Richie Castillo is the chef behind Bahay, a Filipino pop-up restaurant that he started and runs with his partner, Alex O'Neill. Richie and Alex named Bahay after the Tagalog word for home while the title of this, their first book - Masarap - means tasty in Tagalog, the Filipino language. It's a nod to Bahay's Irish-Filipino background, seeing as how blasta means tasty in Irish. For Richie, this book was a catalyst for exploring and connecting with his Filipino heritage. You'll find classic dishes such as adobo, a range of exciting Filipino dishes and playful recipes with Filipino flavours that highlight his experience growing up eating Filipino food with Irish ingredients. Masarap is the exploration of Filipino food through an Irish cultural lens and a way to introduce more people to the food of the Philippines, which is hugely underrepresented. Alex, a self-proclaimed food lover who will try anything twice, is the storyteller in Bahay. She loves taking Richie's ideas and fleshing them out into points of view to create Bahay's story.

A small book of Filipino food that I love in a big way! - Nigella Lawson

This cookbook series from Blasta Books is just brilliant. Pithy, opinionated, learned, well-written and beautifully designed. Loved every single one. - Tom Parker Bowles

Richie Castillo was born and raised in Dublin to an Irish mother and Filipino father. He's spent the last 10 years working in various kitchens at home and abroad in New Zealand. After being put out of work during the pandemic, he decided to go out on his own and do his own thing. This led to the creation of Bahay, a Filipino pop-up restaurant that he started and runs with his partner, Alex. Richie and Alex named Bahay after the Tagalog word for home. Alex O'Neill is the digital strategist, operations manager and all-round bossy boots in Bahay, though she prefers the title creative director. She has worked in software development for the last seven years, but it was only after commencing a masters in digital marketing in 2020 that she saw the potential in the online space to foster a creative, new and alternative approach to market the idea of Bahay and introduce a wide audience to the incredible Filipino flavours that Richie explores. @bahay_dub