Restaurant owner to frame pope’s leftovers

MANILA, Philippines - A restaurant owner who prepared meals for Pope Francis said yesterday he intends to frame the pontiff’s leftovers and the utensils he used.

Steve Tamayo, who owns Tamayo’s Restaurant in Intramuros, said Pope Francis had pastries after saying mass at the Manila Cathedral last Jan. 16 and left three uneaten – bite-size pieces of chocolate pyramid, brazo de Mercedes and baked cheesecake.

“The pope drank tea… It is a big deal for us to serve him and these cutleries that he used would be souvenirs. If later he becomes a saint, the Tamayo family would already have his relics,” he said.

These pastries and utensils will be on display at the restaurant, Tamayo added. 

He said he has placed the three pastries in a freezer until he can find someone to preserve them for him.

“While the spoon, fork, cloth napkin, ice bucket, desert plate, platters, cup and saucer, table napkin, teaspoon and the water goblet that the pope used, I no longer had them washed,” Tamayo said.

As for the two bottles of water Pope Francis used, Tamayo said he would also have them framed and either place them in his home or office.

For Tamayo, who is a devout Catholic, serving the pope has been an honor and a privilege.

“My family is religious and we serve in the church…The mere fact that I was given such an assignment, it is very memorable to me. I was entrusted (with such a responsibility),” he said.

Tamayo’s restaurant provided the breakfast, lunch and dinner for 170 people at the Apostolic Nunciature, including the security escorts and drivers of Pope Francis, during the pontiff’s five-day stay in the country.