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Maria Santos

Contributing Writer

Maria is a Filipino food writer and community organizer in Abu Dhabi. She documents the rich Filipino food culture thriving across the Gulf and shares recipes that bridge her homeland traditions with locally available ingredients.

Filipino CuisineCommunity CookingAdaptation Recipes

Cultural Background: Filipino, based in Abu Dhabi

Testing Approach: Recipes are tested using ingredients available at Gulf supermarkets and Asian grocery stores.

Recipes by Maria Santos

Stories by Maria Santos

Expat Stories

Adobo in Abu Dhabi

The Filipino community in the Gulf is one of the largest expatriate populations in the region. Their food traditions — from adobo to sinigang — have quietly become part of the Gulf's culinary landscape.