Jolina and Luigi: From Ang TV to Kitchenomics

MANILA, Philippines - Call him Chef Luigi Muhlach. The son of Aga Muhlach and Janice de Belen will be flexing some cooking muscles before a TV audience as he joins Jolina Magdangal-Escueta in the return of the cooking show Del Monte Kitchenomics on GMA 7, which begins airing today.

Chef Luigi joins an elite roster of predecessors who had manned the kitchen of the well-loved cooking show such as Chefs Sonny Daza and Rob Pengson. Luigi, who took up culinary studies at the American Hospitality Academy in Makati and restaurant management at the Enderun Colleges at the Fort, welcomes the challenge.

“I never expected to be given this show. But sa awa ng Diyos, I received this blessing,” said the 25-year-old Luigi, adding: “I’ve always been into cooking. I got the influence from my mom (Janice) who is a chef herself.”

On the mention of his famous parents, Luigi naturally couldn’t escape questions about the pressure of being a celebrity child. While he no longer feels he has to live up to whatever expectations people have of him, he acknowledged that he was a troubled teenager but he said that “you just outgrow those things.”

“I have no regrets because I learned from whatever happened to me in the past,” he said.

One turning point, he shared, was when his wife got pregnant two years ago. He realized it was time to shape up as “someone is already depending on me.” Luigi is now a father of a boy and a girl.

Speaking of fatherhood, Luigi was asked what kind of support will he be giving his father Aga who has already expressed his intentions of running for congressman in one of the districts in Camarines Sur. “If my dad wants me to join in the campaign, I would join him. I can also cook for him every day (during the campaign),” Luigi said.

 Meanwhile, Del Monte Kitchenomics marks the second time that Luigi, who will be in charge of the show’s cooking, and Jolina, who is primarily the host, have found themselves in one show. Jolina said that they both were once part of the children’s show Ang TV.

Another common thing between them is an obvious appreciation for good food, which has been translated into restaurants — Memory Lane in Tagaytay City and Luigi’s in Parañaque City for Jolina and Luigi, respectively.

For the present edition of Del Monte Kitchenomics, it’s also going to be a brand-new format, wherein viewers will be guided on how to prepare and serve even seemingly complicated dishes in five minutes only.

Jolina, who still carries the glow of a newlywed (she got married to rocker Mark Escueta in November of last year), admitted that while she loves and knows good food, she’s not an expert in running the kitchen.

But thanks to hosting Del Monte Kitchenomics, the singer-actress said she’s learning a lot from the show, in fact, she keeps the show’s scripts after every taping so she could try the recipes right away at home. Jolina said, “The show is not only educating viewers, I’m also being educated. Because of the show, I’m thinking about studying culinary arts.” 

Del Monte Kitchenomics promises to offer easy and effortless recipes from breakfast to dinner, and from snacks to desserts and drinks. It will air every Wednesday at 11:25 a.m. and Saturday at 10:30 a.m. on GMA. For more details, visit www.kitchenomics.com or www.facebook.com/Delmontekitchenomics.