Ilocano heirloom recipes highlighted in new cookbook co-authored by Ilocana Chef Reggie Aspiras
MANILA, Philippines — During her childhood, Senator Imee Marcos spent a lot of time in the kitchen.
She was often sent down for kitchen duty as punishment for “answering back” to her parents, so often that she began to enjoy the time she spent in the kitchen.
There, she watched the cooks brilliantly turn raw ingredients into sumptuous dishes, mostly Ilocano dishes, and helped her maternal aunt, Auntie Lot, whip up delicious Visayan fares. It was not long until she dipped her own fingers into the art of cooking and learned how to prepare heritage dishes from both her father’s and her mother’s sides of the family.
When she had the opportunity to travel as an adult, she also tried to explore the culinary heritage of the places she got to visit. Soon, she was serving them to her family. Despite her busy schedule, she really took time to cook for the family, so when the chance came recently for her to produce a cookbook chronicling her culinary sojourns, she grabbed it.
The result: "PinakBest! (Recipes from the Marcos Kitchen and More)," with notes, tips and additional recipes from long-time family friend and fellow Ilocana Chef Reggie Aspiras.
The recipes are carefully divided into seven chapters.
Chapter 1: Classic Ilocano pays homage to the Marcos family’s favorite dishes. The recipes are both traditional Ilocano recipes and traditional Ilocano dishes that have been innovated on with the use of additional or different ingredients.
Chapter 2: FM’s Faves is self-explanatory. These are the favorite dishes of the late President Ferdinand Marcos, and they are mostly Ilocano fares.
Chapter 3: Imeldific! takes the reader from Ilocos Norte to Leyte, as they feature the former First Lady’s hometown cuisine.
Chapter 4: Morocco Loco, Chapter 5: Feelin’ European, and Chapter 6: Singapore Lah! give glimpses of the three places where Senator Imee had been.
In Chapter 7:#Imeebonuspa!, the lady senator shares her personal recipes — from savory dishes to desserts, from light and healthy fares to indulgent food, from local dishes to a diverse world of multi-cultural food.
More than just recipes, however, "PinakBest!" shares stories of how certain dishes figured in the life of the Marcoses and how they gave a happy memory that had been treasured all these years. It is a memoir that honors the family’s history, tradition, close relationships, and, yes, their love for food, too.
RELATED: Here's a 'red twist' to classic Sinampalukang Manok
