Should Pizza have pineapples?

A couple of weeks ago, we got to join Yassi Pressman and Bela Padilla’s joint belated birthday party, which was hosted by Greenwich Pizza. It was a fun, Hawaiian-themed afternoon that featured not only performances from both Yassi and Bela, but also fellow Greenwich barkada member JC Santos, and it was all hosted by Robie Domingo. Of course, there was lots of lasagna and Hawaiian Overload pizzas shared as well.

Before it all went down, though, I got a chance to sit and chat with the birthday celebrants. Turns out both of them recently got home from trips abroad and I couldn’t resist picking their brains for some thoughts on food and travel.

Although they both traveled around their birthdays, Yassi and Bela took the trips for other reasons.

For Yassi, Bali was her destination of choice. When I assumed it was for the beaches, she assured me it wasn’t just that.  “I went for the experience and also for the food. I go to Seminyak for the food. I really like living like a local there.”

Meanwhile, Bela took an extended trip to Switzerland and France. “I’ve been in the industry for 11 years and it’s the first time I asked for a vacation leave.”

Taking advantage of an opening in the schedule while shooting Day After Valentine’s, she got to fulfill a promise.  “Primarily, I went because when I shot Meet Me in St. Gallen; I promised the friends I made over there that I would go back. And they had been bugging me to go back,” she laughs.

Bela Padilla dedicates some time on her trips for food.

Having discovered that, like me, Bela dedicates as much as half of her trips on food, I asked her for some food recommendations and they were certainly interesting. Her most treasured eating experience, for example, was while hiking the mountains of Fluelen.

“When we went hiking, we brought sausages, bread, cheese and whatnot, and when you get to the top, they have a bonfire that’s ready for people to use. As in, they have the firewood all lined up already and they have clean sticks which you can skewer and cook the sausages with.”

Her eyes light up when she describes the experience: “The sausages were already good, uncooked out of the pack, but when you cook over real wood and fire, they have a nice, smoky flavor. Also, it’s so nice to eat a meal that was shared with friends when you’re tired from hiking. It just made it extra special.”

Also, Bela adds in a funny tidbit: “People hike there with prosecco,” she laughs. “I had a big bottle of water with me but they were drinking. It was very casual for them to hike and drink.”

Meanwhile, in a more traditional restaurant setting, Bela recounts a most interesting dish: “ I had this dish that was rice and then it had a lot of green vegetables. By green vegetables I don’t mean leafy vegetables. Not sure what it was, but they looked like spring onions (or leeks), chopped and then a whole chunk of melted brie. They also give you chutney on the side if you want something sweet. It was actually really good!”

She also got to have a tomato soup/stew in a bread bowl, which she says reminded her of afternoons spent in Glorietta with her mom after school. “Instead of a bread bowl, it was almost like a croissant, with a flaky texture.”

Now, I would be remiss not to ask about sweets in Switzerland and she beats me to the punch. “And the chocolate,” she says, eyes widening. “When I was there shooting I would get hot chocolate near Laderach. Then, because I wasn’t finished with my chocolate needs, I would go to Laderach and buy different chocolates by the gram.”

As for a must-visit place, Bela said, “There’s a place called Gelateria di Berna. I took a train to Bern just to eat there. I kid you not; the line is 30 minutes long. They have the best flavors! I died. I lined up the first time for the chocolate flavors, like hazelnut, coffee and a chocolate ice cream that tasted like you were eating pure chocolate off a cone. Then I walked a little, lined up again and got the lighter, fruitier flavors this time. The lemon was really good and they had ginger ice cream. I never thought I would like it and they made me try it, but it was so good.”

Meanwhile, Yassi recounts her must-haves in Bali: “Nasi goreng and satay on the streets for sure!” She also gives a suggestion on where to go: “Food in Potato Head was extremely delicious, and it’s also one of the coolest places to hang out in.”

Yassi Pressman makes sure to live like a local on her trips.

When I ask her about what kind of food she loves to eat, she struggles to give a specific answer. “Sweets. I really enjoy a lot of sweets, but also a mix of everything, from salty to spicy things.” She pauses. “Well, I like cheesy things, salty, sweet,” she then laughs as she realizes she’s mentioned everything. “I guess it depends on my mood.” Her inner foodie then comes out. “Unlike others, I really don’t watch what I eat,” she smiles. Seeing my look of surprise, Yassi laughs, “Well, I just try to burn it after.”

When I ask her if it’s true that she can eat what she wants and maintain her figure, she denies it. “That’s not true! Exercise is 30 percent but 70 percent is really what you put into your body. There should always be a balance. If I know I’m eating a lot at night, then at lunch I’ll just calm down and eat less, instead of doing a (fad) diet.

Yassi, who’s recently moved into her own place, is also looking forward to learning how to cook. “I think it’ll be something fun to do. I’ll screenshot a favorite recipe of mine, and then I’ll try making it and posting on my IG stories.”

For anyone keeping score, I did suggest recipes from my website. I’m hoping one of mine will be one of her upcoming projects on IG soon.

As the party was about to begin, I couldn’t resist asking them one final question. I recently wrote an article on my blog, defending pineapples on pizza and I was curious about their takes on it as well. Yassi went first: “I have a feeling people don’t like pineapples on pizza because they’re not used to something sweet on a pizza, but it’s the balance that makes it more delicious. I think that goes for pizza as well as life,” she giggles.

Bela, meanwhile, leans in and answers, “Look I’m not saying this just because I’m endorsing it. I’m not kidding. Pineapples and cheese — who knew it would work, but it’s surprisingly really good! It’s my favorite flavor. Right now, I can’t think of a better flavor.”

I’ve always said that the best kind of people are those that love food with a passion. These two ladies just proved it.

                                                                                                                     *  *  *

Follow Sharwin’s food adventures on Instagram @chefsharwin and for questions, reactions, recipe and column suggestions, you can contact him on www.sharwintee.com.