MANILA, Philippines — Director Erik Matti has criticized the Cebu episode of new Netflix series “Street Food,” describing it as bordering on “poverty porn.”
In a now deleted Facebook post, the Filipino director said the episode lacks research for showcasing an esoteric eel dish.
“The #Cebu episode of #StreetFood at @netflixph borders on poverty porn. The dishes except for lechon are food that are not really a staple of Filipinos. All the other Asian countries had their classic world-renowned street food while we had...bizarre. Bad research. There are hundreds of original Filipino street food and they chose to show an esoteric eel dish and a goddamn chinese fried vegetable lumpia! Whada?@ck!” Erik wrote.
He continues his rant on his Twitter account, saying he is not saying eel and Cebuano food are not good, but the “eel bakasi is just not IDENTIFIABLY regarded as a quintessential Filipino street food that can represent our food to the world.”
Twitter world. Pls dont put words in my mouth. I am not saying eel bakasi is not good. I am not saying Cebu food is not good. I love Cebu food. The eel bakasi is just not IDENTIFIABLY regarded as a quintessential Filipino street food that can represent our food to the world.
— Erik Matti (@ErikMatti) April 29, 2019
“The question I wanted to ask was: given all street food in cebu and the entire Philippines, is the eel bakasi the best and most important street food to showcase from our country to the world? Chinese lumpia as another street food entry in the episode. Ilocano fried empanada...” he added.
The question I wanted to ask was: given all street food in cebu and the entire Philippines, is the eel bakasi the best and most important street food to showcase from our country to the world? Chinese lumpia as another street food entry in the episode. Ilocano fried empanada...
— Erik Matti (@ErikMatti) April 29, 2019
Erik also suggested Ilocano fried empanada as he thinks it is “more truly Filipino.”
“Ilocano fried empanada is much more truly Filipino. I was really hoping that we at least have chosen something widely regarded by most Filipinos and cebuanos too as the street food that can represent us,” Erik said.
Ilocano fried empanada is much more truly Filipino. I was really hoping that we at least have chosen something widely regarded by most Filipinos and cebuanos too as the street food that can represent us.
— Erik Matti (@ErikMatti) April 29, 2019
“Di ko pinapaglaban na Manila food ang ishowcase. Ilonggo ako. Kahit saan galing ok lang yan. Cebu lechon is one of the best in the country. But I don’t think it would hurt to choose a generally regarded Filipino street food to best represent our country to the rest of the world,” he added.
Di ko pinapaglaban na Manila food ang ishowcase. Ilonggo ako. Kahit saan galing ok lang yan. Cebu lechon is one of the best in the country. But I don’t think it would hurt to choose a generally regarded Filipino street food to best represent our country to the rest of the world.
— Erik Matti (@ErikMatti) April 29, 2019
Erik was recently recruited by Singaporean director Eric Khoo to lead an episode of HBO Asia original anthology series “Food Lore,” which starts airing in November.