Filipino disco tunes filled the space in a small tiki bar where Chuntikis hosted the fourth installment of their six part series, entitled “Seis Summer Sunsets,” a summer residency at Bar Tiki Tiki inside Rosemallows in Long Beach, California.
Chuntikis is a traveling tiki-inspired cocktail popup created by Long Beach local Julio “Jules” Gutierrez who was recently named as one of Imbibe magazine’s top 75 people to watch.
“Today, we’re celebrating Hero Day,” Gutierrez explains. “It’s a day that highlights Filipino heroes, past and present.”
National Hero Day is traditionally celebrated in the Philippines on the last Sunday of August. Chuntikis’ celebration took place on August 31, 2023.
The Seis Summer Sunsets series is one during which first timers and fans of Chuntikis, alike, are treated to a more intimate experience where Gutierrez hones in on education and culinary collaborations with local tastemakers.
Every Chuntikis popup has an element of charitable contribution. Part of the Hero Day proceeds are going to Maui Natives.
The cocktail menu features items like the “Boicot ,” made with Kuleana HuiHui Rum, naked chardonnay, peach liqueur, grape cordial, lemon and lime juices, and Elderflower liqueur.
The “Boicot” is a nod to famed Filipino activist Larry Itliong, who is credited with creating the Filipino Farm Labor Union in Stockton, CA. He later went on to collaborate with Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta in the infamous Delano Grape Strike of 1965 during which there was a boycott against grapes grown by ranches not belonging to the United Farm Worker Union.
Another drink on the menu is the Hula Halo cocktail.
This being an homage to Halo Halo, a traditional Filipino dessert. For his iteration, Gutierrez utilizes three different rums, coconut, ube, calamansi, lime and pineapple juices, flan, flavored jellies, sweet beans and coconut whipped cream.
The result is a boozy, playful number that complements the food menu, curated by chef and owner Eugene Santiago of Baryo, a food popup, specializing in Southeast Asian-influenced cuisine with a Southern California feel.
“We’re all about community, culture, and cuisine,” says Santiago.
As he talks about his two favorite dishes on the six item menu, his passion is palpable.
“This one is probably the most fun,” he motions toward the plate of Jolli Fusilli, a menu item created specifically for Seis Summer Sunsets.
It’s a heaping bowl of fusilli pasta blanketed by a serving of bolognese with banana ketchup and hot dogs. The dish is unexpectedly warm and comforting, something reminiscent of a childhood favorite.
“Ever had Jollibee spaghetti?”, he laughs. “This is a play on that.”
The second dish presented by Santiago is a trio of BLT sliders. They feature slab bacon braised in adobo sauce, crispy iceberg lettuce and Kewpie mayo served on a lightly toasted King’s Hawaiian roll. The result is a sweet and savory bite with a mildly smoky finish.
Baryo have garnered quite a buzz of their own since their inception in 2016. If the Baryo name sounds familiar, that’s because they used to pop up at LBCC.
Most recently, they have moved into a ghost kitchen at Daisy Diner and have events planned throughout the month of Sept. such as the Beat Swap Meet, a swap meet for vinyl albums, at HiDef Brewing Co in Los Angeles on Sept. 17.
As for Chuntikis, there are still two more dates left in the Seis Summer Sunsets series Sept. 28 and 29 with their own unique themes and food collaborations.
“Come for the food, stay for the cocktails, and linger for the stories,” says Gutierrez.