Dampa Filipino Foods to celebrate 1st anniversary with photo exhibit

Photo by Sanny Leviste

OAKLAND, California—Sanny Leviste, author, educator, and artist-in-residence at Linen Life Gallery, will hold a photo exhibit to celebrate the 1st anniversary of  Dampa Filipino Foods in Castro Valley.

Images from Leviste’s Philippine underwater, terrestrial, and infrared photography will be shared along with his latest forays into national and state parks in the Western United States. Chef Julsunthie “Sunthie” Calalo’s tasting menu for the event will reflect his passion for cooking authentic Filipino food to round out the event.

It was a craving for “bulalo,” the Filipino dish of beef shanks and bone marrow, that drew Leviste to Dampa. Located in a small mall along Castro Valley Boulevard, it is the only Filipino restaurant in town.

Upon meeting owners Sunthie and Marites Calalo, the conversation quickly turned to the varied tastes of regional Filipino food. Chef Sunthie had been preparing food for groups in his province of Batangas since taking over when a cook did not show up for a large event. He was 11 years old.

After several years working under various chefs learning different versions of cooking from all over the country, Sunthie’s love of Filipino food finally found its own outlet when they opened Dampa in August 2010. Over the last year, the local community embraced his many stews and sautéed dishes that balance sweet, sour and salty tastes. Each dish is cooked-to-order to maintain freshness and achieve the proper combination of flavors and textures.

Some customers come to Dampa, which means “a small, simple hut-type shared space,” because it brings back good memories of their military tour in the Philippines. “Filipinos no longer are the majority of our customers,” Sunthie declared.

“I love sharing my culture with other cultures through my food. Food is often shared in dampas. It becomes a social event for the community to socialize and interact with each other. I want Dampa to be a place where Filipinos and other cultures experience authentic Filipino cooking,” Sunthie said.

On Monday, August 29th, from 6pm to 8pm, a reception will be held to celebrate Dampa’s 1st anniversary, hold a ribbon cutting with the Castro Valley/Eden Area Chamber of Commerce, and view the latest photo exhibit by Sanny Leviste.

Dampa Filipino Foods is located at 2960 Castro Valley Blvd. in Castro Valley.