Sexy Nomad Cooked at TV 5’s HOW BOUT MY PLACE…TONIGHT?

 July 14, 2009, 11:30 AM, right after they shoot my part at the new Claudine Barreto TV commercial (I just found out last weekend from my agent that as soon as they finish shooting the third set  [ours was the 2nd], then that’s the time it gets aired on TV), I immediately went to the location of TV5’s HOW BOUT MY PLACE…TONIGHT shoot. I was chosen by their adorable writer, Marc Almajose, to be the show’s guest blogger. My taping was scheduled at 6 PM but because it was my first time to commute all the way to Malate from Marikina, I’d rather be early than late so in case I get lost, there’s still more than enough time left to rest, dress up and do my make up.

 I got there at around 1 pm…yeah… I was too early. Marc’s direction was so precise that I managed NOT to get lost. Yipee! Marc showed me around, introduced me to the handsome director/producer, Butch Ilige, and to the charming chef/host, CHEF FERNANDO ARACAMA, and let me watch the other tapings being done. I first witnessed the taping of Makati Shangri-La’s Chief Chef Karl Heinz Krautler. He was making three wonderful dishes made of duck. Yummy. At the same time, I felt kind of worried coz the dish I was going to do was really quite simple and based on my own experimentation at home. Hmmm… Oh well. I just hoped and prayed that nothing will go wrong later that day.  

 Then it was Gov. Lray Villafuerte’s turn to cook his favorite Laing. He is the governor of Camarines Sur and he’s quite  a good looking guy if I may say so… dark version of John Lloyd Cruz (ahem!). Prior to his taping, while we were still in the waiting area, I was introduced to him and he seems to be a pretty funny guy too. As his make up was being done by Ken and Roman, he was telling us stories about CWC. He’s very proud of  his Camsur Watersports Complex. I told him that my hubby and I have been planning to go there for the longest time. We just don’t have the time and energy to make that trip at the moment. Hopefully, we can visit next month. We’ve only done knee boarding at Lago de Oro and it was so much fun! I bet, it’s gonna be more exciting at CWC! We exchanged numbers then it was his turn on cam.

 Top: Roman; Bottom: Ken

(They’re Gov. Villafuerte’s make up artists that afternoon. They’re so good looking! Unfortunately gurls, they’re gay. I had  a fantastic time chatting with them about the wonderful clients they had, their passion for their craft and other businesses they do. They’re quite a power team. Kudos!)

Guess who else arrived on the set later that afternoon? The power couple Ryan Agoncillo and Judy Anne Santos! I was mulling over if I should introduce myself and tell Juday that I was one of the bloggers who got tapped for her Ploning movie project before BUT… I felt shy and stayed on my seat instead. As Ryan was preparing his Burrito, his wife watched him with a proud look on her face. Awww… *mush*

Another chef was in the house that afternoon — Chef Jay Gamboa of Circulo. I wasn’t able to concentrate on what he was cooking coz I was beginning to feel anxious then. It would be my turn after him! Ack! This was so unlike the other TV gigs I did before. For one, there was no script. Number#1 rule was to just be myself. Second, I was asked to converse with a real chef and show him how I cook my own version of chicken adobo! To think it’s only my hubby who has ever seen my cooking and now the public will be seeing it once it gets aired in August! Double ack! Third and lastly, this would be the longest TV exposure for me by far. I’m not sure how many minutes, but it would definitely be a lot longer than the commercials and primetime soap participations I did in the past. Triple ack! 

And then, there I was, in front of the camera, conversing with Chef Fernando Aracama who I fondly called FERDS the whole time, as if we have known each other for so long! I realized that I was having loads of fun! Ferds was a very charming guy, a very good conversationalist and the entire production crew was just so much fun to be with! I felt so right at home like I was really meant to be there. (Naks!). It was so much fun and easy, I wished it never had to end.

 When the taping was over, we managed to have some photo ops with the crew.

Top Left: with Chef Fernando Aracama

Top Right: with director/producer Butch Ilige

Bottom Left: with writer & editors Marc Almajose and Frederick Teng (owner of KUSINA TEATRO, located at the foodstreet of the Ortigas Home Depot, behind Taboo, near the market, which I plan to visit soon.)

Bottom Right: with the camera crew

The moment the taping ended, I was looking for my chicken adobo so I can take a photo of the finished product. This was what welcomed me on the kitchen table! I was so surprised! I guess my original recipe was good! I was so touched… I cried a few tears… tears of overwhelming joy. ^_^ I still don’t know what to call this recipe. Aside from the usual adobo ingredients, I added tuna flakes, potatoes, pineapple chunks, sage, rosemary, basil and thyme. What do you think should I call it? Chef Fernando said it tasted like Estofado. Wow! I’m so proud!  My Dad will be proud of me! He first taught me how to cook Sinigang na Baboy at age 11. Then I just got lazy in the kitchen after that. I’d rather eat than cook…  until last January when Peter got sick and my lazy helper was nowehere to be found. That’s when I started cooking full time. Who knew I would end up here! Teehee! ^_^

HOW BOUT MY PLACE…TONIGHT?

 Every Thursday at 11:30 PM on TV5

 TEN YEARS…
A FEW THOUSAND RECIPES…
A FEW HUNDRED PERSONALITIES…
ALL ACCEPTED OUR INVITATION,
AND NOW WE ARE INVITING YOU,
LET US IN TO YOUR PLACE EVERY
THURSDAY AT 11:30 PM, AND WE’LL SHOW YOU THAT GOOD RECIPES AREN’T LIFTED STRAIGHT OUT OF COOKBOOKS…
THE ART OF COOKING IS BEST LEARNED BY HEART.
OUR HOSTS
CHEF FERNANDO ARACAMA AND
CHEF JOHN CU-UNJIENG TAKES YOU AROUND TOWN AS WE EXPLORE THE BEST, MOST EXOTIC, YUMMIEST DISHES, FROM UPSCALE RESTAURANTS TO THOSE THAT ARE…
WELL, OFF THE BEATEN TRACK.