ORLANDO, Fla. — There’s something undeniable about the connection between food and culture—and then what happens when it’s shared with others. 

“I think that’s pretty amazing, to be in a community where people are supporting,” said Lordfer Lalicon, who goes by “Chef Lo.”

Six months ago, Lo and his business partner, Jami, opened up Kaya, nestled in Orlando’s Mills 50 area, which brims with diverse Asian fare. 

It was the follow up to Lo’s success earning a Michelin star with Japanese restaurant, Kadence, but an endeavor much closer to his heart. 

“Probably since the age of 16 I wanted to be a chef, but being Asian… you’re supposed to go to college,” he said. 

Cooking for friends and frequent trips to the Philippines kept that fire burning. 

At the University of Florida, Lo grew his circle, connecting with other Filipino Americans, who “grew up like him.”

“Made me understand my culture, the way my parents grew up. Like, how do you understand being Filipino, living in America?” he mused. “There’s a lot of poverty in the Philippines too, showed me what I was blessed with to be here in America.”

Lo’s parents came to the U.S., as many do, for opportunities. His mother was a nurse, his father—“the cook in the family”—owned his own business. 

So, when Lo eventually followed his heart to open up Kaya, which means “capable” in Tagalog, he explained, he hoped to encapsulate everything he felt about his parents’ home country: “Family, togetherness, love, flavor. We love a lot of flavor.”

“A big part of AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) culture is around food, right?” said Ricky Ly, an author and blogger behind the widely disseminated Tasty Chomps food blog.

And when good is shared, ventures Ly, it becomes a vehicle for understanding.  

“10, 20 years ago, you just had your normal Vietnamese bowl of noodle soup, something like that. Now Filipino modern cuisine … transcending barriers through taste,” he said.  “This is almost a revitalization of places here in Orlando, second, third, fourth generation of Asian Americans, other folks come up and bring ideas.”

Ly also said that it’s no accident this phenomena is happening in the City Beautiful. 

“I think in Orlando it’s such a special place, where all these cultures are coming together but also leaving their mark,” he said. 

“I think part of what makes restaurants good is having a soul. You’ll find me or Jami here every night, serving people, talking to people, explaining our culture,” said Lo. 

Though family doesn’t just “live” on the walls of Kaya, as faded framed photos dot the main accent wall—but the concept transcends the four walls: Lo’s aging parents live a few paces across the back parking lot. 

They help take care of the property, and the garden with which they utilize for Kaya, and Lo helps take care of them. 

“Everybody’s trying to build a legacy and make their parents proud. I think with my father here, parents here, community supporting us, I feel like I did my part,” he said. “I put myself into the world and have my family see that … My dad leaves his legacy through me, and then I leave it through my kids and hopefully that continues on.”