Francis “Kiko” Cruz started his culinary career working with the Bento Restaurant Group bringing tastes of Asia to the American dining table. He helped open several dining options in Jacksonville, including Bento Asian Kitchen + Sushi, Domu, and Soupa Saiyan. After more than 25 years learning on the job—and with the encouragement of his mentor, Jimmy Tung, one of the founders of the Bento Restaurant Group—he created his own culinary destination: Purple Roots.
Growing up in Manila, Cruz was raised on Filipino food. When he began to develop recipes for Purple Roots with his wife, Evana; mother, Gilda; and brother, Jeff, they all wanted to make sure the dishes would be appealing to American palates. “We took a lot of time to create the menu. We are used to very salty flavors in dishes. Although the food is still Filipino, we tweaked recipes for American tastes,” Cruz says. “My goal is to build a bridge between Filipino and American cultures using family recipes we have refined.” His efforts seem to be making strides, as the majority of his customers are nonFilipino and eager to sample a cuisine that is a blend of Asian and Spanish flavors.
On the Menu at Purple Roots
Pancit
A stir-fry noodle dish with chicharron, fried garlic, and a choice of chicken, pork, shrimp, or soft shell crab
Kare Kare
Beef ribs or oxtail stew in a thick, savory peanut sauce seasoned with shrimp paste
Sizzling Sisig
Charred and sautéed diced pork in a citrus and soy sauce base, topped with onion, garlic, scallions, calamansi, and poached eggs, served sizzling
