Island Pacific Kitchen, Steinbach’s inaugural Filipino restaurant, is dishing out authentic meals with a sense of pride. John Medina, the proprietor and head chef, conceived the concept after a family outing to the Steinbach Aquatic Centre with his wife, Claudine Tolentino. Upon inquiring about Filipino dining options, locals informed them that there were none in the area, necessitating a journey to Winnipeg.
Medina expressed his mission to offer a taste of home through homemade dishes to the Filipino community residing in Steinbach, eliminating the need for a lengthy commute. Census data from 2021 reveals that 1,430 Steinbach inhabitants identified the Philippines as their cultural heritage, with 620 individuals citing Tagalog as their primary language.
Despite the substantial Filipino population in the city, Medina, who relocated from the Philippines at a young age, was surprised by the absence of Filipino culinary establishments. Alongside his family, he operates three other dining venues in Winnipeg. Island Pacific Kitchen, which opened at the end of December following a soft launch, has garnered positive reception from both the Filipino and non-Filipino communities in Steinbach.
The restaurant’s limited menu attracted 60 to 70 patrons daily before its official inauguration on January 3, featuring dishes like lumpiang, liempo, pancit, and seafood boils. Kristine Bristol, the president of the South Eastman Filipino Association, highlights the significance of food in the community, expressing excitement over the restaurant’s opening as a testament to the community’s expansion in the region.
Medina reflects on the restaurant’s nearly year-long development process, acknowledging setbacks such as necessary kitchen upgrades that delayed the opening. Despite these challenges, he takes pride in the achievement, stating, “Being the first Filipino restaurant in Steinbach, that does it for me and I think I did something pretty good in my life.”