Claudine Barretto: Lights, camera, adobo!
MANILA, Philippines - She may seem to be too young to play mother roles on the big screen, but a mother is what Claudine Barretto is off cam. In fact, those who have witnessed her evolve from a teen sensation to a critically acclaimed actress to a loving wife and doting mother to her two kids — Sabina, 5, and Santino, 1 — are probably in awe of how she made such a seamless transition.
Her secret?
“I always make it a point that my family comes first. Being a working mom isn’t an excuse to be a lousy homemaker. Learn how to prioritize. It also pays to be a realista,” Claudine shares.
Being a realista, Claudine explains, is the art of being practical, resourceful, and meticulous when it comes to providing for our family’s basic needs. In times of scrimping, “we have to be practical but we should not compromise quality.”
Kitchen Confidential
The youngest in a brood of five, Claudine learned a lot of things in her mom’s kitchen, which she found useful when she started her own family.
“Weekends spent in my mom’s kitchen or my Ninang Glenda Barretto’s Via Mare restaurant in Greenbelt 1 when I was younger gave me ample training. Now, I can whip up almost anything in the kitchen. Adobo is one of my specialties,” Claudine enthuses.
Fast, fuss-free and filling — best describe Claudine’s signature dish, adobong Ilonggo. It’s easy to prepare. No sautéing needed. And unlike the usual adobo, Claudine adds onions, ginger and achuete to give the dish its distinct inasal flavor and color.
“My mom is from Iloilo, home of the best chicken inasal. My adobo gets its inspiration from that dish,” she proudly says.
We got to sample Claudine’s special adobong Ilonggo, which she prepared during the launch of Knorr Real Sarap All-in-One seasoning mix at the Cilantro Kitchen of Unilever.
According to Bryan Lingan, Knorr Real Sarap brand manager, Claudine is the perfect spokesperson for the product.
“Claudine has embraced a new role of being a dedicated homemaker. She really settles for nothing but the best for her family. It helps that she has really been cooking and using Knorr products for a long time,” he explains.
Knorr Real Sarap enhances the flavor of any dish. Compared to other powdered seasoning mixes, Knorr has real herbs (celery, parsley and turmeric) and spices that you can see when you open a pack.
To See Is To Believe
“I have to see it to be convinced that it’s of real quality. Knorr Real Sarap has visible flecks of flavorful spices and tangy herbs,” Claudine notes.
So whether it’s her Raymart’s favorite bulalo, Sabina’s all-time fave fried chicken, or Santino’s adobong atay ng manok (chicken liver), Knorr Real Sarap allows Claudine to whip up these flavorful dishes in no time. “It’s like a short-cut without sacrificing the real flavor of the dish.”
Claudine’s other specialties include pasta dishes in white, red, or dulong sauce. Her husband Raymart can’t get enough of her pudding for dessert.
Raymart, Claudine adds, is a certified foodie. He’s a good cook, too. While she’s all for quick and easy meals ala Rachel Ray, Raymart goes for more difficult recipes which take hours to prepare.
“Raymart’s triathlon buddies love his baked and grilled ribs with sauces which normally takes him two hours to prepare. They also keep coming back for his homemade bangus sardines. It’s my mother-in-law’s specialty. Actually, I’m affected when people say Raymart’s dishes taste better,” Claudine admits.
Raymart, for his part, showers his ladylove with praises. “Claudine is a perfect wife and mother. If I were to rate Claudine’s cooking from one to 10, I’d give her an 11, “ says Raymart. “The extra point is a bonus for using Knorr Real Sarap.”
With Glenda Barretto as her mentor, this realista mom has definitely found her rightful place in the kitchen. Who knows? You might even see Claudine’s adobong Ilonggo on Via Mare’s menu on your next visit.
Knorr Real Sarap All-in-One seasoning mix retails for P2.50 per 7g pack. It is available at leading supermarkets and sari-sari stores nationwide.
