Farewell, chef Ed

MANILA, Philippines - Three of chef Ed Quimson’s closest female friends were Trina Yujuico Kalaw, Lizette Yujuico Licaros and Ditas Intengan. Lizette and Ditas both came to visit chef Ed during his final days at the  hospital. It was Lizette who alerted friends about his condition as she kept a close watch.

Trina Yujuico Kalaw: “Ed was a perfectionista.”

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By Trina Yujuico Kalaw

Ed called me Mama T. Why? I didn’t even ask.

We crossed paths in the mid-’90s when he took over the Brokers’ Lounge of the Philippine Stock Exchange.  Besides being a good chef and innovative in so many ways, he was elegant in his ways, whether it was the food itself or its presentation.  He was a “perfectionista” that I know in my heart that if I left him with a request, he would deliver.

I recall last year, on Easter Sunday, to be exact, when I had my pamanhikan for my son Teddyboy in Tagaytay Highlands with the Villarosa family, I wanted him to cook paella for 30 to 40 people.  Wow, when I got there he had arrived two hours before with all his paraphernalia.  I was so happy to see him cooking, not knowing that his portable gas cooker broke down so that he had to cook over wood, which made the paella tastier and really super-different.

I would always be Mama T for my dearest Ed. As people close to him would always say, Ed would make sure that he was around you on your special day.

Chef Ed with Lizette Yujuico Licaros: “Hats off to the big guy with the big heart.”

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By Lizette Yujuico Licaros

Our Subic days were the best. Our terms of endearment are, I call him Manoy and he calls me Manay. Ed was forever accommodating; no matter who you were and what it was, he would be there for you when you were in need. He is one person I know that was never selfish and was always glad to share his talent with anyone.

He made me the best birthday dinner ever last December and I never thought it would be the last time that I would taste his great dishes. For me, he makes the best paella ever. I recall how the two of us could eat sweet spaghetti forever and that he was the best dancer I have ever known. I will miss the laughter and green jokes we often shared. I will truly miss him so much.

When he was at the ICU, I will never forget that last look and with tears in his eyes, he blew me a kiss. He is truly in a league of his own.

When his yayo called me at 4:45 a.m. on Sunday, March 10, I could not stop crying. Rob and I prayed the rosary right away then, as I finished typing my message to him on Facebook using my iPad, all of a sudden, my phone opened with his blown-up picture staring at my face. Oh, Lord, I could not contain myself as he bade me his goodbye.

As chef Ed was about to be cremated, I placed on his right hand the cross of the rosary I made him hold the whole time at the hospital and on his left hand, I placed a broken rosary. It was the least I could do, to give him something to bring up to heaven. Manoy deserves a standing ovation because he touched many lives. Hats off to the big guy, as I give thanks to someone really very dear to me. Life will be different now that he is gone. The best thing Manoy left me is Ditas.

Ditas Intengan: Ed told me to go easy lang.

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By Ditas Intengan

Ed was always full of life — jolly and happy like a big baby. He always used to tell me not to be too serious about things and to lighten up.

He taught me how to cook so many different dishes but he loved the chicken asado that I cooked because he could never get it, no matter how many times I showed him how. I love a lot of things that he cooks: his different kinds of paella, his Iberian chicken, the balut paté that he taught me to make, callos, cocido and more.

When I went to the hospital to see him, I wasn’t able to talk to him because he was on a respirator. But I distinctly remember several years ago, he told me to go easy lang when I did things because I was just setting myself up for disappointment.  But he was exactly like that also, kaya we had such a hard time working together. We’d get into each other’s hair … grabe! But I think the best advice he gave me was to take care of my friendship with his friends, and that’s the reason why Lizette is more than a friend, she’s my sister. For that, I’d like to say, “Thank you, darling. We’ll miss you.”