China's Choice

MANILA, Philippines - China Cojuangco could have taken the stage and played the juicy roles there are. The call to cook delectable cuisine, however, is more tempting. China can’t help but wear her toque and perform culinary magic in her kitchen, so to speak. It’s a choice she has never regretted.

“I took culinary arts because it’s a passion of mine,” says China. “After college (taking up Human Development at the Assumption College), I kept on thinking, ‘I want to do this. I want to do that.’”

The beautiful chef acted on stage for four years before China decided to explore the art of baking and cooking.

China says she was also inspired to make cooking a profession by her older sister Pin. She remembers Pin cook roast beef and serve it to everyone. During their vacation in the States, China would help out in chopping and soaking the ingredients. But cooking is in China’s genes because her maternal grandmother cooks well.

Hosting Q-11’s My Favorite Recipes is a perfect assignment and early Christmas gift for China, who is a graduate and teacher at the Center for Asian Culinary Studies. She finished Professional Food Styling and handles Hors d’Ouvres, Holiday Meals, Everyday Cooking and Baking Lifestyle classes.

“I have done TV guestings before,” says China. “(My Favorite Recipes) is my first show. And it is something I’m proud of.”

For My Favorite Recipes, which starts airing today at 10:30 a.m., 11:50 a.m. and 6:10 p.m. with weekend airing (Saturdays at 11:15 a.m., 2 p.m. and 8:10 p.m. and Sundays, 11:50 a.m., 2 p.m. and 9:10 p.m.), China will prepare 25 delectable dishes ranging from Fiesta Fish, Lengua Estofado to Pork Loin.

What type of food does China crave for?

“I like Japanese and Filipino food,” she replies. “I would do adobo and sinigang. It’s sobrang asim. And I like cooking Italian.”

China shares that the Cojuangcos would usually have Turkey, Lengua Estofado, Callos and Lechon on Christmas Eve. For New Year, she is in charge of pica-pica and cheese platters consisting of dried fruits, assorted cheeses, ham, nuts and crackers. The family should also eat 12 grapes for good luck in the coming year.

My Favorite Recipes is a Q-11 Christmas treat for audiences by coming up delicious, mouth-watering recipes and using Carnation Evap and Condensada. These are dishes we can also have for noche buena.

As a chef, China enjoys doing cuisine. One’s taste buds will know whether the dish is good or not. In cuisine, anyone can just open his refrigerator and work on the available ingredients. From there, he can decide what cuisine to cook. It’s all based on taste. Pastry, on the other hand, brings out one’s artistic side like preparing wedding cakes.

Do we hear wedding bells for China and boyfriend Gino Gonzalez since she’s the only Cojuangco who remains single?

“I’m not pressuring him,” she answers. “It will happen.”