Learn to Cook Filipino Party Foods at Mercury Lounge

Mercury Lounge

​Never been to a Filipino party? The best ones are sprawling things: karaoke in the basement with the kids, all the ladies upstairs are your auntie, cousin A.J. in the backyard grilling oysters while yelling at the dog, and in the garage, folding tables covered with newspaper, with guys standing around sucking down balut, getting blasted on San Miguels and Johnnie Walker.

On Monday, Mercury Lounge chef Dominc Ainza will demo half a dozen basic party foods ― tinola, kare-kare, apritada, pancit, and pinakbet, maybe a few more ― in a class called "Filipino Food 102, the Filipino Party." There's a certain nostalgia factor at work here. From the class description on Facebook:

Time has become a valuable asset and the Filipino parties are the one suffering. Ordering to-go platters makes life a lot easier. Because of that we are losing the personal touch with the parties. Before when people would comment on the food "wow that's good!" the answer would be..."I made it, it's easy, I'll give you the recipe." Now the answer is "Oh, I bought it at ...."

Sounds sort of sweet, even if we're pretty sure Ainza's class won't have half a dozen aunties clucking over his pancit in Tagalog.

Asian Basics Cooking Class: Filipino Food 102, the Filipino Party
When: Mon., Dec. 20, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Mercury Lounge, 1582 Folsom (at 12th St.)
Cost: $40
RSVP: E-mail dominic@mercurysf.com, or call 551-1582; numbers are limited