Chef Lau whips up a holiday feast at Guevarra’s

MANILA, Philippines — The buffet table just got yummier at Guevarra’s.

Because Christmas is just around the corner, celebrity chef Rolando Laudico created 30 holiday dishes to be added to the crowd favorites at his popular buffet resto.

In keeping with Pinoy tradition, the selection features noche buena staples given a delightful makeover, after all, it’s this brand of innovative modern Filipino cuisine that has earned Chef Lau, as he is referred to by many, numerous groundbreaking collaborations.

The local audience has probably seen him as host and judge on ABS-CBN’s Master Chef and Junior Master Chef. He has also appeared in shows like GMA 7’s Pop na Pop and Ang Pinaka. Regionally, he has appeared on Asian Food Channel’s Amazing Food Challenge: Fun in the Philippines and Starworld’s The Apartment: Celebrity Edition. Interestingly enough, the chef also happens to be a rocker and occasionally jams with Six Cycle Mind. Together they have a project band called Chef Lau’d.

Among the entrées he whips up for December are Orange Chicken Galantina, Pata Hamonado, Roasted Turkey with Castañas and Chorizo, Menudo Pastel Pie, and Baked Macaroni Kaldereta.

The desserts are courtesy of his wife, pastry chef Jacqueline “Jac” Juarez-Laudico who also has her share of TV appearances, often seen cooking alongside Kris Aquino. Her contributions include Macapuno Pandan Crinkles, Crema de Fruta, Bibingka and Crispy Puto Bumbong, among others.

The couple shared some of their  insights on Philippine cuisine in their book, Chef Laudico Flips Out, which is now available at leading bookstores. Chef Lau points out, “You can do anything you want with the dish, as long as you maintain its integrity or flavor profile, which is explained in the book.”

With all these positive vibes and blessings, Chef Lau remains humble and thankful, keeping his family and their business’ integrity and reputation intact amid some nasty rumors about Guevarra’s fueled by a viral Facebook post earlier this August. Investigations have uncovered it as nothing more than baseless allegations.

“The San Juan Health Department conducted two sanitary inspections of the restaurant after the complaints arose. Guevarra’s passed both inspections. The Department of Health Epidemiology Bureau through the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine tested the restaurant’s water supply and personnel on the date of visit of the complaining family. They found none of the harmful pathogens. We also initiated independent tests through three different private companies. All reported that there was no cholera bacteria. They also ruled out the presence of Amoeba and E.Coli,” Chef Lau emphasized.

“The Department of Health Epidemiology Bureau said that there is no cholera in Metro Manila. This is also reflected in the Department of Health Food and Waterborne Diseases Surveillance Report number 8 (January to August 2018),” he added.

So it’s celebration as usual at Guevarra’s. Their regular guests are back, with big groups holding their Christmas parties at the 1920’s home tucked in San Juan. With the festive holiday treats, Chef Lau may have unwittingly given Pinoy food lovers the best reason to forget about their fad diets.

It’s the season of plenty, after all.