Dimples Romana doesn’t feel overwhelmed at all by the Christmas rush.
"It’s the busiest time of the year for most, the lines sa malls and supermarkets are usually long, 'tapos maraming dinners at parties, but I have learned to face it all nang kalma lang."
In her exclusive interview with PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) on December 7, at the cooking event of Glad—which is known for its wraps, foils, and food containers and storage—she said, “Sanay kasi ako. And yes, kinakarir ko from plato to the baso to the napkin, nai-enjoy ko talaga yung mga ganyan."
Besides, she and her husband Boyet Ahmee love hosting dinners.
She continued, “Not just Christmas, but most of the time.
"Every weekend, may dinner sa house.
"And especially when my in-laws are home from Cagayan de Oro, we make it a point talaga na the whole family will come together.
"As you know, our parents are not getting any younger, so we want to honor their years with us by taking advantage of the moments and time they can spend with us."
Is she the queen of their house’s kitchen?
"My mom is a great cook. My cook, si Ate VI, kung paano ko niluluto, ganun din niya ginagawa, so it’ really more of a collaborative kitchen for me.
"For the family’s day-to-day meals, si Ate Vi na bahala, pinapaubaya ko na. Fourteen years na siya sa amin, kaparehas ng edad ng daughter ko, si Callie.
"Pero may mga tinututukan ako, kasi dapat may sistema, e."
For example: Organizing her refrigerator.
“This is very important, lalo na ngayong Pasko kapag marami kang sobra na food.
“It’s basically, first in, first out, di ba. Kung ano yung unang papasok, yun din ang unang lalabas. Minsan kasi ang nangyayari if you don’t properly store yung food sa kitchen, you forget kung ano yung una mong binili.
"Maraming nasasayang dahil dun, kasi nangyayari na ang nilalabas mo ay yung latest mo palang binili.
"Sayang naman yung mga nauna.
"So, it’s important to know these things in the kitchen para naman maiwasan ang spoilage, and having those zip locks, containers, malaking bagay dahil mas efficient sa space and firmly sealed yung food.”
She and her helpers have a regular schedule for ref cleaning.
"Every now and then, we would let go of the expired goods na. Parang may inventory. Pag hindi na puwede, itapon na.”
NOCHE BUENA
Has she started planning the menu?
“Yes. I’m thinking of comfort food. Kung gusto nila ng pop corn, sige, gawa tayo niyan. Spaghetti will be there also. Who doesn’t love spaghetti? Especially in my house, parang that’s what they always request for,
"A seafood dish and something fried, kung walang lechon. But usually, we would have lechon.”
After the presscon, Dimples had a #GladFeast cooking demo, featuring steamed Pompano and baked seafood, at the Mercato Central, 7th Avenue Corner 25th Street in Taguig.
