A Tribute: Uncle Clem, You Will Be Missed!

His full name is Clemente Escopete…but to us, he’s Uncle Clem.

I first met Uncle Clem and his family at the Asian Culinary Forum’s Adobo Throwdown in May of 2010. This day would be a historic day for me and kapaMEALya because this was where we all connected. I was immediately drawn to his station. His wife Ofelia was smiling behind the table setting up the decorations including the infamous barrel man, Filipino coin purses, and Filipino cookbooks.

He competed against 8 other adobo chefs, and his Adobo Bicolano won 1st place in “People’s Power!” The intense garlic in the dish sure won the people over.

   

Watch the following video to learn how he makes his award-winning Adobo Bicolano (courtesy of Adobo Nation):

 

I was pleased to see him and his family again at Kulinarya, another Filipino cooking contest held at SF’s City View at the Metreon in December of 2010.

   

He competed in the amateur category and created a three-course meal including his famous adobo:

 

Though he did not win 1st prize this time, his dishes still wow’ed the crowd. It was also great to formally meet him, his son Ron, and his lovely wife Tita Ofie. This encounter would eventually lead to the formation of kapaMEALya.

     

He was an architect by profession, but also the “keeper” of his family’s recipes. He learned how to cook at a young age and continued to prepare dishes like calderetta, mechado, and relleno for his family. He was a natural when it came to cooking. It was said that he knew how to make something by just using his eyes and palate. No measuring utensils needed. I later learned through his Twitter (run by his son Ron) that Uncle Clem also made appearances at street food events in San Francisco and across the Bay – showing the masses what Filipino food was really about. Simple, yet delicious, using fresh ingredients. 

Sadly, Uncle Clem passed away this passed Labor Day in San Francisco. 

His contribution to the Filipino food culture in the Bay Area is immense. He kept the tradition of good Filipino cooking and culture alive by using recipes passed down from generations before him. Even more, he initiated the exposure of Filipino food by catering and street food events and introducing his dishes to those who are unfamiliar with this type of cuisine. 

Photo courtesy of Uncle Clem's Food Facebook 

Whether he knew it or not, he was passing on his passion for cooking to everyone around him. This love is contagious. Whenever you cook for your family, you are passing on something made with love to them. That is what Uncle Clem did for his family for so many years - above all, he is a husband, a father, and a grandfather who will truly be missed.

I am now compelled to make Uncle Clem’s Adobo Bicolano this weekend for my family. I'm going to use the recipe in the video I posted above.  If you do the same, please share your experience making it and post it to your websites and blogs using #UncleClemsAdobo.

Dear Uncle Clem, 

Thank you for everything you have done for the food community and your family.  Hope you continue cooking up there in heaven. 

Love, 

From all of us