About Kusina Ni Nida

Kusina Ni Nida translates to "Nida's Kitchen" in Tagalog....

Kusina Ni Nida is dedicated to bringing the authentic taste of Filipino cuisine to your home. Our homemade treats are made with love and care, just like your Nanay used to make. We offer a variety of delicious options like Bibinka, Buko, Polvorone, and more. Stay tuned as we constantly update our menu with new and exciting goodies.

Our principles

Authentic Filipino Flavors

Homemade with Care

Constantly Evolving Menu

We are committed to bringing you the authentic taste of Filipino treats that remind you of your Nanay's cooking. Our recipes are passed down through generations, ensuring that every bite is filled with nostalgia and love.

Each treat is lovingly handmade in our kitchen, using only the finest ingredients. We believe that homemade food is made with care and attention to detail, resulting in flavors that are unmatched by mass-produced alternatives.

We are always experimenting and creating new treats to surprise and delight our customers. Our menu is constantly evolving, so there's always something new and exciting to try. Check back regularly to discover our latest goodies!

MICHELLE

Leonida (Nida)

Inspiration and Creator

Daughter and Creator, Kusina Ni Nida

Mom and Inspiration, Kusina Ni Nida

This business is dedicated to the memory of my mom, Leonida Pestanas. Like many immigrants, my mom came to this country to earn enough money to help family back in the Philippines. After working as a nurse in Canada, she moved to California where she became Head nurse at the Respiratory Unit of Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles.

During this time, she raised a family, worked the long hours of a nursing job, and still found time to cook meals every single day. She would experiment with different ingredients (which sometimes would fail!) - but her love always spilled into her cooking. Parties, sleepovers with my friends when I was a kid, or just my best friend coming over for dinner - Mom had a passion and she loved it. One of the fondest memories I have was Mom sitting at the kitchen counter - rolling Lumpia (egg rolls), dipping her finger in the egg wash to seal the ends, and the trays of egg rolls that would line the counter, preparing to fry. It was like my Mom was ready to feed a small army!

Sadly, Mom passed away in 2008 from Pulmonary Fibrosis. I became solely responsible for taking care of my Dad, who was lost without his beloved wife. The best thing I could do for my dad was duplicate my Mom's dishes for him on a nightly basis, just like Mom. In my family, when you take the time to cook for someone, it was our way of saying "I Love You". His eyes would light up when he knew I was making Sinigang (Filipino Soup) or Ampalaya (Bitter Melon)!

So - here we are today! I hope that I can share my Filipino Cuisine with you and introduce you to some different flavors. Filipino Cuisine is about love and I hope I can give you some - Happy Belly, Happy Heart and Mind!

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