they are one step closer to realising it, with their sold out one-off pop-up event, “Salo Salo”, to take place at her North Hobart cafe, Lazy Brunch on Sunday.

Mr Laginestra said the event was all about making Filipino food accessible.

“The meaning of ‘Salo Salo’ is gathering, so we want to make it a night for everyone – locals, Filipinos, and people who work in hospitality,” he said.

Along with cocktails made with local 7K Distillery spirits, the menu features iconic Filipino dishes including the stew-like chicken Adobo, pork sisig or minced pork belly and chicken liver, and Halo Halo, a dessert comprised of shaved ice, coconut milk and fruit.

As head chef, Mr Wisco said Filipino cuisine was a “marriage of cultures”.

“We like the sweet, spicy and sour,” he said.

Salo Salo Filipino food and cocktails pop-up. Picture: Makit Mak

Chicken skewers, Salo Salo Filipino food and cocktails pop-up. Picture: Makit Mak

While admitting to being “excited, but nervous”, Mr Laginestra and Mr Wisco said the support of Ms Wu formed a key part of their story.

Having launched another pop-up venture for Korean dessert business Bingoo at her Asian fusion cafe earlier this month, Ms Wu said it was her “social responsibility” to help young people break into the hospitality industry.

“Right now, it’s really hard to set up a business, but I’ve got the space,” she said.

“I’m happy to share different, interesting things for Tasmania.”

Salo Salo will be open on Sunday, March 2 between 5-11.30pm at Lazy Brunch on Argyle St, North Hobart.

Originally published as ’Sweet, spicy and sour’: Meet the hospitality trio helping bring Filipino cuisine to Hobart