Drew Barrymore raves about Filipino Arroz Caldo on her show

Hollywood star Drew Barrymore couldn’t contain her excitement over the Filipino dish arroz caldo, which was prepared for her by Filipina chef Pilar Valdes on The Drew Barrymore Show.

In a clip shared on Instagram, Valdes, Barrymore’s senior culinary contributor and personal chef, introduced the dish, describing it as one that holds deep sentimental value.

“This is all about home and story,” Valdes said. “Arroz caldo is a Filipino rice porridge, and it’s what we bring out during births, celebrations, and gatherings. With just a cup of rice, it can feed a battalion of people—that’s how we Filipinos roll.”

Barrymore, visibly intrigued, admired the dish’s creamy texture while stirring the pot. “Oh my God, look at that broth,” she said in awe.

As soon as she took her first bite, her reaction was immediate. “How dare you?” Barrymore exclaimed, before showering the dish with praise.

“This is dynamite. This is so beautiful. It has so much flavor. You have to make this so you can taste it because you have to taste it to believe it,” she said. “It looks so beautiful, but wait until it’s in your mouth—you’re going to freak out.”

Valdes also shared that arroz caldo has always been her go-to comfort food, especially when feeling unwell. “My mom used to make this for me when I was sick. I haven’t lived at home for 24 years, so now my husband makes it for me. She even taught him how,” she said.

The chef walked Barrymore through the traditional toppings, including fried garlic, scallions, fish sauce, citrus, and a jammy egg—all essential to elevating the dish’s flavor.

Valdes later took to Instagram to express her excitement about bringing Filipino flavors to a global audience. “Always so thrilled to be sharing recipes from the Philippines,” she wrote, teasing that more details on her arroz caldo recipe would be available soon.

Valdes has been a culinary contributor for Barrymore’s talk show since 2021 and is also the co-founder of Kickshaw Cookery, a private chef and catering company in New York City.

Barrymore’s enthusiastic reaction to arroz caldo adds to the growing international appreciation of Filipino cuisine, putting yet another beloved dish in the spotlight.