PNS — ZOREN Legaspi is enjoying hosting “Kitchen Battles,” a reality cooking contest reminiscent of “Hell’s Kitchen” and “Iron Chef” that started on Q Channel 11 with 12 chefs duelling with each other in the kitchen. “I’ve gone into acting and directing,” he says. “I’ve always wanted to try hosting and now, I’m having fun with a show like ‘Kitchen Battles’ where some of the finest chefs get to cook their best dishes while competing with each other.”
The show is now on its semi-finals and only 6 Chef Warriors are left: Doming Madrideno (43 years old), Dante Sam (28), Mark Gustilo (34, they’re all married with kids), Janet Siy (24), Pierre Tan (26) and Arnold Bernardo (39, they’re all single). Only Janet and Pierre have formal training in the culinary arts. The rest all learned it from experience, with some starting as butcher or dishwasher and moving their way as fast food cook and later, sous chef or pastry chef.
Only Mang Doming is fully supported by the hotel he works for, Heritage, whose PRs even accompanied him to the presscon. They all took the show’s auditions to qualify. Who does each think is his biggest rival as Ultimate Chef Warrior? Janet, Mark, Dante, Arnold and Pierre all say it’s Mang Doming, as he’s “the most senior and most experienced. ” As for Mang Doming, he thinks it’s Mark, the most inventive chef among his rivals. The chief Chef Judge is Sau del Rosario, who trained in Nice at the South of France and owns several restaurants. The chefs who’ll next face each other are Arnold and Dante. They have to prepare three dishes using three main ingredients: pork loin, clams and sago with Datu Puti Soy Sauce. Find out who’ll win tomorrow, Sunday, at 7:45 a.m. on Q 11. The finals will be held on August 8 so don’t miss it.