Pop-up food stand dishing up Chamorro and Filipino food

It's an opportunity  to connect people through the language everyone knows: food. Ingrain is a pop-up food stand in San Diego, serving up Chamorro- and Filipino-food and lifestyle. Here's more about a pair of  local boys behind the good eats.

"We kind of wanted to merge our lifestyle that we learned living out here with also the history and experiences that we shared back home obviously, the best way to connect the two is through food, it was the easiest thing to come together," explained Tristan Jose. Created by he and Isaiah Tydingco, both born and raised on Guam, Ingrain was an idea that the two chatted about for half a year before coming to life in November of last year.

As for how the name came about? Tydingco says that was probably one of the hardest things they had to do- choosing a name for their business.

"We started throwing things back and forth, we were like what about 'ingrain?' that kind of sticks. We're gonna ingrain the type of food on the people and its just gonna stick to them," he said. "We wanted to make it a play on words-because a lot of our dishes are rice-centered. It definitely stuck to us," added Jose.

Although a challenge to do something brand new, the two say it's been really satisfying seeing everything come to fruition.

"Each step to start a business properly and get the proper licensing and everything was super crazy. The first month was super hectic because we were trying to figure out what to do," he said.

"We learned throughout the way and grew together , every day is a new challenge for us but we're not quitters, we're from Guam, right?" said Jose.

Ingrain, a food stand that does pop-ups and event catering. Offering up Chamorro and Filipino food launched on nov. 18, 2023. "It was for an event called Hafai Adai Hops, which was hosted by the Guam Artist Collective," said Jose.

One of the organizers for the event, Neeko David had approached the two a couple of months before encouraging them to make the leap. "i know you guys have been marinating on this idea, so what's stopping you? What's stopping you from following your dreams?" he said.

Fast forward over a year later, Jose and Tydingco show no signs up stopping. Touted as a food vendor serving up Asian-Pacific Islander cuisine, ingrain focuses on charcoal BBQ'ing.

"We want to make sure that's known, nothing wrong with using gas, charcoal bbqing actually highlights essence of what we were eating back there," he said.

Items like pork ribs and bbq skewers, and rice-centered dishes, with weekly rotating items on the menu, to keep everyone coming back like the wagyu tinaktak. "One of the popular sides that we have is a coconut gravy. Where it pairs really well with all of our BBQ dishes. Sounds like a lot but i swear it's like only 4 to 5 menu items at a time," he said.

And the response? "Honestly? Amazing. Coming out, just being brand new, we obviously had a great following like in terms of friends and family, that do show up ....but far as organically people from every corner, people seeing and smelling it from down the block, and once they show up they're like youre food is amazing  ....we come from Guam, we have great pride in whatever we do," he said.

"We're able to express our story, just sell ourselves beyond food...the response from the community has been amazing."

Keep updated with what the guys are up to and where they are popping up next by following them on Instagram, @eat.ingrain.