There’s a shameful lack of quality filipino food in Charleston. But luckily, this month’s Featured Foodie, Jakie Blunt AKA the Lumpia Dad, wants to change that, one batch of lumpia at a time.

I got to sample some of his homemade lumpia (made from a generation’s-old family recipe, and let me tell you: this stuff is delicious!

When you contact Jakie, he gives you a whole batch (your choice of pork or beef), which he delivers frozen. You then take them home and cook them yourself in a little oil. It’s very easy and they make a great appetizer or snack! Jakie recommends you serve them with Mae Ploy Sweet Chili sauce (I didn’t have any of that, so I used some pepper jelly I had in the cupboard and it was also delicious).

In his own words:

“The lumpia recipe has been passed down from generation to generation. For me (and I imagine many other Filipinos) Lumpia isn’t just an awesome snack; it’s a way of life. My mom had 9 brothers and sisters so growing up in that kind of environment, there were a lot of cookouts. I can still remember gigantic bowls with Lumpia filling and family members of all ages sitting around the table rolling Lumpia and having a good time. I identified early on that Lumpia meant community. It meant bonding with your elders, getting and giving life advice, and hearing all of the latest gossip.

My mom shared the recipe with me when I was in my early 20s. With a family of my own, I took great pleasure in bonding with my daughter and wife, teaching them the techniques my mom taught me. When we moved to South Carolina I noticed that the availability of Filipino food was scarce and I couldn’t live without my Lumpia. So I decided to bring the spirit of community and bonding through Lumpia to the lowcountry!”

Order your own lumpia by contacting Jakie on Facebook or via email at: lumpiadad@gmail.com