Monday, August 18, 2008 Discovering friendship through food
RAIDING celebrity kitchens to create impromptu recipes fit for TV viewing can be a stressful task.
But on QTV 11's hit Saturday morning cooking show Ka-Toque Lutong Barkada, chefs Jeremy Favia, Niño Logarta, Mitchie Sison and Jonah Trinidad seem to be having the time of their lives instead.
On-screen, they seem to be happy human cookbooks, confident in their culinary expertise and efficient in their knowledge of each other's cooking styles.
Offscreen, this bustling energy translates into an easy fellowship that goes on long after the cameras have stopped rolling.
The transition from co-workers to friends has been effortless.
"Even when the show was just starting, we were all instantly comfortable with each other. We never felt any awkwardness and we were always bonding," said Jonah.
"It was like we didn't need a workshop to get us to bond. It all happened so naturally," added Mitchie.
Despite their busy schedules for tapings, mall shows, out-of-town shows and guestings, Jeremy, Niño, Mitchie and Jonah still find time to go out. Even out-of-town work trips turn into full-fledged barkada vacations, thanks to their easy banter and determination to enjoy the companionship wherever they go.
Clearly, despite their fine palates and expanded gustatory knowledge, they are still just a regular barkada at heart.
"What you see is what you really get," Niño said. "I think that's why people who watch the show can easily relate to us."
Their real-life friendship caught the attention of Greenwich, the Philippines' leading and largest pizza chain, to get them as ambassadors for its current friendship-themed campaign.
"Even if we're chefs, it still goes down to what we really want to eat. And the truth is the taste of Greenwich pizzas is something we personally recommend even to our other friends. I always look for the creamy taste of cheese, for example. With all the toppings in the pizza, the character of cheese is still present. Tamang-tama lang talaga yung mix of toppings and very delicious," noted Mitchie.
"Sobrang timing lang din kasi I've been eating their pizza kahit dati pa kaya I'm so happy to be associated with the Greenwich brand especially with my Ka-Toque barkada."
Jonah, the meticulous meat expert, was equally pleased. "It's exciting since it will be my first time to be in a TV or print ad, and I'm so glad I like the delicious product I'm supporting. When I tasted Greenwich's pizzas, I noticed the tasty and chewy crust that's even garlic flavored and how the pizza is meaty but not oily, Panalong-panalo," he added.
Through fantastic celebrity kitchen coups and their Greenwich campaign, expect the Ka-Toque bond to grow even stronger as they promote the joy of sharing delicious food with friends.
"Our shared passion for good food has strengthened our friendship," said Jeremy. "Food helps you get to know people better through what they choose to eat and how they eat. And even if Nino, myself, Jonah and Mitchie have different tastes and preferences in food click kami sa Greenwich Pizzas!"
Delicious and impeccably plated dishes may be central to Ka-Toque Lutong Barkada, but it's the warm camaraderie among its hosts that spill over to TV audiences and flavor Saturday mornings with plenty of good cheers.
