Write, Breathe, Live

A Different Kind of Cooking Event

Last Tuesday, I was invited to an event presented by Italian kitchen appliance line Indesit and men’s lifestyle magazine UNO at the Monogram Experience Center in Serendra.

It was interesting to watch a cooking “throwdown” between Atticus King, UNO’s VP, and pretty tattoo artist Sarah Gaugler. They were coached respectively by chefs Rolando Laudico of Bistro Filipino and Eugene Raymundo of Five Cows and Limones Restaurants.

Hosting the event was UNO Editor-in-Chief RJ Ledesma who was as entertaining as always. (Iiiks, I just realized I haven't got a shot of him in any of the photos I took! Sorry, RJ.)

The contenders were given a surprise list of items, furnished by Monterey, which turned out to be the usual ingredients used to make the popular Filipino dish Adobo. Both teams were asked to come up with an adobo-with-a-twist dish each within one hour.

The panel of judges included Nancy Reyes Lumen, food stylist and EIC of Cook Magazine, Norman Reynoso of Fabriano S.p.A., the exclusive distributor of Ariston and Indesit, and Malyn Molina Account Director of EON, the PR firm that organized the event.

In true Iron Chef fashion, the contestants used premium electric freestanding cookers from Indesit described to boast four electric plates that heat up rapidly through the fast-heat function which, in turn, easily maintain the heat regardless of temperature, wind or air interference. A large oven capacity of 58L and a built-in oven light provided the flexibility and space needed for the high-speed showdown.

Indesit’s tagline, “We work, you play”, according to Norman Reynoso, is very much applicable to UNO’s readers as the appliances will appeal to guys who consider cooking an enjoyable pastime.

At the end of one hour, two very attractive dishes were presented to the spectators. We were all given a chance to try out each dish after the judges did. Both dishes were yummy but the one made by Atticus and Chef Laudico impressed me more. The mashed potato with crunchy fried wedges was an unexpected but pleasant surprise. The judges liked it too and pronounced it the winner.

Since the cooking was done spontaneously, there was no written recipe I could follow. But, avid cook that I am, I plan on inventing my own version within the next week or two and surprise the food aficionados in our house (who else but hubby and the boys? :p).

Norman, Malyn, Atticus, Sarah, Eugene, Nancy

For Indesit inquiries, contact the Ariston showroom at the 4th floor, Shangri-la Plaza Mall, EDSA, Mandaluyong (631-8282) or the Monogram Experience Center, 2nd Floor, Serendra, Fort Bonifacio (856-2518). For information on UNO magazine, check out www.unomagazine.com.ph.

*Thanks again to Ana Gonzales of EON for the invite! :)