Mister Mom

By Diana A. Uy

Ni?o Logarta hates being called a ?chef.?

The term is overused and overrated that he prefers instead the word ?kusinero? or cook. And if he can avoid it, he?d rather not talk about ?specialties? as that can lead to expectations he is not sure he can deliver. He likens himself to a ?general practitioner? and believes that ?chefs are the new rockstars.?

?I won?t claim to be an expert. I cook familiar flavors, prepare familiar ingredients,? says Logarta.

Logarta?s honesty and matter-of-fact approach to cooking may not win him the ?Iron Chef? title anytime soon, but he sure earns a spot in the world of kitchen-challenged or busy moms and picky-eater kids. In fact, his kind of game is exactly what they need.

The 30-year-old single Dad is the host of Daddylicious, the newest cooking show on QTV-11. And every Saturday, at exactly 10:55 a.m., he is rocking every mom?s kitchen by helping her cook easy-to-prepare, nutritious dishes for kids. Sharing the stage with him are his two lovely daughters: Tia, 8, and Cy, 9.

?The show is about helping distressed moms with their kitchen food problems,? says Lisa Ruivivar, program manager, ?We want to encourage them to bond with their kids in the kitchen and at the same time teach kids how to eat healthy, nutritious food. We chose a male host this time because we saw the novelty in it and that we thought we can help more moms if the show is hosted by a real parent. Plus, we wanted to break stereotypes that dads too can be very useful in the kitchen.?

Logarta started out as one of the chefs of Ka-Toque, another cooking show on QTV. Prior to his television career, Logarta studied at the Center for the Culinary Arts, eventually cooking for various restaurants and hotels and running his own catering business. Cooking he says, has always been a part of him. He actually taught himself how when he was a kid. His titas, all talented cooks, also made a great impression on the young kusinero, influencing and encouraging him to pursue his dream. He had to forego his undergrad course in Ateneo to study at CCA. Logarta took up Philosophy but decided to drop it right after third year.

As ?Daddylicious,? Logarta shares his old and new recipes, even his own kids love?from delicious sandwiches to fun desserts. He gives good advice, too especially when it comes to bonding with the kids and making those moments together extra-ordinarily special. If that is not enough, viewers are encouraged to send in their letters and Logarta will answer each one as creatively and responsibly as he can.

To give moms a taste of ?Daddylicious,? here?s a few recipes they can try:

Thai grilled beef and lettuce roll-ups

Ingredients:

2 thick beefsteaks (sirloin or rib-eye is best)

Aji ginisa

1 handful of mint leaves, roughly chopped

1 small bunch of coriander, roughly chopped

3 chillies (add as many as you like), f?nely chopped

3-4 spring onions, sliced quite f?nely on the diagonal

2-3 cloves of garlic, peeled and sliced very f?nely

2 limes, zested and juiced

1/4 cup Thai f?sh sauce,

1 tsp freshly ground black pepper (to taste)

1/2 tsp sprinkling of sugar (to taste)

sliced cucumber, tomatoes, green beans, bean sprouts, etc.

iceberg lettuce for wrapping

Procedure:

1. Season the beef with Aji. Cut the cooked beef into thin strips or chunks (as you prefer).

2. Mix together lime juice and f?sh sauce with some pepper, sugar and a little water.

3. Combine all the herbs, garlic, spring onions, chillies and beef in a bowl and mix well.

4. Pour over the dressing and mix again.

5. Serve with rice or noodles and fresh vegetables: cucumber, tomatoes, green beans and cabbage or lettuce.

Curried coconut chicken rice

Ingredients:

500g chicken legs and thigh

400g uncooked long grain rice

1 cup coconut cream

3-4 cups chicken stock

1 medium onion

1 tbsp sliced ginger

1 tbsp chopped garlic

f?nger or red chilis chopped to taste

1 medium red bell pepper sliced

1 bunch wansuy chopped

1 tsp yellow curry powder

patis to taste

pepper to taste

1/3 cup canola oil

Procedure:

1. Heat the oil in a pan then sear the chicken pieces. Once slightly browned, set them aside.

2. In the same pan, saut? the onions, ginger, garlic, bell peppers and chilis. Add the curry powder, pepper and pat?s then mix in the rice and make sure all the grains are well coated.

3. Pour the chicken stock and coconut cream. Bring it to a boil then turn the heat down and simmer covered until the liquid level almost reaches the rice unt?l thc rice is half cooked then put the chicken pieces back in the pot, sticking them into the rice. Cover and simmer until everything is cooked through.

4. Top with chopped wansuy and drizzle wlth coconut cream or extra virgin coconut oil before serving.