YELLOWKNIFE - Homesick Filipinos and other Yellowknifers with a taste for exotic treats will be happy to hear the Filipino Store will open soon.

Luz Macuzi, left, and Lian Vilan are the owners of the Filipino Store, which has its grand opening slated for July 1. - Erika Sherk/NNSL photo

Though the store itself probably isn't news to the estimated 300 Filipinos who call the city home.

"Everybody knows already!" said Lian Vilan, co-owner. "They're all really excited."

She said Filipino goods are nearly impossible to find in Yellowknife and yet highly sought after by her fellow transplanted countrymen.

"No matter how long we are here, we still miss our food," she said.

The store will sell dry goods and frozen foods, rent out Filipino movies and sell hot homemade traditional lunch snacks, said Vilan, adding they are leasing space on 51st Avenue.

The hot foods available will include steamer buns, barbecue pork and chicken, spring rolls and Filipino noodles, she said.

And who will do the cooking? "Me," said Vilan with a laugh.

She grew up working in her older brothers' restaurants in her hometown of Pangasinan, she said.

Vilan and Macuzi have known each other for about 17 years. They've both been in Yellowknife for more than 15 years.

Going back to their home country once every five years or so is just not enough to satisfy their cravings for their favourite Filipino foods, said Macuzi. Even what they can bring back does not last that long, due to the number of ex-patriots craving a taste of home.

"They send you with a list," said Macuzi, adding it's a long list.

Vilan said she will go home and just look at the vegetables - she's so happy to be back near them again.

They will have traditional vegetables in the store, though they'll be frozen of course, she said.

When asked what her favourite Filipino food is, Vilan went to a freezer in the half-finished shop and pulled out a shrink-wrapped whole fish.

"Smoked milkfish," she said, "we love our fish."

It's been a big job so far putting everything together, she said.

"We have to put in lots of time," said Macuzi.

Shelves are being assembled, painting is in full swing and boxes of food are everywhere - each containing items like crab paste or sautéed shrimp. They order from a supplier in Vancouver, which gets items directly from the Philippines, said Vilan.

They are working towards a July 1 grand opening, she said. They will be giving out free drinks made of mango, coconut and a traditional lemon. Snacks will also be discounted, she said.

"Just try it," she said. "It's a lot of process ... our cooking is very artistic and requires many techniques."