Show 494, October 8, 2022: Chef Henry Pineda, Proprietor, Lola’s by MFK, Anaheim Part One

Henry Pineda of Lola's MFK

“With the full-service Lola’s by MFK in the former CaliVino Wine Pub space off Katella Avenue next door to Angel Stadium, Chef Henry Pineda, 31, is celebrating his mother’s Filipino and father’s Guatemalan roots through the lens of his favorite meal serving a Modern Filipino Brunch from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., 7 days. Dinner will eventually follow. Chef Henry operates Lola’s by MFK with his wife and business partner, Amanda “Panda” Pineda.

“Every year on my birthday we don’t go to dinner, we go to breakfast,” said Pineda, who grew up in L.A and moved to Anaheim when he was six. “Breakfast was always the meal where my family ate together. My dad worked the graveyard shift and would just be coming home right before my mom was about to head out.”

“Pineda has worked in restaurants since age 18 starting at Mama Cozza’s in Anaheim. He’s also cooked at Orange Hill in Orange; ADYA in Anaheim; Starfish in Laguna Beach; Shabu Shabu in Santa Ana; Smoking Ribs in Garden Grove; and The Penthouse inside The Huntley Hotel in Santa Monica. Pineda opened MFK by Aysee’s original location on the border of Anaheim and Buena Park in 2016 at age 26. That restaurant tragically burned down one night in September 2020 when a fire spontaneously broke out.”

Pineda’s Brunch classics include Lola’s Crispy Sisig, Adobo Fried Rice Omelet, Ube Pancakes, Sweet Avocado Pancakes and Ube Tres Leches French Toast. Lola’s beer and wine license just came through so Filipino craft beer (unusually on tap) and exotic fruit-based libations will soon appear on the menu.

Chef Henry takes a break from the Brunch rush to join us with spatula in hand.

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