Discovering the Passion of Vegan Cooking: The Story of Chef Jay-Ar Pugao
Chef Jay-Ar is Stanford Dining’s first Vegan and Plant Forward Sous Chef. He specializes in developing new plant-based recipes and enhancing the vegan dining experience for Stanford University students, faculty, staff, and guests. But how did Chef Jay-Ar find his passion for vegan cooking?
Chef Jay-Ar was born in the Philippines and came to the United States with his parents when he was seven. His family lived in different parts of Manila, but most of his childhood memories are of spending time in Tondo, Manila, where he played in the streets and fed stray dogs. In 1992, Chef Jay-Ar's mom had a heart attack, and her doctor told the family that it was because of the diet she was eating - predominantly Filipino food that was high in sodium and saturated fats. In an attempt to "force" his mom to eat and cook healthier, he told her he was not eating meat anymore. His older brother joined the journey, and since two of her kids weren't eating her cooking, she had to figure out how to feed the family. Chef Jay-Ar's mom eventually found alternative proteins from a small Chinatown market, which she substituted for her Filipino foods. She introduced mock meats, and Chef Jay-Ar learned to cook classic Filipino dishes using soy proteins, tofu, and seitan. This experience became Chef Jay-Ar's passion, career, and livelihood.
Chef Jay-Ar's favorite traditional Filipino dish is Afritada, mainly because it has a sentimental reason behind it. This dish holds a special place in his heart as it was the first he learned from his mother, sparking his desire to become a vegan chef. However, he loves Bistek and Kare-Kare, which he makes vegan. The only thing that stumped him was the veganizing Dinuguan. He's still recipe ideating, but that one has been hard to crack.
Working at Stanford has been a dream come true for Chef Jay-Ar. He sees it a privilege to provide Stanford students with vegan/plant-based meals that he has learned in his 25+ years as a vegan chef. Not only is it his passion, but providing them with something they don't come across too often is enjoyable. Although plant-based foods have grown so much, Chef Jay-Ar feels there are still unchartered flavor profiles and plant foods that still need the attention they deserve. Chef Jay-Ar envisions Filipino cuisine to be like music, constantly evolving because artists are creative and adaptable. Filipino cuisine will depend on the up-and-coming chefs in the industry. Whoever is inspired will create a lane. Filipino cuisine will go wherever Chefs want to take it. Chef Jay-Ar has created a lane in his personal life because he was inspired by his mom's condition and the rest of the community. His inspiration was to make a difference in his family's health and provide the elders with a nutritious, tasty alternative.
Chef Jay-Ar's story is a testament to the power of food and the importance of healthy eating. He found his passion in vegan cooking and has made it his life's work to spread the plant-based movement as far as possible.