Announcer: VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM... Huell Howser: OK, HERE'S THE DEAL.

IT'S LATE SUNDAY AFTERNOON.

WE'RE IN DOWNTOWN L.A.

THE SUN IS SETTING HERE RIGHT ON THE EDGE OF CHINATOWN HERE ON NORTH SPRING STREET.

OLVERA STREET'S RIGHT OVER HERE.

CITY HALL.

AND WE HAVE COME DOWNTOWN TO HAVE DINNER AT ONE OF MY FAVORITE NEW RESTAURANTS-- ASIAN NOODLES.

BUT WHEN WE GOT HERE, LOOK WHAT WE DISCOVERED OVER HERE ON THIS VACANT LOT RIGHT NEXT TO THE RESTAURANT.

THERE ARE CHAIRS SET UP OVER HERE.

IT'S A CROWD-GATHERING.

MUSIC IS BLARING OUT.

WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT WE'VE GOTTEN OURSELVES INTO.

BUT OF COURSE, THAT'S PART OF THE DOWNTOWN L.A.

EXPERIENCE.

SO WHATEVER IT IS, WE'RE GONNA DO IT TOGETHER, AND IT'S ALL GONNA START RIGHT OVER HERE INSIDE ASIAN NOODLES.

[STRAINS OF MUSIC HEARD] WE HAVE ARRIVED, AND I'M NOT SURE WHERE WE HAVE ARRIVED.

WE CAME DOWN HERE TO HAVE DINNER IN THE RESTAURANT.

YOUR NAME IS... Teresa: MY NAME IS TERESA SOSORRO.

Huell: AND YOU WORK AT THE RESTAURANT.

Teresa: YES, I DO.

Huell: BUT WHAT IS THIS GOIN' ON OVER HERE?

Teresa: WELL, TO CELEBRATE L.A.

FASHION WEEK, OUR FRIENDS FROM ASIAN NOODLES, PAUL MAGALAD IS THROWING A FASHION SHOW HERE.

Huell: A FASHION SHOW!

Teresa: YEAH, IN THE MIDDLE OF CHINATOWN.

Huell: RIGHT HERE IN THIS VACANT LOT.

Teresa: YEP.

Huell: CAN WE COME IN?

Teresa: YES, OF COURSE.

Huell: WELL...COME ON IN.

LET'S SEE--WATCH YOUR STEP HERE, CAMERON.

HOWDY.

Man: HOW ARE YOU?

Huell: WAIT A MINUTE.

YOU'RE THE GUY FROM THE RESTAURANT.

Man: EXACTLY.

Huell: WELL...WE GOT HERE.

WE DIDN'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE.

WE HEAR IT'S A FASHION SHOW.

Man: YEAH.

WE'RE HAVING A FASHION SHOW, AND THE DESIGNER IS ONE OF MY SERVERS.

HIS NAME IS, UM...UM... Huell, chuckling: YOUR CLOSE FRIEND.

Man: MY CLOSE FRIEND.

PAUL.

HIS NAME IS PAUL.

HE'S FROM AUSTRALIA.

HE'S A DESIGNER.

HE'S HAVING HIS FASHION SHOW HERE... OUTSIDE THE RESTAURANT.

Huell: WELL, WHERE IS HE?

IS HE HERE?

Man: UH, HE'S RIGHT THERE.

PAUL?

Huell: HOWDY.

TELL US WHAT'S GOIN' ON HERE.

Paul: UM...I GUESS, LIKE, YOU KNOW, LIKE AS PER USUAL, PEOPLE ARE FASHIONABLY LATE.

UH, WE WERE SUPPOSED TO START, LIKE, ABOUT 5 P.M. AND WE'RE HAVING A FASHION SHOW.

HI.

Huell: NOW, ARE THESE YOUR FASHIONS, OR... Paul: WELL, YEAH.

I--I MAKE, LIKE, ONE OF A KIND, UM, OUTFITS, YOU KNOW, FROM SCRATCH, UH, ALL BY HAND.

Huell: HOWDY, FELLAS.

OH, HERE ARE THE MODELS BACK HERE.

HOWDY!

Girl: HI.

Huell: OH, YOU ALL ARE THE MODELS.

LOOK AT THIS.

NOW, ARE THESE ALL YOUR CREATIONS?

Paul: WELL, YEAH.

[CHUCKLES] WELL, YES.

WE'RE ABOUT TO START SOON ANYWAY, BUT ANYWAY, THESE ARE--SAY HI.

Girl: HI!

Huell: HI.

WELL, BOY, YOU ALL LOOK GREAT!

NOW, HOW DO YOU FEEL WEARIN' HIS DESIGNS?

Girl: FABULOUS!

Second girl: COLD.

Huell: OH, YOU'RE COLD.

YOU'RE BEIN' HONEST ABOUT IT.

OH, LOOK AT THIS ONE!

ARE YOU, UM, ARE YOU A PROFESSIONAL MODEL?

Girl: NO, I'M NOT.

Huell: WHAT DO YOU DO IN REAL LIFE?

Girl: I'M A TEACHER.

AND THEN ALSO I'M ONE OF PRINCESSES FOR MISS L.A. CHINATOWN.

Huell: OH, RIGHT!

ARE YOU A MODEL, TOO?

Girl: I'M ACTUALLY NOT, EITHER.

AND, UM, I'M ALSO ON COURT FOR MISS L.A. CHINATOWN FOR 2004.

Huell: AHA.

WELL, THIS IS BEAUTIFUL, TOO!

Girl: THANK YOU.

Huell: BUT IT IS KINDA WINDY AND COLD OUT HERE, SO YOU PROBABLY WANT THIS SHOW TO GET STARTED, DON'T YOU?

First girl: VERY SOON.

Huell: THE CALIFORNIA APPAREL NEWS.

SO...NOW, IS IT A BIG DEAL FOR THEM TO BE HERE PHOTOGRAPHIN' YOUR SHOW?

Paul: WELL, YES, 'CAUSE, UM, I NEED MY, YOU KNOW, MY COLLECTION TO BE, UH, RECORDED, UM, JUST TO SHOW THAT I'M ACTUALLY DOING THIS, YOU KNOW, EVERY SEASON.

AND...YEAH.

Huell: SO THIS WOULD BE THE BEGINNING.

IN OTHER WORDS, YOU THINK-- Paul: MR. HOWSER.

MR. HOWSER, I'D LIKE YOU TO MEET JAYNE.

SHE'S THE FASHION EDITOR OF THE MAGAZINE.

Huell: OH, YOU'RE THE FASHION EDITOR!

Jayne: I AM.

HELLO.

Huell: OH!

OK.

SO, HOW IMPORTANT COULD THIS BE AS FAR AS A BREAK FOR...FOR THIS YOUNG MAN?

Jayne: OH, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

I LOST MY VOICE THIS MORNING.

IT'S, UM, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

YOU KNOW.

IT'S GREAT EXPOSURE TO BE IN OUR PAPER.

A LOT OF PEOPLE SEE IT.

UM...GET HIS PICTURES IN THERE.

WE'LL DEFINITELY BE COVERING IT.

Huell: SO IT REALLY DOESN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE THAT THE SEATS AREN'T ALL FILLED, 'CAUSE THE POWER OF THE MEDIA RIGHT HERE... Jayne: THAT'S RIGHT.

Huell: YOU CAN DO A STORY.

YOU CAN SHOOT IT SO IT LOOKS LIKE THE PLACE WAS PACKED.

Photographer: IT WILL BE PACKED.

Huell: AND THE MOST IMPORTANT THING--YOU WILL BE SHOWING HIS FASHIONS...

Photographer: WORK, YES.

Huell: WHICH IS WHAT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE GONNA WANT TO SEE.

Jayne: RIGHT.

THAT'S RIGHT.

Huell: WELL, NICE TO MEET YOU.

Jayne: NICE TO MEET YOU, TOO.

Huell: NICE TO MEET YOU.

Paul: WELL, YEAH, WE'RE AN HOUR LATE.

UH, I ASKED PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE TO BE HERE AT 6:00 OR 5:00, BUT REGARDLESS... Huell: WE'RE GONNA...WE'RE GONNA STAND OUT HERE AND WATCH THE SHOW.

Paul: THANK YOU.

Huell: LET'S GET ONE MORE LOOK AT THE MODELS OVER HERE.

THEY'RE ALL GETTIN' READY.

SUSPENSE IS BUILDING.... [GIRLS CHUCKLING] FOR THE BIG SHOW.

SMILE, LADIES.

NOW, THIS IS A REAL LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR ME.

I'M STANDING HERE WITH--INTRODUCE YOURSELF.

Debra: DEBRA STEVENSON FROM THE SKYLINE STUDIOS.

Huell: NICE TO MEET YOU.

AND... ERIC MADISON.

I'M FROM BARNEY'S NEW YORK.

Huell: OH!

BARNEY'S NEW YORK!

Debra: BIG TURNOUT TONIGHT.

Huell: OH, MY GOSH!

WELL, WE-- WE--THIS NAME ON THE WALL.

WHAT IS THIS?

Debra: THAT'S SAN PAREDES.

THAT'S THE NAME OF PAUL'S COLLECTION.

THE NAME OF HIS DESIGN.

Huell: YOU MEAN THE NAME FOR HIS COLLECTION.

Debra: YES.

IT'S BRANDED UNDER THAT NAME.

Huell: SEE, THIS IS SO INTERESTING TO ME BECAUSE WE WERE COMIN' DOWN HERE FOR DINNER AND THEN HERE'S THIS WHOLE THING.

Debra: YOU CAME FOR THE SHOW.

Huell: IS THIS...UNUSUAL, OR IS THIS KIND OF THE WAY IT'S DONE IN L.A.?

Debra: WELL, ACTUALLY, PAUL'S QUITE A RENEGADE IN THE INDUSTRY.

HE ALWAYS SHOWS HIS COLLECTION OUTSIDE OF THE REGULAR LINEUP FOR FASHION WEEK.

AND HE ALWAYS SHOWS IN CHINATOWN BECAUSE HE'S FILIPINO.

HE WAS RAISED IN AUSTRALIA.

HE HAS STRONG ROOTS TO ASIA AND THE COMMUNITY HERE.

SO HE SUPPORTS THE LOCAL INDUSTRIES, AND HE CHOOSES A PLACE--VERY UNUSUAL PLACE--EVERY SEASON TO HOST HIS SHOW.

Huell: WOW!

Debra: YEAH.

Huell: SO, HOW MANY OF THESE THINGS ARE GOIN' ON AT ANY ONE TIME IN L.A.

IN THE FASHION INDUSTRY?

Debra: WELL, STARTING TOMORROW, MONDAY, THERE'LL BE ABOUT 4 SHOWS EVERY DAY ALL THE WAY TILL, I THINK, FRIDAY NIGHT.

UM, AND IT'S REALLY EXCITING, AND ALL OF THOSE SHOWS ARE ON THE REGULAR LIST, AND THEY'RE TAKING PLACE AT SMASHBOX STUDIOS IN CULVER CITY.

Huell: BUT--BUT...NOW, HOW DOES THIS TIE IN WITH BARNEY'S?

WHEN I THINK OF BARNEY'S, I'M NOT THINKIN' OF THE FASHIONS THAT I SAW BACK THERE.

Eric: YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT YOUTH, AND YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT UP-AND-COMING.

Huell: AH!

YOUTH... AND UP-AND-COMING.

Debra: THAT'S WHAT THIS IS.

Huell: SO...WHAT YOU'RE LOOKIN' FOR IS SOMETHING IN ONE OF THESE DRESSES OR ONE OF THESE DESIGNS THAT MIGHT CATCH ON, AND THAT'S WHY THE APPAREL NEWS IS HERE TO TAKE PICTURES.

Debra: YEAH.

THEY REALLY HAVE A GREAT, UM, NOSE, FOR WHAT'S EMERGING...IN TALENT.

AND THEY'VE ALWAYS SUPPORTED PAUL'S SHOW AND OTHERS LIKE HIM THAT SHOW IN AN UNUSUAL SETTING.

Huell: WELL, YOU KNOW, THIS IS INTERESTING, BECAUSE HE WORKS IN THE RESTAURANT.

Debra: HE DOES, AND THIS RESTAURANT IS VERY SUPPORTIVE OF HIS, UM...EMERGING TALENT.

Huell: SO THIS COULD--I MEAN, I'M NOT TRYIN' TO BE TRITE ABOUT IT--THIS COULD BE--I MEAN, THIS IS THE WAY MANY DESIGNERS START...IS--IS LIKE THIS.

Debra: YES.

THEY RELY ON LOCAL BUSINESSES AND PEOPLE TO SUPPORT THEM AND GIVE THEM AN ARENA TO SHOW THEIR COLLECTIONS...AND, YOU KNOW, HOST THEM AND FRIENDS TO COME OUT AND DEEJAY, AND... THAT'S HOW IT ALL BUILDS, AND THAT'S HOW A BIG NAME IS MADE.

Huell: OK, THE SHOW HAS STARTED.

HERE COMES OUR FIRST MODEL.

ACTUALLY, WE'VE GOT A PRETTY GOOD CROWD OVER HERE.

THE CROWD IS BUILDING.

EVERYBODY'S SITTIN' HERE WATCHING, AND WE HAVE, TO HELP GIVE US COMMENTARY-- INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO EVERYBODY.

Judy: HI.

MY NAME IS JUDY LAMB, AND I'M A FRIEND AND A CLIENT OF PAUL.

Huell: YOU'RE WEARIN' ONE OF HIS CREATIONS.

Judy: RIGHT.

I BOUGHT THIS LAST YEAR AFTER I SAW IT IN A FASHION SHOW.

Huell: I THOUGHT YOU WERE ONE OF THE MODELS.

Judy: [CHUCKLES] THANKS.

Huell: WELL, NOW, HERE ARE THE MODELS BACK HERE.

IS--IS THIS EXCITING FOR YOU TO SEE THESE... Judy: IT'S GREAT.

EVERYTHING PAUL DOES IS VERY ORIGINAL, AND I LOVE IT 'CAUSE IT MAKES GIRLS LOOK JUST REALLY GREAT AND FEMININE AND BEAUTIFUL.

Huell: BUT PEOPLE DON'T KNOW HIS NAME, DO THEY?

HE HASN'T BEEN REALLY DISCOVERED YET.

Judy: THAT'S RIGHT, AND A LOT OF HIS STUFF IS ONE-OF-A-KIND.

SO HE DOES NOT MASS-PRODUCE IT AND IT DOESN'T GET ACROSS A LARGE AUDIENCE.

BUT PEOPLE THAT KNOW HIM...

THEY ALWAYS COME BACK.

Huell: NOW, HIS COMPANY-- HIS LABEL IS CALLED... Judy: SAN PAREDES.

Huell: SO IS THIS, UH, IS THIS ONE OF-- Judy: YES.

Huell: SO, SEE, THIS IS AN ORIGINAL.

THIS'LL BE WORTH SOMETHIN' SOMEDAY.

Judy: RIGHT, AND I--I LIKE THAT NOBODY ELSE HAS IT.

Huell: YEAH.

Judy: YEAH.

Huell: ALL RIGHT.

WELL, HERE'S-- WAIT A MINUTE.

WELL, HERE SHE GOES, RIGHT HERE.

[PERCUSSION MUSIC PLAYS] [COMMENTARY INDISTINCT] Huell: WOW.

[INDISTINCT COMMENTARY] THIS IS SO INTERESTING.

I'VE NEVER BEEN TO A FASHION SHOW.

Judy: THIS IS A GOOD ONE.

Huell: IS IT?

Judy: IT'S A GREAT ONE.

Huell: WHAT DO YOU MEAN, "IT'S A GOOD ONE"?

Judy: WELL, THE--THE CLOTHES LOOK EXCITING, AND THE GIRLS LOOK EXCITING.

Huell: OH, HERE'S THE RED DRESS WE SAW EARLIER.

Judy: THIS IS A GREAT ONE.

[CROWD CHEERS] Huell: WOW.

Judy: SO IT--IT SHOWS OFF HER...BEAUTY.

Huell: IT SHOWS OFF EVERYTHING.

Judy, chuckling: YEAH.

YOU'RE RIGHT.

HA HA HA HA!

Huell: WOULD YOU WEAR A DRESS LIKE THAT?

Judy: IF I HAD HER BODY, I SURE WOULD.

[LAUGHS] Huell: WELL, LOOK, THERE'S THE PHOTOGRAPHER FROM THE APPAREL NEWS.

HE'S TAKIN' HER PICTURE.

OH, LOOK AT THAT.

[COMMENTARY INDISTINCT] OK, HERE COMES OUR...HERE COMES OUR NEXT MODEL.

WE'RE DOIN' FASHION SHOW COMMENTARY HERE.

[PERCUSSION MUSIC PLAYS] WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS ONE?

Judy: THIS ONE, LIKE MOST OF PAUL'S WORK, IS GREAT BECAUSE IT MOVES.

Huell: WHAT DO YOU MEAN, "IT MOVES"?

Judy: AS THE MODEL MOVES, THE FABRIC MOVES, AND THAT'S ONE THING THAT SEEMS TO MAKE HIS CLOTHES LOOK LIKE THEY'RE ALIVE, AND THE MOVEMENT IS REALLY PRETTY.

SEE HOW THE SKIRT MOVES?

Huell: YEAH.

Judy: AS SHE'S WALKING, IT MOVES WITH HER.

Huell: NOW, TALKIN' TO OUR PHOTOGRAPHER OVER HERE FROM THE APPAREL NEWS... HOW MANY OF THESE PHOTOGRAPHS, IF HE'S LUCKY, WILL SHOW UP IN THE NEWSPAPER?

Photographer: PROBABLY 5 OR 6.

Huell: THAT MANY!

Photographer: YEAH, USUALLY 5 OR 6 PER SHOW.

Huell: SO YOU HAVE TO SHOOT EVERY ONE OF THESE, AND THEN THEY'LL TAKE 'EM BACK AND...

Photographer: AND THE EDITOR WILL PICK THE--THE PHOTOS THEY LIKE, AND... Huell: WOW.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THEM?

YOU SEE FASHION ALL THE TIME.

Photographer: YEAH.

THIS ONE'S NICE...KINDA COOL.

ARE YOU GUYS READY?

[PERCUSSION MUSIC PLAYS] Huell: LET'S CONTINUE OUR COMMENTARY HERE.

WHAT IS THIS?

LOOKS LIKE A BLACK, UH...WHAT DO I KNOW?

A COCKTAIL DRESS.

WHAT IS IT?

Judy: SORT OF.

I GUESS YOU COULD WEAR IT OUT TO DINNER.

YOU CAN WEAR IT TO A SPECIAL EVENT, LIKE A WEDDING OR A PREMIERE.

Huell: AND...TURN AROUND HERE, CAMERON, AND TAKE A LOOK.

WE HAVE A...AN AUDIENCE OVER HERE.

LOOK.

HELLO, EVERYBODY!

YOU ENJOYIN' THE SHOW?

LOOK.

HA HA!

THIS IS GREAT!

[BOTH CHUCKLE] WELL, IT DRAWS A CROWD.

Judy: IT DOES.

Huell: IT'S NOT EVERY DAY YOU SEE A FASHION SHOW.

OH, HERE THEY ALL COME.

THIS IS IT.

IT WAS A QUICK FASHION SHOW.

Judy: YEAH.

Huell: NOW, IS PAUL GONNA COME OUT?

DON'T THE DESIGNERS USUALLY COME OUT AND--THERE HE COMES.

Judy: THERE'S PAUL AGAIN.

[CROWD CHEERS] Huell: YAY!

Man: ALL RIGHT!

[PERCUSSION MUSIC PLAYS] Paul: VAL'S HERE.

HA HA HA!

VAL'S RIGHT HERE.

Huell: THE FASHION SHOW IS OVER.

PAUL IS NOW A WAITER AGAIN.

Teresa: YEAH.

Huell: HE'S BACK INSIDE, WAITIN' TABLES.

WE'RE INSIDE THE RESTAURANT.

AND, TERESA, NOW WE WANT TO TALK JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS FOOD.

Teresa: SURE.

Huell: FIRST OFF, I THOUGHT YOUR NAME WAS TERESA.

Teresa: IT IS, AND IN...[LAUGHS] IN TAGALOG, THIS MEAN-- LIGAYA-- MEANS "HAPPINESS."

Huell: OH, SO THIS IS A WORD-- A FILIPINO WORD... Teresa: YES, IT IS.

Huell: FOR "HAPPINESS."

Teresa: YES, IT IS.

Huell: AND WHAT WAS THE LANGUAGE?

WHAT DID YOU... Teresa: TAGALOG.

Huell: TAGALOG.

Teresa: UH-HUH.

Huell: THAT'S THE LANGUAGE OF THE PHILIPPINES.

Teresa: YES, IT IS.

Huell: ALL RIGHT.

NOW... ARE WE IN--I'VE EATEN HERE BEFORE, SO I KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS, BUT IS THIS A FILIPINO RESTAURANT...OR A CHINESE RESTAURANT...OR A-- WHAT RESTAURANT?

Teresa: IT'S BOTH.

IT'S A PHILIPPINE FUSION...AND IT'S A COMBINATION OF CHINESE AND FILIPINO FOOD...UM, TRADITIONALLY FILIPINO FOOD, MORE SO LIKE WHAT WE WOULD EAT AT HOME.

Huell: ALL RIGHT, NOW, THIS IS SOME OF THE TRADITIONAL FILIPINO FOOD.

I ALWAYS GET ONE OF THESE.

AND THESE ARE CALLED... Teresa: SIOPAO.

Huell: SIOPAO.

Teresa: UH-HUH.

Huell: AND THEY COME--I'M GONNA LET YOU HOLD THE MIC SO I CAN OPEN THIS UP.

THEY COME SO THAT YOU PEEL THE PAPER OFF... Teresa: RIGHT... Huell: AND YOU OPEN 'EM UP... Teresa: RIGHT.

Huell: AND THEY'RE FILLED... Teresa: AND THAT ONE'S CHICKEN.

Huell: THIS IS CHICKEN.

Teresa: UH-HUH.

Huell: AND YOU BASICALLY, THEN, PUT A LITTLE BIT OF...THIS SAUCE ON IT...AND THAT'S YOUR... THAT'S YOUR MEAL.

Teresa: YEAH.

THAT'S RIGHT.

Huell: NOW, THIS IS TRADITIONAL FILIPINO FOOD.

Teresa: YES.

UM, THE CHINESE ALSO HAVE A VERSION OF THIS.

THEY CALL IT BOW.

BUT THE CHINESE, WHEN THEY'RE--THE DOUGH--I'VE NOTICED THAT THE-- THE CHINESE DOUGH, IT'S A LITTLE BIT DENSER, AND ON THE INSIDE, IT'S MADE WITH, LIKE, A, UM, A RED KIND OF SAUCE ON THE INSIDE, USUALLY BARBECUE PORK.

BUT FILIPINOS HAVE MADE THEIR OWN VERSION IT, AND OUR DOUGH IS LIGHTER.

IT'S HANDMADE AND... EVERY DAY.

Huell: IT'S WONDERFUL.

HERE'S THE WAY THEY LOOK WHEN THEY COME OUT.

AND THEY'RE JUST GREAT, AND THEY CAN BE FILLED WITH CHICKEN OR WITH BEEF OR WITH PORK OR ALMOST ANYTHING.

Teresa: YEAH.

Huell: OK. THEN WE HAVE THE TRADITIONAL NOODLES HERE.

Teresa: YES.

THIS--THIS IS, UM, CALLED PANCIT--PANCIT BIHON.

IT'S MADE OUT OF, UM, RICE VERMICELLI NOODLES.

AND IT HAS SOME PORK AND SOME SHRIMP AND CHICKEN...AND VEGETABLES.

Huell: AND YOUR MENU HAS A LOT OF DIFFERENT VARIATIONS OF THESE 2 DISHES RIGHT HERE--NOODLES AND ALL THAT.

Teresa: RIGHT.

THAT'S RIGHT.

Huell: WHERE YOU KIND OF VEER OFF IS THAT YOU'VE COMBINED A LOT OF THINGS, NOW, TOO, SO THAT THIS IS NOT JUST A TRADITIONAL RESTAURANT.

THIS HAS A LOT OF-- OF DIFFERENT KIND OF THINGS BEING SERVED.

Teresa: YES.

UM, WE SERVE...UM, LIKE, FRIED CALAMARI, BUT IT'S NOT WHAT YOU'RE USED TO.

IT'S NOT WITH MARINARA SAUCE.

IT'S SERVED WITH A SWEET RICE WINE VINEGAR THAT WE MAKE EVERY DAY.

AND THEN OUR FRIED RICE, WE DON'T JUST HAVE--WE HAVE OUR CHINESE VERSION OF FRIED RICE, WHICH HAS PEAS AND CARROTS, AND WE ALSO HAVE A FILIPINO VERSION WITH ADOBO.

IT HAS CHICKEN AND PORK AND GARLIC.

Huell: WAIT A MINUTE.

LET'S LOOK OVER HERE.

THIS IS ONE OF THE LADIES I WAS TALKIN' TO BACK DURING THE FASHION SHOW.

WHAT IS THIS WE'RE HAVIN' RIGHT HERE?

Judy: THIS IS, UH, SHRIMP... Huell: LOOK AT THAT.

Judy: CHOW FUN.

SO THERE'S NOODLES AND SHRIMP, AND IT'S ALL...TIED UP.

Huell: NOW, IS THIS FILIPINO, OR IS THIS CHINESE?

WHAT IS THIS?

Judy: IT'S FILIPINO.

I THINK MOST OF THE FOOD HERE IS FILIPINO.

Huell: UH-HUH.

AND WHAT IS THIS YOU'RE HAVING OVER HERE?

[GIRL SPEAKS UNCLEARLY] Huell: SHE'S EATING.

Girl: EATING.

Huell: WHAT IS THIS THEY'RE HAVING OVER HERE?

Judy: THAT'S A CALAMARI SALAD.

Huell: OH, OK. Judy: WITH BALSAMIC VINEGAR.

Huell: AND WE HAVE TRADITIONAL RICE.

AND WHAT ARE THESE RIGHT HERE?

Teresa: THAT'S, UH, FRIED TOFU.

Huell: FRIED TOFU!

Teresa: RIGHT.

Huell: HE'S USIN' CHOPSTICKS TO EAT HIS SOUP.

WHAT IS THAT YOU'RE EATIN' THERE?

Man: THAT LOOKS LIKE A, UH... A LITTLE WON TON, A LITTLE SHRIMP-AND-PORK WON TON.

Huell: NOW, HOW DID YOU FIND THIS PLACE?

SAME WAY I DID?

JUST HAPPEN IN?

Man: WELL...MY FRIEND HERE WORKS AROUND THE CORNER.

SO I'M IN TOWN VISITING HIM, AND HE'S WORKING HARD ON A SUNDAY...

PROSECUTING PEOPLE...

Friend: OH!

Huell: YOU'RE--YOU'RE IN THE D.A.

's OFFICE?

Friend: I'M A U.S. ATTORNEY.

Huell: OH, WOW!

Friend: U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

Huell: SO, DO A LOT OF PEOPLE COME OVER HERE FOR LUNCH DURING THE WEEK?

Friend: A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM THE U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE COME HERE FOR LUNCH.

IT'S THE CLOSEST PLACE IN CHINATOWN, AND IT'S CLEAN, AND IT'S, UH, THE WAIT STAFF IS REALLY NICE.

THE OWNERS ARE REALLY NICE.

THE SOUP IS GREAT.

Huell: AND DID YOU KNOW WHAT YOU WERE GETTING INTO WHEN YOU CAME IN THE FIRST TIME?

Friend: WELL, I DIDN'T--THE FIRST TIME--I WAS ABOUT TO SAY, TONIGHT I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT WE'D HAVE A FASHION SHOW.

Huell: EXACTLY.

Friend: YOU KNOW.

AND MY FRIEND FROM MIAMI--JOHN--WAS PRETTY EXCITED.

BUT, UM...BUT-- Huell: IT'S VERY L.A.

Friend: YEAH.

Huell: BUT I MEAN, MOST OF THE TIME WHEN PEOPLE WALK IN HERE, THEY REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS RESTAURANT IS ALL ABOUT.

Friend: WELL, I THINK THAT PEOPLE ASSUME IT'S CHINESE, AND I--I GUESS IT'S SORT OF ASIAN FUSION.

BUT IT'S MORE FILIPINO THAN ANYTHING ELSE, SO, UH... Huell: ARE YOU HOOKED ON IT?

Friend: UH, YEAH.

IT'S GREAT.

WE LOVE IT.

Huell: WE FOUND A TABLE EATING... Man: THIS IS A MANGO SAGO.

AND THAT IS, UH, THE FAMOUS FRIED BANANAS WITH MAKAPUNO ICE CREAM.

Huell: WAIT A MINUTE.

LET ME SEE THOSE BANA--WELL, THERE'S NOT MUCH OF THAT LEFT.

THAT DOESN'T REALLY GIVE US AN IDEA OF WHAT YOU ATE.

Man: YOU CAME HERE--YOU CAME A LITTLE LATE, HUELL.

[HUELL CHUCKLES] IF YOU WERE HERE 30 SECONDS AGO, YOU WOULD'VE SEEN IT.

Huell: ARE YOU ALL REGULARS HERE?

Man: ABSOLUTELY.

EVER SINCE THEY'VE OPENED.

Huell: DID YOU HAVE--ARE--ARE YOU--WHAT IS YOUR BACKGROUND?

ARE YOU FILIPINO, OR ARE YOU CHINESE?

ARE YOU... Man: WE'RE, UH...HMM.

WELL, BEING FILIPINO MEANS YOU COULD BE EVERYTHING.

WE ARE.

WE'RE ALL FILIPINO-AMERICAN.

UM, AND, UH, WE HAPPEN TO BE FILIPINO- AMERICANS THAT ARE AFFILIATED WITH THE FILM INDUSTRY.

Huell: I GOT YA.

SO THEY CALL THIS FUSION FOOD.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO YOU?

Man: WELL, IT MEANS, UH, FILIPINO CUISINE.

FILIPINO CULTURE IS FUSION CULTURE.

IT'S A MELDING OF EAST AND WEST.

AND, UM...IT'S BEEN A CROSSROADS OF ASIA FOR THE LONGEST TIME.

BUT THAT'S BEEN OUR LITTLE SECRET.

WE WERE MULTI-CULTURAL BEFORE THE TERM WAS FRANCHISED.

Huell: WOW.

AND DO YOU THINK-- SEE, I DON'T THINK MOST PEOPLE IN LOS ANGELES--I DON'T REALLY KNOW A LOT ABOUT THE FILIPINO COMMUNITY IN LOS ANGELES.

Man: YOU NEED TO COME BY.

WE-- WE'RE THE LAR-- Huell: WHERE DO YOU GO?

WHERE DO YOU GO TO FIND OUT?

Man: WELL, THERE ARE-- Huell: FOLLOW YOU AROUND FOR A DAY?

[CHUCKLING] Second man: THAT'S A START.

Man: THERE--THERE ARE A NUMBER OF SOURCES.

UH, THERE ARE 3 GOOD ORGANIZATIONS.

THERE'S THE FILIPINO-AMERICAN NATIONAL HISTORICAL SOCIETY, UM...WHICH IS COMPRISED OF SCHOLARS, AND ALL THEY DO IS STUDY FILIPINO- AMERICAN HISTORY.

THERE IS THE FILIPINO-AMERICAN LIBRARY, WHICH IS THE SOLE REPOSITORY FOR FILIPINO-AMERICAN, UM, INFORMATION IN THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES.

AND THERE'S AN ORGANIZATION CALLED THE ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF FILIPINO-AMERICAN ARTS AND CULTURE, OR FilAm ARTS-- A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT PUTS ON ANNUALLY THE LARGEST FILIPINO-AMERICAN, UM, FESTIVAL IN THE ENTIRE NATION.

NOW, THERE'S ONE MORE, TOO.

I THINK I COULD ADD AN ORGANIZATION CALLED SIPA--SEARCH TO INVOLVE FILIPINO-AMERICANS.

AND ACTUALLY, THE BOARD CHAIR FOR SIPA IS RIGHT HERE.

Huell: I'M GONNA HAVE TO GET SOME BUSINESS CARDS HERE.

I SEE A WHOLE LITTLE MINISERIES COMIN' ON.

Man: ABSOLUTELY.

Huell: AND--AND IT ALL STARTED WITH ME COMIN' OVER TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE VERY LAST VESTIGES... Man: OF FRIED BANANA WITH ICE CREAM.

Huell: I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT ON YOUR TABLE.

EXPLAIN TO US WHAT YOUR FAMILY IS EATING.

Man: WELL, IT'S CALLED THE CHRISPY PATA.

Huell: THE WHAT?

Man: CHRISPY PATA.

Huell: UH-HUH... Man: IT'S A FILIPINO TERM, AND IT COMES FROM THE BEHIND OF THE PORK.

Huell: AH, THE BACK PORTION OF THE PORK.

Man: BACK PORTION OF THE PORK.

AND IT'S DEEP-FRIED.

Huell: NOW, ARE THERE A LOT OF GOOD FILIPINO RESTAURANTS IN LOS ANGELES?

Man: OH, YEAH.

THEY'RE SCATTERED AROUND.

UH, THIS IS ONE OF THE ODDEST ONES THAT HAPPEN TO BE IN CHINATOWN.

Huell: WHAT DO YOU MEAN, "ODDEST ONES"?

Man: WELL, CHINATOWN, YOU USUALLY DON'T SEE FILIPINOS...

RESTAURANT IN HERE.

AND THEY'RE COMPETING PRETTY, UH, PRETTY GOOD.

Huell: HOW FAR DO YOU COME TO--TO EAT HERE?

Man: UH, WE LIVE IN THE LOS ANGELES AIRPORT AREA.

SO THAT'S A GOOD... Huell: A PRETTY GOOD DRIVE.

NOW, WHAT IS THIS WE'RE LOOKIN' AT DOWN HERE?

LOOK AT THIS THAT HE'S SERVIN'.

BOY, IT SMELLS GOOD!

WHAT IS THAT?

Man: THAT'S--THAT'S BEEFSTEAK.

Huell: BEEFSTEAK.

HERE IT COMES RIGHT HERE.

OH, BOY!

TOO BAD WE DON'T HAVE SMELL-A-VISION.

[MAN LAUGHS] THAT IS GREAT!

NOW, HERE'S A GUY STANDIN' AT THE COUNTER.

YOU GOT SOME PICKUP FOOD WITH YOU TONIGHT.

Man: MM-HMM.

Huell: WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT FILIPINO FOOD?

Man: WELL, I KNOW THAT WHEN I WAS OVER THERE, I USED TO LOVE TO--THEY HAVE THESE LITTLE STREET BARBECUE VENDORS, AND THEIR MONEY IS CALLED PESOS.

AND I WAS GETTIN' ABOUT 18 PESOS TO THE DOLLAR EXCHANGE RATE.

AND I'D GO BUY THEIR BARBECUE, LIKE, MEAT STICKS THEY ALWAYS HAD RI-- Huell: WHAT WERE YOU DOIN' IN THE PHILIPPINES?

Man: OH, I WAS IN THE NAVY.

Huell: SO, YOU--THEN YOU KNOW ABOUT FILIPINO FOOD.

Man: OH, YEAH.

I LIKE LUMPIA, UH, PANCIT...ALL THAT.

UM, I DIDN'T GET A LARGE AMOUNT OF VARIETIES 'CAUSE I WAS ALWAYS GETTIN' AMERICAN STUFF WHEN I WAS THERE, TOO.

Huell: YEAH.

Man: YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE OVERSEAS, YOU KINDA LONG FOR THE AMERICAN FOOD, BUT YOU STILL GIVE THEM A SHOT AT THEIR CULTURE.

Huell: AND NOW YOU'RE IN L.A., AND YOU'RE GETTIN' FILIPINO FOOD.

THIS IS FUSION FOOD 'CAUSE IT'S KIND OF CHINESE AND FILIPINO.

Man: THAT'S TRUE.

I'VE NOTICED THAT.

I DIDN'T SEE THE LUMPIA ON THE MENU, LIKE I WAS TELLIN' YOU EARLIER.

WOULD BE NICE IF THEY HAD THAT.

USED TO GET STACKS OF THAT.

Huell: REALLY!

Man: OH, YEAH.

THEY SERVE YOU, LIKE, UH, 20 LITTLE MINIATURE EGG ROLLS FOR A COUPLE OF PESOS, AND THEY'RE JUST DELICIOUS, SO YOU GOTTA LOVE IT.

Huell: WELL, IT'S A LEARNIN' EXPERIENCE FOR ALL OF US, ISN'T IT...TO LEARN THE FOOD AND THE CULTURE OF OTHER PLACES, OF OTHER PEOPLE?

Man: WE'RE LUCKY HERE IN AMERICA BECAUSE WE HAVE A LARGE VARIETY TO CHOOSE FROM.

I MEAN, ON A LITTLE ISLAND, THEY'VE ONLY GOT THIS AND THIS AND THIS.

SO THEY'RE STUCK WITHOUT A LARGE VARIETY LIKE-- WELL, LIKE WE HAVE.

Huell: OK, FELLAS, LOOK OVER HERE.

WE GOT THE REAL THING NOW.

THIS IS THE--THIS IS THE FULL THING RIGHT OVER HERE.

NOW... WHAT IS THIS AGAIN?

Teresa: THIS IS OUR FRIED BANANAS WITH TROPICAL ICE CREAM.

AND THE GREEN STUFF ON TOP IS A SPECIAL COCONUT CREAM MIXTURE THAT WE-- Huell: IS THIS FILIPINO?

Teresa: YES, IT IS.

Huell: THIS IS TRADITIONAL?

Teresa: IT'S...THE FRIED BANANAS ARE TRADITIONAL.

THE ICE CREAM IS TRADITIONAL.

THE COCONUT CREAM IS OUR OWN CREATION.

OUR MANAGER CAME UP WITH THAT.

Huell: FUSION.

IT'S FUSION.

Teresa: FUSION.

RIGHT.

Huell: AND, NOW, THIS IS THE ONE I USUALLY GET.

NOW, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS--EXPLAIN HERE--MOVE IT AROUND A LITTLE BIT IN THERE FOR ME.

'CAUSE IT'S GOT--WHAT IS THAT DOWN IN THERE?

IT'S KIND OF A FRUIT, UH... Teresa: YEAH.

THERE ARE LYCHEE NUTS, WHICH ARE CONSIDERED A FRUIT BUT ARE ACTUALLY A NUT.

THERE'S RED BEANS AND WHITE BEANS.

THOSE ARE SWEET.

AND THEN WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF COCONUT JELLY ON THE INSIDE.

SHAVE ICE, EVAPORATED MILK, AND SOME ICE CREAM.

Huell: AND THIS IS GREAT.

I GET THIS EVERY TIME.

AND THIS HAS A NAME.

Teresa: IT'S CALLED HALO-HALO.

Huell: HALO-HALO.

AND THIS IS TRADITIONAL FILIPINO.

Teresa: YES, IT IS.

AND THE HALO-HALO IN TAGALOG MEANS "MIX-MIX."

SO THAT'S WHY WHEN YOU EAT THIS, MIX IT UP, AND THEN YOU SCOOP IT IN YOUR MOUTH.

Huell: YEAH.

Teresa: YEAH.

Huell: BOY, THIS IS GREAT.

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BECAUSE NOT ONLY DO YOU GET GOOD FOOD, BUT YOU GET A--A LESSON IN--IN CULTURE AND IN HISTORY AND IN A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF OUR COMMUNITY HERE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

IT'S CALLED ASIAN NOODLE.

IT'S--NOODLES.

IT'S RIGHT HERE ON NORTH SPRING STREET, RIGHT IN DOWNTOWN L.A. ON THE EDGE OF CHINATOWN.

IT'S FUSION FOOD ALL THE WAY.

AND, UH, I COME HERE A LOT, AND I RECOMMEND YOU DO AS WELL.

WE CAME HERE TONIGHT TO HAVE DINNER.

WE ENDED UP SEEIN' A FASHION SHOW AND HAVIN' DINNER.

SO YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GONNA FIND DOWN HERE.

BUT IT'S BEEN AN ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE.

COME ON DOWN AND ENJOY THIS.

THERE'S A LOT TO LEARN AND A LOT OF GOOD FOOD DOWN HERE AS WELL.

LOOK AT THIS.

WHAT'S THIS CALLED AGAIN?

Teresa: FRIED BANANAS WITH, UH, TROPICAL ICE CREAM.

[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY KCET PUBIC TELEVISION AND FRIENDS OF NCI] [CAPTIONED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE --www.ncicap.org--] Announcer: VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM...