THE recent Kadayawan Festival in Davao City was indeed a week-long of celebration and fun-filled activities which was made all the more colorful with the presence of numerous showbiz personalities who graced the different events here.
Donita Rose, who is now a Chef, was just among the many celebrities who visited Davao and imparted a memorable Kadayawan experience to the Dabawenyos.
Chef Donita completed her degree of Culinary Arts from The Academy for International Culinary Arts (AICA) in 2012.
Since then, her passion to learn more about culinary enticed her to leave show business to try her luck on a new journey.
It can be recalled that Chef Donita worked in Crowne Plaza Hotel Manila and then moved to Las Vegas to learn various cuisines such as Italian, Japanese, and many more.
And with her great love for cooking, Chef Donita was chosen as the Brand Ambassador for Jolly Mate Canola Oil.
Her recent visit in Davao City was part of her Regional Festival Tour with the product where she was able to show her cooking skills through a demo at Gaisano Mall’s Activity Center last August 20.
The Filipina-actress shared her unique and signature dish, the Chicken Curry with Durian.
In an interview, Chef Donita revealed that it took a long time for her to come up with a unique dish that will suit well to the taste buds of the Dabawenyos.
"I was thinking talaga what will suit best. Yung something unique talaga and will speak well about Davao. So while trying to make some dish, naisip ko why not gumamit ako ng Durian, so ayun, nagustuhan ko 'yung lasa, and I'm so excited to share this sa lahat," says the former MTV VJ in an interview at Rekado Restaurant.
I was one of those lucky people who were able to taste the recipe of Chef Donita and indeed it tasted good!
The smell of Durian is not that strong, something non-Durian eaters could tolerate. Plus, you will crave for more with its creamy sauce.
Chef Donita added that it was not the first time that she toured around the country to give cooking demos and share cooking tips.
She makes sure that in every place she will visit, she will introduce a new recipe that is easy to cook and nutritious at the same time.
"I keep on experimenting on dishes na I serve. With the help of Jolly Heart Mate Canola Oil I can introduce foods that are healthy and easy to prepare."
On the other hand, Chef Donita also encourages her followers to be more conscious of what they eat and cook.
For now, Chef Donita decided to lie-low on some of her showbiz commitments to focus on regaining again and developing more of her skills.
She also said that she’s mending a broken heart after confirming her failed marriage with Eric Villarama.
But she admitted that she is doing well and was very thankful with all the support she got from her colleagues and family.
"I've got a lot of plans in my head, maybe a TV show na I can just casually teach the basic of cooking and share some tips," the mestisa chef ended.
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Till next week. Feel free to reach me thru rhona_eps@yahoo.com!