Cooking food to help others during pandemic is becoming a new business | News, Sports, Jobs

Inter-mountain photo by Edgar Kelley Ging Murdock stands with scissors alongside her husband Dave (left) and mother Luzviminda Canane as she cuts a ribbon during a grand opening ceremony for her new venture, Ginrollsandpancit, on the Beverly Five pavement. The new shop serves authentic Filipino cuisine.

BEVERLY – What started as a way to help others in need during the coronavirus pandemic has morphed into a new company that recently officially opened its doors.

Gingrollsandpancit held its grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony when a multitude of family, friends and community leaders came out to show their support for the Beverly Five Lane business.

Ging Murdock, owner and creator of the Filipino cuisine concept, was admittedly blown away when everything finally became official during a special ceremony.

“It was a great relief to finally open because once I made the decision to open the store, it took a while for everything to be in order.” murdock “It seemed like we had one delay after another. From ordering the gear to getting all our papers in order, it seemed like it was going to take forever. However, the community has been such a big help and their support has been fantastic.”

The store is currently open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays for collection orders only. Murdock said she hopes to have prepared food or something else in the shop at some point.

Although it was difficult to find workers for the new company, Murdock received help from the best person she could have ever imagined last summer when her mother, Minda, moved to the United States from her native Philippines.

“I haven’t seen my mother for 20 years because when I got here I didn’t have a chance to go back home.” said Murdock. “I asked my mother to come here and she is now a green card holder. She is such a great help to me and I couldn’t be happier to have her here with me.”

Murdock also said her close friend Eugenia Brown has been with us since Day 1. She said Brown was instrumental in making the deal a reality and is the one who makes the company’s desserts.

Although business is now booming, Murdock said she will continue to send free food to those in need, particularly back to her home country.

“When we first started making food, we did it purely to help others during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.” said Murdock. “There were a lot of people struggling during that time, especially in my home country, the Philippines.

“So we started preparing food and sending it there, and we also distributed food locally, to the homeless shelter and similar places. Everyone asked me why I was giving away my food and I told them I liked doing it because I know what it feels like to have nothing. And I will continue to help wherever I can.”

Murdock, who moved to the United States from the Philippines 20 years ago when she married her husband Dave, says her love of cooking sparked a fire in her that helped her decide to turn her food donation service into a business.

“I love what I do and I realized that this is my calling.” said Murdock, who is also a full-time nursing assistant and ED technician in Davis Medical Center’s emergency department. “So I decided to make it a business, even though I’m also very busy with my other job.”

When asked where all the energy to do what she does comes from, Murdock said: “It comes from eating Filipino food. We eat right almost every day and that’s three meals. So by eating right, I get all my energy for both jobs.”

Murdock, who has been preparing her delicious cuisine since the pandemic began, cooked from her Beverly home until the new shop opened. She has delivered groceries to customers across the county and will continue to provide the service for those unable to pick up orders.

“I really don’t know how I do it sometimes; I do not sleep”, she said with a laugh. “I work 12-hour shifts at the hospital and sometimes it gets really tough. But I love doing both. My boss at the hospital keeps telling me he wishes he could clone me because I have so much energy.”

The current menu at Gingrollsandpancit offers: spring rolls with pork or vegetarian (fried or non-fried); cracker shrimp lumpia; pancit bihon noodles with chicken; pork ribs adobo combo meal; original combo meal; Adobo rice bowl with chicken; and leche flan dessert. Kamayan and Boodle Fest catering is also available.

For more information, visit the company’s Facebook page or call 304-940-9955.