Goodies N’ Sweets has been serving delicious pastries for 30 years. Four years ago, Aileen decided to merge her catering business with Goodies. She wanted to switch from selling pastries for industrial clients to supplying her cakes to the retail market.
The Goodies owner and president, who manages 25 employees, talks about cooking, baking and other magical acts in the kitchen.
What film influenced your life?
Woman on Top is about a sexy chef who is pretty amazing. She gives a nice image to cooks.
What book influenced your life?
I’m now reading On Rue Tatin, the story of a family that moved to France. It is full of recipes of the foods that they encounter. Learning about the recipes makes reading very appetizing.
Which living person do you admire most?
My mom, Ester. My dad died when I was 5 years old and my mom raised the three of us on her own.
What is your passion?
Cooking Italian dishes (I am an instructor at Heny Sison’s culinary school.)
I also love baking. When I was younger, I would only get two hours of sleep during the Christmas season because I would be busy baking.
What is the trait you most deplore in others?
With my employees, dishonesty. Very sad to work with someone whom I cannot trust.
What sports/hobbies do you like most?
Gym, badminton and squash in Valle Verde.
Where are you most comfortable?
I like being around people and enjoy intimate dinner parties.
What is your greatest fear?
Having all the money in the world and no one to share it with.
Which hero of fiction can you most identify with?
Since I was a kid I loved Wonder Woman. She is pretty and powerful.
What is your motto?
Life is short, so I do whatever I can to make life better.
What is your greatest extravagance?
I love shoes.
Name a moment that brings back happy memories.
Christmas 1992, I was in the States. My mom flew over to be with me in New York. I ended up cooking a feast for my relatives. I can’t work without music so I had jazz music playing until midnight.
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Eating a gallon of vanilla ice cream and not getting fat.
Which living person do you most identify with?
My best friend, Marivic Ortigas, who is my exact opposite but when you get down to the basics, we are so much alike.
Which famous quotation would you have wanted to be the author of?
Strike when the enemy is weak.
What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
When a crisis hits you – in your personal and business life.
Which talent would you most like to have?
When I was young I wanted to be a ballerina.
Who greets you when you get home?
I like coming home because my nephew greets me with a big hug.
Name an embarrassing moment at work.
Doing a demo for a friend when the whole pan fell and we couldn’t eat what I cooked because it was all on the floor.