Launching a Culinary Treasure

CEBU, Philippines – The American International School of Cebu was founded in 1924 and was renamed Cebu International School in 1973. Through the years it has grown from a multi-level, tutorial 5-room schoolhouse to a complete Nursery through Grade 12 with 80 classrooms offering a predominantly American-style curriculum with English as the language of instruction. 

 The school serves a broad based community that includes both Filipino citizens and a number of expatriates from over twenty different nations with varied cultures, traditions and culinary heritage.

For this reason the active Cebu International School Parent Teacher Association headed by Pilar Streegan and Susie Borromeo Milne spent months gathering and trying out recipes from the CIS community who graciously shared their all time favorite recipes.

This wonderfully put together CIS community cookbook is appropriately called the Melting Pot which was launched at the Northtown Clubhouse recently. It is a delightful collection that takes the reader on a culinary journey through the different cultures that make up the students, administration, faculty and alumni family of the Cebu International School.

The recipes contained in The Melting Pot have been carefully selected and most of them are designed to expand. They are well within the range of anyone with a love of good food and a willingness to have a try.

A mingling of international culinary styles is another influence that has made an impression of today’s approach towards entertaining around the world. Even everyday recipes have become far more cosmopolitan. South-East Asia has offered gastronomic inspirations which are now adopted by Eastern countries. Japanese, Vietnamese, German, Indonesian and Thai cuisines are now as familiar as Chinese and Spanish.

This medley of recipes are simple but is in keeping with the philosophy of spontaneity. The ease of entertaining is the aim, where the one who prepares the food not only appears to be but actually is enjoying the occasion.

The cookbook is grouped in sections to turn to at a glance. It starts with breakfast meals followed by easy to prepare appetizers, soups and salads, pasta and pulses, vegetables, seafood and a wide selection of meats. And let’s not forget the sinfully delicious desserts to end a perfect meal.

Melting Pot is unpretentious cooking that spans age groups and makes people feel at home. It represents the kind of welcome that will be appreciated for the privilege that it is, an invitation to be included as part of the family.