Discovery: Exotic Tastes

Working moms Marcyanne Robles and Mechelle Munn, both natives of the Philippines, met in Indiana through professional circles. Both hold corporate jobs—Robles is the director of leasing services for Milhaus Management, and Munn is an account representative with CORT Business Services. But last year, they joined forces to launch the M&M Cuisine Filipina Fusion catering company, specializing in the authentic food they grew up watching their mothers and families prepare.

Their dishes are strongly rooted in Filipino tradition. But along with the classic lumpia (a spring-roll bite wrapped around ground beef with onion and garlic); pancit (cellophane noodles and chopped vegetables infused with coconut oil); and fragrant, fall-from-the-bone chicken Adobo (laced with vinegar and soy sauce), options include cultural mashups like tropical pasta salad, spaghetti with sweet Filipino sausage, and Spam sliders.

The offerings are usually served family-style. “Sharing is huge in our culture,” Robles says. “Trying something new together creates a certain type of intimacy.”