Chef Rob sticks to his passion

MANILA, Philippines - It seems that nothing can pull Chef Rob Pengson away from cooking. With his good looks, well-built frame and disarming smile, he could easily pass for an actor. Truth is, there are offers for him to try acting, yet Chef Rob thought it wouldn’t be fair to accept them knowing well that he is not meant to be an actor. His expertise, he adds, lies in the culinary arts and he would certainly accept any project as long as it complements his profession.

“I love cooking. In fact, there were plenty of times that I had to let other opportunities pass because there’s no cooking involved in them,” Chef Rob says. “I can only say yes to the things I’m passionate about.”

Thus, he didn’t think long and hard about giving his nod to host Del Monte Kitchenomics with Love Añover on GMA News TV 11. The cooking show, which airs Thursdays to Fridays at 9:55 a.m., does not only get to display Chef Rob’s passion for cooking but at the same time, shares to televiewers various nutritious, affordable and delicious recipes that are easy to cook and all the ingredients can easily be found in the market. “Besides,” Chef Rob relates, “Del Monte is one brand that I grew up with. I can’t say yes to something that I don’t believe in even if it involves cooking. I must believe in the product also.”

Chef Rob finds front-lining for Del Monte refreshing. The recipes featured on the show are much different from the pricey, complicated seven to 10-set course menu he prepares in his own restaurant business Goose Station at The Fort. In Del Monte Kitchenomics, the chef whips up delectable dishes that make you want to don your apron and quickly head to your kitchen for their no-fuss cooking procedures. Each recipe presented to televiewers has only three to four steps to follow. Even co-host Love can’t help but try the recipes at home like the Burger Steak with Tokwa and the Baked Cheesy Spaghetti.

At home is also where Chef Rob first tried his hand in cooking by making “sunog na pizza” at age six. It was during college while taking up Psychology when he realized he wanted to cook after seeing a culinary brochure in his friend’s house. Persistence and hard work turned him to be one of the popular chefs in town. Aside from hosting and managing a restaurant, Chef Rob and one business partner are hands-on in Global Culinary Academy which has four branches in Manila.

With co-host Love Añover

“Running a school is very hectic. Aside from teaching and training 700 students a year, we also prepare for competitions abroad every year,” he reveals. “In the last international competition held here in Manila, our school got the highest number of votes.”

Asked if he finds it tough to be a businessman, host, husband to Chef Sunshine Puey and dad to Santiago all at the same time, Chef Rob replies, “With proper time management, I can handle them all. Just like now, I also cook at home because Sunshine is now pregnant and breastfeeding our son Santiago. It’s good that our show presents food that tastes good and perfect for the house. One of my favorites is Meatballs with Tokwa.”

Though it is his third time to do a cooking show, the first was the now-defunct Chef to Go aired on Q-11 and You’ve Been Served on 2nd Avenue which he also co-produced, Chef Rob still needs to get used to being in front of the camera.

“I get nervous every time I stand in front of the camera because first and foremost I’m a chef so parang being in front of the camera is a big deal for me. I get shy but I try to overcome it. That’s the challenging part to me as a host.”

Is there anything he would like to do aside from cooking?

“None because I think if it’s not my passion, I will not excel in it. I want to train more chefs.”