Through the pandemic Jane Barmore, Nori DeVega and Tricia San Mateo went through very similar but separate journeys of Filipino food discovery because they missed home. There was no other option but to make the food that gave them comfort through a very trying time. When the world reopened and they finally met, they felt a sense of community that led to a friendship built on a shared passion for food and their Filipino American immigrant experiences that led to TIKIM.
ABOUT US
OUR VISION
TIKIM is a concept inspired by three friends and their vision to further the Filipino American narrative by sharing the stories of their collective cultural experiences and to foster personal connections through Filipino food. TIKIM means “to taste” in Tagalog. It is an invitation to taste Filipino food and culture and to have a conversation about the past, present & future.
ABOUT US
OUR MISSION
Filipino food is considered by food media as an “up and coming” cuisine. Although Filipino history in America runs deep, Filipino food isn’t widely known in the US or even within the Asian diaspora. TIKIM’s mission is to claim space for Filipino food in Portland’s culinary dialogue. Success is achieved when people include Filipino food in their own personal conversations.
ABOUT US
OUR POSITION
With three female founders, TIKIM also celebrates the centric role matriarchs play in Filipino food memories. Jane, Nori and Tricia’s palates may have been influenced by their ‘Lola and Nanay’, but their Filipino American experiences inform where they want to take their food. Ultimately TIKIM is the place to taste ‘Ate’s’ cooking with your ‘barkada’.