World class home cooked food

CEBU, Philippines - When Rhoda Avanzado-Phillips came home to give birth to her baby Zoe, she also gave birth to another baby – Chef Inato, Dumaguete’s first restaurant that serves world-class food at carenderia prices.

Rhoda, a graduate of the London Metropolitan University and works for the Westminster City Council, has visited a lot of places – from France to the Americas, to most countries in Asia – and always she makes it a point to experience the places through their food. She believes that food speaks a lot of a country’s culture.

Rhoda was also privileged to finish her Patisserie Master Class in one of the world’s famous baking schools, The Bertinet Kitchen in Bath, under the tutelage of Yolande Stanley, who is one of only four chefs in the UK who’ve been awarded the prestigious Master of the Culinary Arts for Pastry.

She also studied bread making at the River Cottage with famous author Daniel Stevens himself. Stevens is known for his book Bread.

Rhoda said that her cooking is influenced by her travels. Her desire was to bring and share the wonderful memories of her travels to Dumaguete. And that is why, together with his brother, Rolly, Chef Inato was conceived. Rolly also had received certificates in culinary arts, and focuses more on local flavors.

“Chef Inato is actually home-cooked meals, with each dish cooked lovingly to make our clients feel like they’re dining at home,” Rhoda said.

Located along the national highway in Bacong, Negros Oriental, home of Katipunero hero Pantaleon Villegas, popularly known as Leon Kilat, Chef Inato beacons those who want to taste something new but not so strange to the palate. Rhoda said that to ensure her guests would better appreciate the dishes she made a few adjustments to the recipe with the help of Rolly, to make it more familiar to our tastes.

When it comes to local dishes, Chef Inato is known for their lechon kawali, chicharrones (a Spanish-inspired appetizer), chicken halang-halang (spicy chicken in coconut milk), pork sinigang, and fish kinilaw.

While their international dishes that’s bringing patrons back are the Italian Risotto (Arborio rice cooked with mushroom and/or sausages), Moroccan lamb tagine with couscous (slow cooked lamb stew with a blend of aromatic Moroccan spices), French Cassoulet (white beans with pork slices, bacon, and sausages and cooked in tomato sauce with herbs and red wine), and bangers and mash or British sausages served with mashed potatoes.

Prices range from P50 to P280.

For more information on Chef Inato, check them out. They are open Monday to Sunday from 10 AM to 8 PM. They also accept orders for packed meals. Email them at [email protected] or call (0917)7162676. (FREEMAN)