By:   SALVADOR A. CIUDADANO IV
          TEACHER III,
          MNCHS

                Do you still remember the last time you ate authentic cuisine somewhere in the Philippine archipelago? Did you recently visit any province like Batangas which is famous for its Bulalo? Or have you tasted the Laing in the Bicol Region? Isn’t the thought about food left you drooling? Yes! We are food lovers.

                Filipino foods and delicacies are right and ever sumptuous. One cannot simply go to a place without tasting a portion of food or a specialty known to a place. And of course, bring it home for your family to taste.

                I fantastically enjoy watching cooking shows or games and those chefs traveling all around the world to try different cuisine. It’s amazing to watch their techniques and mastery when it comes to cooking or baking for that matter, showcasing their ability to create the best of the best taste.

                There is this show in the US called “Masterchef”. It’s a competition for first-timers, amateurs, or those who mainly enjoy cooking. All sorts of people can join except the real chefs- they have a different show for them. So, Gordon Ramsay, who is the head of the show along with the other two judges, will give what exactly to cook or bake or make. Now, each competitor will have the opportunity to get their ingredients from a special corner then race to complete the process of making the food.  It was fun during the first ten seasons until it got so melodramatic. I can no longer bear the shouting and rudeness of Ramsay. But I think, a lot of people still watch it as they get a fair share of the US audience. And the food they make is so pleasing to the eye just by watching it. Also given the fact, that Gordon Ramsay is the best food critic based on appearance and taste.

                Next, the thing I truly appreciate was the show of the late celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain. He was a host of CNN’s “Parts Unknown”. In the show, Anthony travels the world uncovering lesser-known places and exploring their cultures and cuisine. It is quite impressive as he even goes as far and braves by visiting Congo, Libya, and Myanmar. He dined out with the people in each place he visited. He tries to delve into the peoples’ culture and even talks about the political issues in the capital. 

                Kara David of GMA Network has also hosted a show named “Pinas Sarap”. It greatly highlights Filipino cuisine with a tune-up or a twist. Although she is not a cook herself, she interviews numerous restaurants owners and chefs. I think all the episodes broadcast on national TV, you will see Kara David eating and masticating to her heart’s content. You can unquestionably see in her face the joy of tasting food in awe.

                Filipino cuisine has recently been tagged as the ‘next big thing’ to look out for in the culinary world. With the country’s variety of influences throughout its rich history, its traditional cooking techniques, and the Filipinos’ knack for combining flavors and making the most of all ingredients at their disposal, what results is unpretentious, no-frills food that’s simply delicious.