It’s hard to find a restaurant more passionate about Filipino culture, cuisine, and community than Musang Seattle. Challenging the norms of the restaurant industry, it goes beyond what is expected. Musang has transformed into a community space that is welcoming, uplifting, empowering, and fueled by the spirit of bayanihan, service, and Filipino pride.
Returning to Their Roots
Musang’s origins can be traced to Filipina-American chef Melissa Miranda’s homecoming to Seattle, home to one of the largest Filipino communities in the United States.
“I was first inspired to start Musang after returning to Seattle from working in kitchens in Italy and New York,” founder Miranda recounts the humble beginnings of the restaurant that shares her father’s nickname meaning “wild cat” in Tagalog. “I noticed that the Filipino restaurants and businesses of my childhood had closed, and that our community’s presence in our neighborhoods had faded. I opened Musang ultimately to aid in the restoration of the Filipino-American culture in Seattle, and to create a space where our people could gather around shared memories and good food.”
Undoubtedly, Musang has accomplished just that. Three years of serving the locals through pop-up experiences and a successful Kickstarter campaign later, Musang transitioned to a brick-and-mortar restaurant in Miranda’s childhood neighborhood of Beacon Hill that opened its doors in January 2020.
Musang’s carefully curated, seasonal menu features delectable dishes that strike a balance between classic and contemporary. Not only does it showcase the diversity of Filipino cuisine, it also opens opportunities to explore Filipino culture and the team’s childhood memories.
“I’m always excited to hear new patrons place their trust in our service staff, who are all very knowledgeable about our menu. That includes not just the food items, but the stories behind them,” Miranda shares, bringing into focus Musang’s passion in educating the public about Filipino cuisine. “The open mindedness of guests who are unfamiliar with Filipino cuisine is such a great opportunity for us to share ourselves with the larger community. All it takes is a willingness to learn, combined with our willingness to share.”
Navigating the Coronavirus Crisis
In true Filipino fashion, Musang has remained resilient in the face of adversity. They were only open for a few months before COVID-19 struck, forcing the team to pivot in order to keep their doors open for service in the midst of the pandemic.
The goal was not just to survive but to ensure the health and safety of their team and community while staying true to their values and continuing their mission to serve.
Musang created the Seattle Community Kitchen Collective in partnership with other organizations to provide food and relief for those affected by the health crisis.
“Our Community Kitchen was born of an immediate need to feed people who were suddenly out of work due to the pandemic,” Miranda shares. “Since March 2020, however, we’ve only seen [the] need increase.”
More than a year and a half has passed since then, but locals can still turn to Musang for a free meal, no questions asked.
“Food insecurity continues to be an issue in Seattle, so on days that the restaurant is closed to the public (and even on some when we are open), we continue to provide free meals to those who need them. We partner on a regular basis with so many people across Seattle to bring free meals to those in need. We are a part of a network known as Good Food Kitchens, which includes several organizations that support us to maintain a not for profit model for our Community Kitchen.”
When asked about what inspires her and team Musang to keep pressing forward, Miranda’s answer is simple—community.
“I am most inspired by my community. That will always be at the center of Musang. It’s the reason why we exist. We are here because the community wants us to be here. And because the community wants us to be here, we exist in service to the community.”
Passing on Their Passion
Musang’s success in Seattle’s food scene is a testimony of their culinary excellence and how they have been embraced by the community.
“I am very lucky to have grown up in Seattle, surrounded by [the] Filipino community,” Miranda reflects. “In the present day, Seattle is seeing so many new, young chefs and other creatives reconnect with their heritages and childhood memories, as we’ve done with Musang. I think very often of the words of my dear friend Terrence Jeffrey Santos, who is working on a documentary about Filipino food in Seattle. He always says: ‘Filipino food is not a trend. We’ve been here, and we’re here to stay.’”
To help preserve Filipino culture and cuisine, the team launched Musang Little Wildcats, “a program designed to connect children and families to traditional Filipino dishes.”
“Many of us who grew up in the States were not taught the recipes for the Filipino dishes that we fondly remember,” Miranda explains. “Little Wildcats is our way of teaching both the younger generation as well as their parents, who might not know where or how to start in passing on that knowledge to their kids. It’s also a way for us to remember how central cooking and sharing meals is to our culture.”
For more information about Musang Seattle and ways you can support their Community Kitchen, check out their website https://www.musangseattle.com/ and social media platforms @musangseattle.
