THE Zonta Club of Cebu 1 has come up with a cookbook that advocates gender equality.
The “Tasty Treasures: Gender Equality Cookbook,” launched Wednesday, May 18, 2022 at the Cebu Country Club is a fundraising project of Zonta and a product of collaboration of its members.
The book’s editor Zonta Club of Cebu 1 president Gina Garcia-Atienza thanked sponsors, donors, recipe contributors and all those who supported the undertaking.
“The interest in cooking was at an all-time high in 2020 as the Covid-19 pandemic forced people into compulsory home quarantine. It was either home-cooking or starving. People cook at home, young and old, men and women, boys and girls, clergy and lay,” Atienza said.
The book shares simple, easy to cook, delicious recipes with many of the recipes handed down across generations, she said.
Atienza said she saw a prevalence of the misconception of women taking the role of cooking, cleaning, and running a household even though in modern times, women also help provide income to their families.
This inspired the Zonta members to dedicate the book to creating awareness for gender equality.
“That is now meant not only to feed a hungry stomach, but to fill an information-awareness gap on the issue of gender equality,” Atienza said.
The project was initially planned as a fundraiser for their programs on membership development, Education, Health, Livelihood, Elimination of VAW-C, and Climate Change.
However, it transformed into a major undertaking for their 2020-2022 Biennium of Service and Advocacy despite the challenges brought by the Covid health crisis.
Aside from the cookbook launching, Zonta Club of Cebu 1 also welcomed its newly inducted members.
A merienda buffet was prepared featuring dishes from the cookbook for everyone.
The dishes included “Pancit Molo” by Malu Mendez, “Siao Kai Chicken” by Tess Chan, and “Crab and Fruit Fusion”
by Atienza.
The cookbook is priced at P800.