THINK ABOUT FAMILY?

>> THAT'S EASY.

MY KIDS.

THEY GAVE ME THE CHANCE TO HAVE MY OWN FAMILY.

CAPTIONS PROVIDED BY ALL TIME GREATS >>> OUR SHOW TODAY IS ALL ABOUT FAMILY.

SO, JAVIER, WHO'S THE FIRST PERSON THAT COMES TO YOUR MIND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT FAMILY?

>> OH, THAT'S EASY.

IT'S MY KIDS.

I MEAN, THEY GAVE ME THE CHANCE TO HAVE MY OWN FAMILY.

>> AH, YES, OF COURSE.

AND, FOR ME IT'S MY MOM, BECAUSE SHE WAS THE ONE THAT SHOWED US HOW TO BE A MOM, AND STICK TOGETHER AS A FAMILY, AND I'D VENTURE TO SAY, IT'S MOM WHO COMES TO MIND FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE, BECAUSE SOME MOM'S JUST GET IT.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

IN FACT, THIS NEXT STORY IS ABOUT TWO OF THOSE MOMS, AND HOW THEIR FAMILY IS BRINGING HEALTHIER FOOD OPTIONS TO A RURAL COMMUNITY.

>>> THE BUILDING ORIGINALLY WAS A GRAIN ELEVATOR.

IT WAS BUILT IN THE LATE 1800s, SO IT'S WELL OVER 100-YEARS-OLD.

IT'S BEEN STANDING FOR A LONG TIME.

AND IT WAS AN OPERATING ELEVATOR UNTIL, UM, ABOUT 30 YEARS AGO.

IT HAD TO SHUT DOWN.

THE FAMILY -- THE SWARTZ FAMILY THAT HAD IT FOR MANY, MANY YEARS -- THEY GREW OLDER AND COULDN'T HANDLE IT ANYMORE, SHUT IT DOWN, AND SOLD IT TO MY FAMILY.

AND EVENTUALLY WE BROUGHT OUR STORE IN HERE.

>> SO IT'S A BUILDING -- YOU INDICATED YOUR GRANDMOTHER, YOUR MOTHER, AND YOU -- >> YES.

>> AND NOW -- >> AND MY TWO DAUGHTERS.

>> TWO DAUGHTERS.

>> WE ARE REAL HAPPY TO SERVE THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY, AND MANY PEOPLE THAT PASS BY ON ROUTE 33.

>> THINK WE CAN GO INSIDE AND SEE THE REST OF THIS MAGNIFICENT BUILDING FROM THE INSIDE?

>> I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO, AND TO MEET MY MOTHER, WHO BEGAN THE WHOLE BUSINESS.

>> GEORGE, I'D LIKE YOU TO MEET MY MOTHER, MARITA WHITAKER.

>> MARITA, HOW ARE YOU?

SO PLEASED TO MEET YOU.

>> OH, I'M JUST FINE.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

>> SO PLEASED TO MEET YOU.

GIVE ME A LITTLE HISTORY ON THE HOMESTEAD STORE.

>> WELL, WE STARTED IN JUNE OF 1983, BUT WE'RE STILL GOING, STILL ALL FAMILY RUN.

WE GET A LOT OF HELP FROM MY DAUGHTER DONNA'S GIRLS, DAUGHTERS, AND HER BOYS HELPING WITH THE FARM, SELLING SOME OF THE PRODUCE IN HERE.

>> SO THE BRAINCHILD, WHAT MADE YOU THINK OF THIS?

WHAT MADE YOU THINK THIS MIGHT BE A GOOD --?

>> MY MOTHER'S HEALTH.

SHE -- SHE HAD SOME POOR HEALTH, AND, UM, WE LIVE IN WASHINGTON, D.C., AT THE TIME.

AND THE ONLY HEALTH FOOD STORE THAT WE COULD FIND WAS OVER IN VIRGINIA.

WE HAD TO GO A LONG WAYS TO FIND HEALTHY THINGS FOR HER.

THAT'S KIND OF WHY WE WANTED TO START A HEALTH FOOD STORE.

WE WANTED TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE.

WE'RE NOT JUST A STRICT HEALTH FOOD STORE.

AS YOU CAN SEE, WE'VE GOT CANDY IN HERE.

THEN WE HAVE, LIKE, ESSENTIAL OILS, VITAMIN SUPPLEMENTS -- SOME OF THOSE HAVE BEEN A LITTLE BIT HARD TO GET AND KEEP ON HAND IN RECENT YEARS, BUT WE'RE WORKING TO KEEP THAT ON HAND.

AND THEN WE HAVE FOOD.

WE HAVE LOCAL MAPLE SYRUP, LOCAL HONEY, AND WHATEVER PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR -- CANNING SUPPLIES -- WE TRY TO GET IT FOR THEM.

>> SO A LOT OF THE PRODUCTS YOU SELL ARE PRODUCED BY OHIO FARMERS?

IT'S A BIG DEAL TO BE AS LOCAL AS POSSIBLE?

>> AS POSSIBLE, YES.

AND THE BEEF IN HERE IS FROM OUR FARM, SO THAT'S OBVIOUSLY LOCAL, AND -- AND NO HORMONES OR ANTIBIOTICS, AND NO GRAIN.

WE GET IT BUTCHERED AT A LOCAL BUTCHER SHOP, AND THEN WE CAN BRING IT IN HERE BECAUSE IT'S INSPECTED, AND SELL IT.

>> I KNOW THIS IS A FAMILY BUSINESS, SO I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF HISTORY HERE FOR YOU GUYS.

>> YES.

>> DO YOU HAVE ANY PHOTOS OR ANY PICTURES THAT WE MIGHT SEE TO SHARE SOME OF THAT HISTORY?

>> YES, WE DO.

UM, THIS ONE'S A VERY -- PROBABLY THE OLDEST PHOTO WE'VE GOT OF THE BUILDING.

AND, UM, NOT EVEN SURE WHAT YEAR IT IS, BUT NO PAVEMENTS.

>> RIGHT, I SEE THAT.

[ laughter ] I SEE THAT.

>> JUST A DIRT ROAD OUT HERE.

>> KIND OF IN IT'S EARLY STAGES THEN, YEAH.

>> YES.

IN THE MID 90s, WE BOUGHT THE ELEVATOR BECAUSE WE WERE OFF THE MAIN ROAD BACK AT THE FARM.

WE USED TO GO TO FARMERS' MARKETS, WE USED TO, UM, HAVE A TRAILER THAT OUR OLDEST SON BUILT, THAT WE WOULD GO TO CRAFT SHOWS AND FAIRS.

AND THEN WE STARTED HERE, WITH OUR STORE DOWNSTAIRS IN A MUCH SMALLER SPACE, AND THEN EVENTUALLY MOVED UP HERE.

IT'S WORKING OUT VERY WELL FOR ALL OF US.

>> YES.

>> MARITA, TALK TO ME ABOUT THE SPACE THAT WE'RE IN.

THIS IS A UNIQUE SPACE WE'RE IN.

IT'S NOT JUST LIKE A REGULAR STORE.

>> NO.

>> HOW COOL IS THAT TO WORK HERE?

>> OH, IT'S QUITE A PRIVILEGE.

UM, IT'S SOMETHING THAT -- ESPECIALLY THE MEN COME IN, AND THEY WANT TO KNOW THE HISTORY OF HOW IT WAS BUILT.

AND THE WOMEN, THEY'RE -- THEY'RE SHOPPING.

[ laughter ] YOU KNOW.

AND, SO, WE JUST -- WE FEEL IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO INTRODUCE THEM TO SOMETHING UNIQUE, AND DIFFERENT, AND, UM, HOPE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

>> YOU TOO.

THANK YOU.

>> SO WHEN YOU CAME IN, YOU KINDA SAID, "WE'RE JUST GONNA LEAVE -- THESE ARE WOOD FLOORS, THIS IS WOOD ON THE SIDE WALLS.

WE'RE JUST GONNA LEAVE IT LIKE THIS."

THIS ADDS A LOT OF CHARACTER -- >> IT DOES.

>> -- TO YOUR SPACE.

>> RIGHT.

BUT, UH, IT'LL NEVER BE A GRAIN ELEVATOR AGAIN.

>> RIGHT.

>> I CAN GUARANTEE YOU THAT.

>> YEAH.

>> WE -- WE DESTROYED ENOUGH OF THE CAPABILITY FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.

BUT WE THINK WE'RE MAKING A GOOD USE OF IT, AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

>> YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT THE GRAIN THAT USED TO COME OUT IN HERE, IN THE CEILING.

>> YES.

>> WHAT -- WHAT IS THAT?

>> YOU CAN -- YOU CAN SEE THE CHUTES UP ABOVE THAT WE LEFT IN EXISTENCE.

THESE ARE THE -- SOME OF THE BINS -- >> OKAY.

>> -- THAT WOULD HOLD THE GRAIN.

AND, UH, ON EITHER END HERE, THERE WERE BIG DOUBLE DOORS, WHERE THEY WOULD BRING THE WAGONS IN IF THEY WERE UNLOADING.

>> DOWN HERE, WE SEE THE NEWER WOOD -- THESE WERE GRATES.

>> YEAH, OKAY.

>> AND THEY WOULD, UH, DUMP THE GRAIN DOWN IN THERE, AND THEN AUGERS WOULD TAKE IT UP INTO THE DIFFERENT BINS.

BUT IF THEY WERE COMING IN TO BUY GRAIN, THEN THEY WOULD RELEASE IT WITH THESE CHUTES INTO THE WAGONS.

>> GOTCHA, GOTCHA.

>> YES.

>> LIKE I WAS TELLING YOUR MOM, VERY INTERESTING BUILDING, VERY, VERY UNIQUE BUILDING.

>> YES, A LOT OF HISTORY.

>> YES, IT IS.

>> WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF THE HOMESTEAD STORE?

>> WELL, I'M HOPING THAT IT WILL GO ON GENERATIONALLY, BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S A NEED FOR WHAT WE HAVE HERE FOR PEOPLE, THAT IT'LL JUST, UH, KEEP GROWING AND BENEFIT FAMILY AND THE COMMUNITY, AND -- AND THE WORLD AT LARGE, ACTUALLY.

>>> CENTRAL OHIO HAS SOME BEAUTIFUL LITTLE TOWNS.

NOW, CHARLENE, WHENEVER YOU DRIVE THROUGH ONE OF THOSE TOWNS, DO YOU EVER WONDER ABOUT, LIKE, WHO LIVES THERE?

>> I ACTUALLY DO.

AND I ALSO WONDER HOW MANY GENERATIONS OF FAMILIES HAVE LIVED THERE, AND WHETHER THEY STILL LIVE THERE TODAY.

>> WELL, YOU'RE IN LUCK.

I HAPPEN TO KNOW THAT PLAIN CITY IS ONE OF THOSE TOWNS WHOSE RESIDENTS STILL HAVE STRONG FAMILY TIES TO ITS ORIGINAL SETTLERS.

HERE'S MORE.

>>> BEFORE THE WHITE MEN CAME AND SETTLED, THERE WERE A NUMBER OF INDIAN TRIBES THAT LIVED IN THIS AREA.

THEY HUNTED AND FISHED AND -- AND CAMPED ALONG BIG DARBY CREEK.

IT WAS PART OF THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY, PART OF THE VIRGINIA LAND GRANT.

>> JONATHAN ALDER, HE HAD BEEN BORN IN NEW JERSEY.

HIS FAMILY MOVED WHEN HE WAS FAIRLY YOUNG TO THE WESTERN PART OF VIRGINIA.

ONE DAY, WHEN HE WAS ABOUT NINE, HE AND AN OLDER BROTHER WENT OUT LOOKING FOR A HORSE OF THEIRS THAT HAD WANDERED OFF, AND THEY ENCOUNTERED SOME INDIANS WHO HAD COME FROM OHIO.

THEY KILLED JONATHAN'S BROTHER, BUT THEY DECIDED THAT THEY WOULD TAKE HIM BACK AND ADOPT HIM INTO THEIR TRIBE.

WHEN HE WAS A YOUNG MAN, HE DECIDED HE WANTED TO, KIND OF STRIKE OUT ON HIS OWN.

>> HE BUILT SEVERAL CABINS AROUND PLAIN CITY.

THE LAST ONE HE BUILT WAS SOUTH OF TOWN, ON WHAT'S NOW PLAIN CITY GEORGESVILLE ROAD.

>> THE FIRST SETTLERS FROM THE EAST WHO CAME, WERE IN 1796, WAS A MAN NAMED BENJAMIN SPRINGER AND HIS FAMILY.

THEY MET ALDER, THEY BUILT THEIR CABIN NEAR HIS, AND THEY HELPED HIM RELEARN ENGLISH.

>> JONATHAN ALDER, HE WAS THE FIRST WHITE SETTLER IN MADISON COUNTY.

THE EWING BROTHERS WERE THE FIRST WHITE SETTLERS IN WHAT IS NOW UNION COUNTY.

YOU KNOW, PLAIN CITY IS DIVIDED BY THE COUNTY LINE, AND ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF TOWN YOU'RE IN MADISON COUNTY, AND ON THE NORTH SIDE OF TOWN YOU'RE IN UNION COUNTY.

>> IT WASN'T UNTIL 1818 THAT ISAAC BIGELOW CAME.

AND HE HAD ORIGINALLY INTENDED JUST TO FARM LAND AROUND HERE.

BUT HE SAW THAT THERE WAS A GOOD DEAL OF TRAFFIC ON THE CHILLICOTHE ROAD, AND THEN ALSO ON WHAT IS NOW MAIN STREET, WHICH WAS CALLED THE POST ROAD, BECAUSE IT WAS THE ROAD THAT THE MAIL CARRIERS TOOK FROM WORTHINGTON TO URBANA.

AND SO HE LAID OUT A TOWN, WHICH HE CALLED WESTMINSTER.

IT WAS CALLED WESTMINSTER FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS.

IN 1823 IT BECAME PLEASANT VALLEY.

THERE WAS AT LEAST ONE OTHER PLEASANT VALLEY IN OHIO, SO IN 1871, THE NAME WAS CHANGED TO PLAIN CITY.

AND A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK THAT THE PLAIN HAS TO DO WITH THE PLAIN PEOPLE, BECAUSE WE HAD A LARGE AMISH COMMUNITY HERE.

ACTUALLY, IT'S BECAUSE OF THE DARBY PLAINS.

THERE WERE FIVE AMISH FAMILIES WHO CAME FROM HOLMES COUNTY IN1895.

BY THE 50s WE WOULD'VE HAD AT LEAST 100 FAMILIES OF OLD-ORDER AMISH.

>> THE AMISH FOR THE MOST PART ALL LIVED OUTSIDE OF TOWN.

AND THEY, ALONG WITH THE FARMERS, WOULD COME INTO TOWN ON FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY TO BUY THE THINGS THAT THEY COULDN'T MAKE AT HOME.

WE HAD THREE OR FOUR BIG GRAIN ELEVATORS IN PLAIN CITY AT THAT TIME, AND OF COURSE ALL THE FARMERS BROUGHT THEIR GRAIN IN HERE FOR SALE.

>> IN 1900 THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN, PROBABLY 1,000-1,200 PEOPLE.

IT WAS A MAJOR SHIPPING AREA FOR LIVESTOCK, FARM PRODUCE, EGGS, THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> WE HAD A HALF A DOZEN GROCERY STORES.

DRY GOOD STORES, AND RESTAURANTS AND THINGS.

A MOVIE THEATRE.

WE HAD THE HARDWARE STORE THAT WAS ON THE CORNER ACROSS FROM THE OLD FARMERS NATIONAL BANK, WHERE THE TOWN CLOCK SITS ON TOP.

THAT TOWN CLOCK WAS GIVEN TO THE PEOPLE OF THE VILLAGE BY A FELLOW OF THE NAME OF SAMMY TAYLOR, AND IT WAS DEDICATED NOVEMBER OF 1902.

AND THAT CLOCK IS STILL HERE, IT STILL FUNCTIONS.

IT KIND OF BECAME THE SYMBOL OF PLAIN CITY.

MOST OF THE BUILDING IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA WERE BUILT AROUND MID-1800s, UP TO THE EARLY 1900s, AND MOST OF THE BUILDINGS BUILT DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME ARE STILL HERE.

IN JUNE OF 1912, THERE WAS A TERRIBLE STORM THAT WENT THROUGH HERE.

MOST OF THE BUILDINGS IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA WERE THREE-STORY BUILDINGS AT THAT TIME.

WHEN THE STORM CAME THROUGH, IT TOOK THE TOP OFF OF ALMOST ALL OF THE BUILDINGS, PARTICULARLY ON THE NORTH SIDE OF MAIN STREET.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CHARACTERIZES PLAIN CITY IS THAT IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN VERY MUCH TIED TO AGRICULTURE.

I THINK EVEN THOSE OF US WHO -- WHO AREN'T FARM KIDS, WHO GREW UP IN TOWN, YOU WERE ATTUNED TO THE RHYTHMS OF FARM LIFE -- IS IT TOO WET?

IS IT TOO HOT?

IS IT TOO DRY?

>> AT ONE TIME WE HAD A CANNING FACTORY HERE IN TOWN -- THIS WAS BACK IN THE LATE 30s, EARLY 40s -- WHERE THEY CANNED VEGETABLES.

NEARLY EVERYBODY THAT HAD A LITTLE PATCH OF GROUND THAT COULD PLANT SOME TOMATO PLANTS, WOULD RAISE TOMATOES AND HAUL THEM TO THE CANNING FACTORY AND SELL 'EM, THE SAME WAY MOST OF THE FARMERS RAISED SWEET CORN, AND THAT WOULD GO TO THE CANNING FACTORY.

>> I THINK YOU WOULD FIND IN ANY PIONEER COMMUNITY, THAT, WHEN YOU'VE ONLY GOT SIX OR EIGHT FAMILIES IN THE AREA, YOU'RE MARRIAGE PROSPECTS ARE SOMEWHAT LIMITED.

SO EVERYBODY WAS MARRYING INTO EVERYBODY ELSE'S FAMILY.

>> DOWN THROUGH THE GENERATIONS, EVERYBODY IS RELATED TO EVERYBODY ELSE ALMOST.

I HAD COUSINS AND AUNTS AND UNCLES ALL OVER PLAIN CITY.

EVERYBODY ELSE DID TOO.

>> RIGHT NOW, WE ARE, I GUESS YOU COULD SAY "ON THE CUSP."

WE WANT TO KEEP THIS SMALL TOWN FEELING THAT WE ALL GREW UP WITH, BUT WE RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE GONNA BE A LOT OF CHANGES.

>> WE KNOW THAT EVENTUALLY WE'RE GONNA BE CONSUMED BY SOMEONE -- PROBABLY DUBLIN OR HILLIARD, MAYBE COLUMBUS.

WE DON'T MIND GROWTH, BUT WE WANT CONTROLLED GROWTH.

THAT'S OUR BIGGEST FEAR, THAT IT'S GONNA JUST WILD LIKE DUBLIN AND HILLIARD DID.

>> THE FACT THAT SO MANY OF US AFTER HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE WENT AWAY, BUT THE WE'VE COME BACK, I THINK THAT'S BECAUSE WE HAD THAT FEELING OF -- THERE'S A REAL TIE HERE, TO THE AREA, TO THE FAMILIES.

>> COURSE I STILL FEEL RELATED TO ALMOST EVERYBODY IN TOWN TOO.

[ laughter ] >>> YOU KNOW, I THINK GATHERING AROUND A TABLE WITH FAMILY AND SHARING A MEAL IS A REALLY SPECIAL WAY TO CONNECT.

>> I AGREE.

AND SOMETIMES IT'S A BONDING EXPERIENCE TO PREPARE THE MEAL TOGETHER.

ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU GET TO TASTE-TEST ALONG THE WAY.

[ laughter ] >> I'M SURE YOU'RE GOOD AT IT TOO.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND IN OUR NEXT STORY, A MOM AND DAUGHTER DUO HAS TRANSLATED THAT EXPERIENCE INTO THEIR FILIPINO RESTAURANT.

>>> HEY, THANKS FOR HAVING US TODAY.

>> THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

>> WE'RE AT A FILIPINO RESTAURANT AND YOU'RE A MOM AND DADDER, RIGHT?

>> UH-HUH.

>> AWESOME.

CAN YOU TELL US WHAT WE'RE MAKING TODAY?

>> WE'RE DOING THE TRADITIONAL DIP, THE PHILIPPINE NOODLES AND THESE ARE LIKE OUR COMFORT FOOD, AND WE MAKE THIS LIKE ALL YEAR ROUND, YOU KNOW, IN EVERY OCCASION.

SO IF YOU HAVE A BIRTHDAY OR BECAUSE IT MEANS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A LONG LIFE.

>> SO DOES IT LIKE BRING LUCK OR JUST MEANS IT WILL GIVE YOU PROSPERITY OR LONGEVITY?

>> PART OF THE CULTURE IS TO MIX IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT CULTURES SO THE INFLUENCES FROM THE CHINESE AND THAT'S KIND OF WHERE IT COMES LONG NOODLES, LONG LIFE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WHAT ARE THE INGREDIENTS?

>> OKAY.

WHAT WE HAVE RIGHT HERE IS, YOU KNOW, THE NOODLE.

WE HAVE THE CABBAGE, CELERY, CARROTS, ONIONS AND GARLIC AND YOU CAN ADD, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT KINDS OF VEGETABLES, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO.

>> ALL RIGHT.

I GUESS LET GET STARTED.

>> SURE.

>> SHOW US WHAT YOU GOT.

>> SO IT'S A MIX OF DIFFERENT VEGETABLES AND SOUNDS LIKE YOU CAN PUT IN DIFFERENT ONES ACCORDING TO YOUR TASTE?

>> YEAH, BECAUSE THE WAY THAT THE PHILIPPINES ARE ESSENTIALLY A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT ISLANDS.

EVERYONE KIND OF HAS A LOT OF ORIGINALITY IN TERMS OF INGREDIENTS AND TERMS OF WHAT IS AVAILABLE TO THEM IN THEIR PARK.

WE THINK OF FILIPINO FOOD IS FARM TO TABLE AND AVAILABLE THERE FOR YOU.

SO THIS IS KIND OF THE STYLE THAT'S MOST WELL-KNOWN AND THE STANDARD INGREDIENTS WITH CHICKEN AND SAUSAGE.

>> IS THIS DISH USED FOR BIG HOLIDAYS?

I KNOW IT'S USED FOR BIRTHDAYS.

>> IT'S PRETTY MUCH EVERY MAJOR HOLIDAY, EVERY MAJOR GATHERING.

I THINK FOR FILIPINO CULTURE, FOOD IS ALWAYS AT THE CENTER PIECE OF ANY CELEBRATION AND THIS IS ACTUALLY MY MOM'S FAVORITE THING TO COOK.

>> OKAY.

>> AND EVERYONE LOVES THIS.

PEOPLE DEFINITELY COME AND, YOU KNOW, ASK FOR MY MOM'S FOR THEIR OWN BIRTHDAYS.

>> OKAY.

>> YOURS IS THE MOST POPULAR.

>> YEAH.

>> ALL RIGHT.

I THINK THAT SHOULD BE GOOD.

>> OKAY.

I WANT TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON ON THE STOVE.

>> LET'S CHECK IT OUT.

>> CHECK IT OUT.

>> HEY, HOW IS IT GOING?

>> THEN WE HAVE THE CABBAGE.

AND SOME CELERY.

AND THEN WE'VE GOT SALT AND PEPPER HERE.

>> SO CAN YOU TELL ME A BIT HOW YOU STARTED COOKING?

WHEN DID YOU FIRST LEARN HOW TO MAKE THAT?

>> WHEN I WAS LITTLE I JUST KIND OF LIKE WATCHED MY MOM COOK IT AND SINCE IT'S MY FAVORITE, I REALLY WANTED TO LEARN HOW TO COOK IT.

>> SO YOUR MOM TAUGHT YOU AND YOU TAUGHT HER.

>> YEAH.

>> PASSED DOWN.

PASSED DOWN.

>> I'M GOING TO PLATE THIS.

OKAY?

>> IS THERE A PARTICULAR PRESENTATION?

>> YES, YEAH BECAUSE TRADITIONALLY, WHEN YOU'RE PREPARING THIS AT HOME FOR A FRIEND, YOU JUST MIX THEM ALL TOGETHER BUT IT DIFFERENT WHEN YOU DO IT IN A RESTAURANT SETTING.

SO YOU NEED TO MAKE IT, YOU KNOW, LOOK PRETTIER.

>> OKAY.

>> I THINK FILIPINO FOOD IS SUCH A NEW THING HERE IN COLUMBUS AND WE REALLY WANT TO FOCUS ON PRESENTATION AND SHOWING OFF THE DIFFERENT INGREDIENTS AND, YOU KNOW, WE LIKE TO PUT ALL THE VEGGIES AT THE TOP SO YOU CAN GET THAT CRISP TEXTURE RIGHT AT YOUR FIRST BITE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

NOW IT'S TIME.

THIS IS THE TRADITIONAL FILIPINO DISH.

YOU NEED TO GIVE IT A SHOT.

>> OKAY.

I WANT TO.

>> ALL RIGHT.

LET'S GO.

TRY IT.

>> OKAY.

BE HONEST, OKAY?

TELL ME THE TRUTH.

I WILL GIVE YOU MY REAL REVIEW.

>> THIS LOOKS GREAT.

>> THANK YOU.

OKAY.

I'M ABOUT READY TO SERVE IT FOR YOU GUYS, OKAY?

>> THANK YOU.

>> FIRST OFF, WE'RE GOING TO SQUEEZE THE LIME.

SO WE GOT THESE FLOWERY FLAVOR TO IT.

AND I'LL MIX IT UP A LITTLE BIT.

>> OKAY.

CAN YOU TELL ME MORE ABOUT THE BUSINESS?

WHEN DID YOU OPEN?

>> WE ACTUALLY START TODAY OUT HAVING A CAFE DOWNTOWN AND WE DECIDED TO START DOING FILIPINO FOOD AND IN SMALL WAYS WITH SANDWICHES AND SHOWING YOU HAVE A LITTLE FILIPINO INFLUENCE AND MY MOM WAS ADAMANT IF WE START DOING A FILIPINO BRUNCH, PEOPLE WOULD COME.

I GREW UP HERE IN COLUMBUS AND NEVER SEEN FILIPINO FOOD BE REP ACCEPTABLE -- REPRESENTED ANYWAY IN THE MAIN STREAM.

I'M LIKE ARE YOU SURE?

SHE'S LIKE NO, WE'RE DOING IT.

I WAS LIKE ALL RIGHT.

SO WE WOULD ALWAYS HAVE, LIKE, REALLY LONG LINES AND PEOPLE REALLY CAME FROM ALL OVER TO TRY FILL PONY FOOD AND THAT IS WHERE WE GOT THE IDEA MAYBE COLUMBUS IS READY FOR THIS.

>> OKAY.

SO YOU GOT A CUSTOMER BASE KIND OF RIGHT AWAY?

>> YEAH, IT WAS BECAUSE WE HAD BEEN I GUESS THE FIRST FULL SERVICE FILIPINO RESTAURANT AND BAR IN COLUMBUS.

IT WAS KIND OF SOMETHING PEOPLE WERE EXCITED ABOUT AND READY TO TRY AND NATIONWIDE FILIPINO FOOD HAD BEEN PICKING UP IN POPULARITY AND BEING RECOGNIZED BY CHEFS LIKE ANTHONY BOURDAIN AND ALL DIFFERENT SORTS OF FOLKS SO IT WAS STARTING TO BECOME PART OF THE MAIN STREAM FABRIC OF THE AMERICAN CULINARY PALATE.

>> OKAY.

LET EAT.

>> GOT TO TELL ME THE TRUTH, OKAY?

>> I WILL TELL YOU THE TRUTH.

>> NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH.

>> I LOVE IT.

IT SAVORY BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DESCRIBE IT BUT I LIKE IT.

>> GOOD.

THAT'S ALL THAT MATTERS.

>> TEXTURE IS GOOD.

>> YEAH.

>> I KNOW I'M GETTING MY VEGETABLES.

>> SO WHAT IS IT LIKE RUNNING A BUSINESS TOGETHER, MOTHER AND DAUGHTER?

>> WE FIGHT A LOT.

[ laughter ] >> IT'S INTERESTING.

THE NICE THING IS WE HAVE PRETTY DIFFERENT ROLES.

MY MOM MAKES SURE EVERYTHING IN THE KITCHEN IS RUNNING AND I KIND OF HANDLE THE BACK END AND SERVICE AND IT'S A MODERN RESTAURANT IN THAT WE HAVE THESE VERY TRADITIONAL DISHES.

IT'S STILL THE SAME FLAVORS.

IT'S STILL THE SAME RECIPES BUT WE MODERNIZE IT IN TERMS OF HOW WE PRESENT IT TO OUR GUESTS AND EDUCATE AND EXPLAIN AND IN THAT WAY WE'RE KIND OF MIXING OUR TWO PERSPECTIVES OF FILIPINO FOOD ANDIPINO AMERICANS.

>> SO THE DISH WE EAT FOR CELEBRATIONS, RIGHT, BIRTHDAYS, ANY MAYOR HOLIDAYS.

>> THE FILIPINOS ARE PREDOMINANTLY ROMAN CATHOLIC SO A LOT OF OUR HOLIDAYS KIND OF REVOLVE AROUND THE CHURCH SO CHRISTMAS, EASTER THINGS LIKE THAT ARE BIG HOLIDAYS AND THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT BRING ALL OF OUR FAMILY AROUND AND BRING THE COMMUNITY AROUND.

>> CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS RESTAURANT IN AMERICA, IN COLUMBUS?

>> A FILIPINO AMERICAN, I GREW UP NOT REALLY SEEING MYSELF REPRESENTED IN A LOT OF THE MAIN STREAM.

I GREW UP IN A CITY WHERE PEOPLE DIDN'T REALLY LOOK LIKE ME AND FOLKS COME HERE AND SAY LIKE I'M SO PROUD OF THIS PLACE BECAUSE PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS COME IN AND TRY FILIPINO FOOD AND LOVE IT AND BECOME FANS OF IT AND I NEVER THOUGHT I'D SAY THAT AND SO ON ONE END, IT'S A PLACE FOR THE COMMUNITY TO GATHER AND ON THE OTHER HAND, IT'S A PLACE THAT IS REPRESENTING FOLKS THAT MAYBE HAVEN'T SEEN THEMSELVES REPRESENTED BEFORE AND IN THE MAIN STREAM.

>> THANKS SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME AT THE RESTAURANT AND SHARING ABOUT FOOD THAT'S SO TO IMPORTANT TO YOUR CULTURE.

>> IT'S A PLEASURE HAVING YOU HERE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> ALL RIGHT.

LET'S KEEP EATING.

>>> THANKS FOR BEING WITH US AND REMEMBER, YOU CAN CATCH ALL OF OUR EPISODES ON COLUMBUS NEIGHBORHOODS.ORG.

>> FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER AND INSTAGRAM.

>> WE'LL SEE YOU BACK HERE NEXT WEEK ON "COLUMBUS NEIGHBORHOODS."

MAMA USED TO TELL ME, GIRL YOU'RE STRONG, DON'T GET PUSHED AROUND AND YOU'LL GET ALONG JUST FINE THERE'S MOVERS AND THERE'S SHAKERS, BOTH LIKE ME JUST WORKING FOR THEIR FAMILY TO MAKE ENDS MEET YOU GET BACK WHAT YOU GIVE IN LIFE -- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com