WHEN you step inside the Amare Ristorante, you'll immediate feel as soon as you seat in your table that you'll be in for a remarkable indulgence in dining. Chris Locker will see to it you'll get so satisfied that you will wish that you dined with your family. Because Chris treat everyone like long lost family members who will get their food prepared so delicious with so much gustatory satisfaction that as the Kapampangan will say 'makapangalingwan katwangan'.
But who is Chris Locker? Aside from what we know now that he is from Switzerland and married to Christine, a Filipina and are blessed with three kids, he is a top rated, world class chef. Why are restaurants named after him? Like Amare Ristorante by Chris. Like 'C' restaurant along Don Juico Avenue in Angeles City where all filmdom celebrities and top honchos of big companies in the country dined there one time or the other, and sadly closed its doors after Chris resigned.
And now he is back, and this time at the newly renovated Oxford Hotel along the M. A. Roxas Avenue inside the Clark Freeport. Cruising along the road, it is the first building on your right if you drive towards the Freeport. By the way, the Oxford Hotel and Casino is now under new ownership and management. Built some years back by Tony Tioco of Baguio City, it was leased to some businessmen-politicians from Isabela but went through some difficulties and they backed out and dropped operations.
Chris Locker is to fine dining as Manny Pacquiao is to boxing. Tucked in his apron is 22 years in preparing food for the upper crust. He worked as head chef in Malacanang, Asian Development Bank and many hotels and restaurants in several countries in Europe. And now he is back, and to the delight of the thousands of his loyal patrons who can smell his cooking miles away that is so provocative to appetite.
O la la said Senator Bongbong Marcos when one time he sat for lunch with his friends and was all smiles while eating. Queen of all media and presidential sister Kris Aquino was so profuse while having the Rollizza, the roll up pizza which is an all time favorite for most. One of Amare's best sellers.
The Purefoods basketball team players led by James Yap (he was not with Kris) gobbled everything in sight and started with the Insalata Mista, a melange of assorted greens , tomato, cucumber, olives, slices of hard-boiled egg tossed with balsamic oil vinaigrette. And some continued with Amare's grill specials like the Angus Prime Rib steak.
If you want to delight yourself with pizza, pasta, carbonara and specialties of Italy, then you are in for a treat at the Amare Ristorante by Chef Chris which is on the ground floor of the Oxford.
POLITICAL ROUND-UP- In Candaba incumbent Mayor Rene Maglanque will have to face the comebacking Jerry Pelayo aka 'John Lloyd'. Maglanque tackled in 2013 Jerry's son. This time however Maglanque will be facing the father many observers are saying it will be a different story. This time Maglanque may count the support of Congressman Rimpy Bondoc. Masantol Mayor Dan Guinto may face comebacking Peter Flores. Guinto has the upper hand. John Sambo's best friend is Congressman Bondoc, and the latter is expected is full support in the former's mayoral run in Sto. Tomas. Sambo will face Fausto Sengson, virtually unknown to some voters of this curious little town. Sta. Ana Mayor Omeng Concepcion finishing his last and final term next year will field his brother Rameses aka Tek versus the well liked Barangay Captain Norberto Gamboa.