BLOOM (TAMPA) – In honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, acclaimed restaurateur Billy Dec, founder of Sunda New Asian, joined Gayle Guyardo, host of the globally syndicated health and wellness show Bloom, for a flavorful celebration of culture, cuisine, and community.
Known for blending traditional Southeast Asian dishes with modern flair, Sunda is spotlighting limited-time dishes and cocktails all May long to pay homage to the rich culinary heritage of the AAPI community.
Special AAPI Heritage Month Menu at Sunda
During the segment, Dec unveiled an exclusive lineup of dishes featured throughout May, offering a mouthwatering taste of the diverse culinary traditions across Asia:
- Baked Oysters – Coconut braised collard green laing, bacon, pickled chili, and toasted panko
- Sisig – Braised pork belly, honeycomb tripe, red onions, shishito peppers, crispy egg, and chili lime vinaigrette served with roti prata
- Short Rib Kare Kare – Braised beef short ribs in achiote peanut sauce, finished with bagoong chili crisp and fresh herbs
- Kamayan Feast – A communal-style spread of adobo pork belly, crispy pata, chicken inasal, garlic shrimp, lumpia egg rolls, green beans, jasmine rice, and assorted dipping sauces
- Signature Cocktails –
- Crimson Lotus: 818 blanco tequila, roasted jalapeño hibiscus syrup, lime, and pineapple
- Sunset: Roasted jalapeño hibiscus syrup, pineapple, lime, and soda topper
East Meets West Brunch in Tampa
Fans in Tampa can enjoy Sunda’s buzzworthy East Meets West Brunch, served every Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The eclectic menu offers fun, Instagram-worthy takes on classic brunch staples, including:
- The Sumo Bloody Mary – A 32 oz jar stacked with grilled cheese, longanisa sausage, pork belly bao, karaage fried chicken, baked snow crab handroll, and more
- Ube Waffles & Fried Chicken – Fluffy purple yam waffles topped with whipped ube butter, fresh fruit, and crispy Japanese fried chicken
- Tempura French Toast – Crispy, golden slices served with whipped cream, banana, candied walnuts, fresh berries, and brown sugar glaze
Learn How to Make Ube Waffles at Home
Billy Dec didn’t leave without sharing one of Sunda’s most popular brunch recipes—Ube Waffles. He guided Gayle through each step of the process, giving viewers an insider’s look at how to recreate this colorful and delicious dish in their own kitchens.
Ube Waffles Recipe
Yield: 6–12 waffles (depending on size)
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- 4 tbsp sugar
- 4 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup milk
- 6 tbsp melted butter
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp ube extract
Instructions
- Mix dry ingredients together in one bowl.
- In a separate bowl, mix all wet ingredients except for the ube extract.
- Combine wet and dry ingredients, then stir in the ube extract.
- Preheat waffle maker to medium-high, spray with cooking spray, and ladle 8 oz of batter onto the griddle.
- Cook until golden and crispy on the outside.
Toppings:
- Whipped ube butter (made with butter, sugar, salt, and ube extract)
- Ube glaze (powdered sugar, milk, and ube extract)
- Garnish with tropical fruit like papaya, strawberries, pineapple, and berries
Whether you’re dining at one of Sunda’s vibrant locations or trying your hand at ube waffles at home, Billy Dec reminds us that celebrating culture through food creates powerful, lasting connections.
