A lazy Sunday calls for some potato couch time in front of the tube, and to my Filipino pride surprise, I found the jackpot.
my good friend Teddy, a lover of good food who has been petitioning me to take him to a Filipino restaurant, informed me that the Travel Channel’s No Reservations show with Anthony Bourdain was featuring the Philippines episode.. the Land of the Lechon! I only caught a few minutes but it was enough to see my favorites: bulalo, sisig, stuffed crab, and of course LECHON! putting the Philippines #1 on Bourdain’s Heirarchy of Pork in the world.. see Tony’s Travel Blog entry: Hierarchy of Pork
but the jackpot was found on the Food Network with Iron Chef’s SUPER CHEF BATTLE!
The episode’s secret ingredient was anything from the White House Garden, putting focus on the use of local grown ingredients for a great American meal. The battle was between some great favorites: Chef Emeril Lagasse and Chef Mario Batali versus Chef Bobby Flay and Chef Cristeta Comerford. Click the pic for their bios.
This Cristeta had features that I immediately recognized as familiar and thanks to my channel surfing, I learned that the Executive Chef at the White House is a FILIPINA!!
I immediately picked up the phone to call my father to inform him, but foolishly forgetting that he already knows every Filipino on the planet, especially the important/famous ones. He switched to the Food Network promptly after my call.
Meet Cristeta Comerford. Born and raised in Manila Philippines, Comerford became the first female Executive Chef at the White House and the first minority to hold the position. YEAAAAH FILIPINAS! Starting as an Assistant Chef in the Clinton Administration and appointed as Exec Chef during the Bush Administration, First Lady Michelle Obama reappointed Cris Comerford because of her passion and emphasis for healthy eating. See her here at work:
I was beaming with pride over this new discovery, and extremely hungry after seeing these two teams of professionals feverishly prepare 5-course meals. To my Filipino Pride Delight…
now, let’s eat.
LT, over and out
Kuya Arnel told me this months ago about her. I watched the Iron Chef episode, too. I only wish she added more Filipino flare to the food. But I supposed that defeats the purpose of “healthy eating.”
So great! I can’t believe I never knew this one and ghat Dad didn’t tell us! And Anthony bourdain rules. I’ve always liked him from top chef.
(!) This is fantastic. Now I’m hungry.
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