Flavor S O C I A L ESTHER ELLIS
Showcasing her Skills on Social Media Written by M A R LY S M A S O N
Photos by J A M I E A L E X A N D E R
O
wensboro’s
newest
social
media star is a Filipino cook who has over 13,000 followers
on her Instagram account, where she showcases dishes inspired by her home. Esther Ellis moved to Owensboro almost
15
years
ago
from
the
Philippines after marrying a man from Owensboro. She said that when she first moved, she was scared of the woods and distances between houses, because she came from a busy and crowded city. Ellis became a widow at 33 with 3 children, so she learned to cook simple foods for her three children. “My kids were the first that discovered my cooking is the best,” she said. “When I moved here and started cooking, my husband enjoyed it.” Ellis said there are around 150 Filipino people living in Owensboro, and they used to get together weekly to cook different ethnic menus, but her cooking is not limited to the fare of her home country. “I can cook any menu that pops up in my head,” she said. “But my
her children and five grandkids
“I cook from scratch, I don’t
and was in lockdown while there
measure. I trust my hand to do it
for six months. When she arrived
– and my tongue to taste it,” she
back in Owensboro, she realized
said. “Real cooking is more about
she couldn’t return to work, so she
following your heart than following
decided to create the account just
recipes.” Ellis, who also holds another job,
for something to do. At first, she didn’t expect to get likes and comments, but then her
said that she works to stay caught up with her account.
followers kept increasing and she
“I try to film before I go to work
rolls), pancit (noodles cooked with
now tries to post daily to her 13,000
and also after work,” she said of the
chicken, veggies, shrimp or pork),
followers.
items she posts.
specialties are friend lumpi (spring
chicken adobo or paella.”
Ellis
said
that
although
she
She also tries to respond to
Ellis began her Instagram page
makes her featured dishes with a
engagements
in
during Covid. She had traveled
recipe in mind, she still likes to
comments
back to the Philippines to visit
create them her own way.
followers, as well, because she
and
her to
likes
post
to
M AY / / J U N E 2 0 2 2 Owensboro Living
and her
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