By Nancy T. Lu
Good nutrition nowadays gives importance to vegetable
consumption. In fact, food experts encourage meat intake reduction as part of
the promotion of a healthy diet. Eating less meat, in fact, is believed to cut down abdominal gas excess as well as farting, with the effect of countering global warming.
“Bahay Kubo,” an
upbeat song which Filipino children for generations have learned to sing in
school, highlights through its lyrics the Philippine cornucopia of vegetables
which can be easily grown in the backyard. This song very recently became the
theme of a Mama Sita Foundation-sponsored veggie cooking contest at the Jose
Fabella Memorial School in Mandaluyong.
The Soroptimist International of Mandaluyong, supporter of
the cooking class program at the school by providing the budget for the food ingredients
since a year ago as well as by donating kitchen utensils to motivate the
training of the very young millennials in kitchen knowhow, was actively
involved in coordinating the cooking event.
The members led by Dorothy V. Cueva, the president, were very happy to
see the interest in cooking among the students.
Five 10th graders aged 15 to 19 pitted talents
against each other in preparing strictly or at least predominantly veggie dishes
on a budget of 300 pesos. With the help and guidance of their teachers in
preparing for the contest, they put their creativity and originality to work in
coming up with their entry recipes.
Seventeen-year-old Jaymark R. Orbase won first prize in the
contest with his colorful and appetizing dish of Mama Sita’s Stir Fry
Vegetables with Fried Tofu. Sitaw,
talong, kalabasa, patola, okra, kamote, kamatis, bawang, sibuyas and mane -
all so familiar in the “Bahay Kubo”
song - went into the pan during the on-the-spot competition under the watchful
eyes of three judges, including this writer. Tofu or bean curd, a highly concentrated protein food that occupies
a place in oriental cookery, likewise got added as fried ingredient. Mama
Sita’s Soy Stir Sauce and Mama Sita’s Pang-Gisa
Mix contributed taste and aroma to the plateful of vegetables.
Nineteen-year-old Jocelyn M. Molano placed second with her
Mama Sita’s Upo a la Palabok. Steamed strips of upo (gourd) replaced the
noodles in the food presentation. Chicharon,
tinapa flakes, fried tofu, spring onions and boiled egg slices as
garnishings completed the food picture. Mama Sita’s Oriental Gravy Mix and Mama
Sita Pang-gisa Mix proved
ever-reliable in the cooking.
Mama Sita’s Veggie Lumpiang
Shanghai entered by 15-year-old Jeric B. Canada earned the final score
which deserved third honor. Fourth in
overall standing was Jazel Marie Villanueva’s Mama Sita’s Sinibuas. What seemed like sinigang
soup made good use of sigarilyas and kamatis. Bagoong isda was another required ingredient. Meanwhile Christian
Estores, aged 17, submitted Mama Sita’s Tortang
Talong. Ground pork was used in this dish, which ended up in fifth ranking
in the overall judging.
Redj Baron, a celebrity chef who used to host a cooking show
on UNTV and now a cooking instructor as
well as consultant, drew shrieks of delight when introduced to the high school
students at the Bahay Kubo Veggie
Cooking Contest last August 3. He with
his millennial appeal in looks and style candidly spoke to his instant fans
about his humble beginning before finding fame in the culinary world. He urged
his young listeners to work hard and to go pursue their dreams.
Rosie Lardizabal, another contest judge, drew admiration from
the youngsters for having an amazing mother and mentor like Teresita “Mama
Sita” Reyes, famous for her love and promotion of the flavors of the Philippine
Islands.
How many of these five contestants will climb their way up
and one day become renowned chefs? Only time will tell.
