The Maya Kitchen’s ‘Simply Delicious’ (The Book Launch)

It was a stellar gathering of culinary icons, esteemed chefs, dedicated foodies, the media and friends, as the Mayabrand of products and The Maya Kitchen launched yet another bestselling book “Simply Delicious: 50 Years of Good Food from Maya.”

‘Simply Delicious’ celebrates the 50^th Anniversary of the Maya brand in 2012 and the subsequent Golden Anniversary of The Maya Kitchen Culinary Arts Center in 2014.

The beautiful 208-page book offers a distinct collection of over 150 recipes both classic and modern, kitchen tested and approved for homemakers, casual cooks and professional chefs.

Not only is it a cookbook, ‘Simply Delicious’ also shares with the reader how the Maya brand and The Maya Kitchen has become so entwined with the legacy of baking in the country.

The foreword, written by respected author and food historian Felice Prudente Sta. Maria traces the origins, growth and advances of the art of baking in the Philippines. She made mention personalities of centuries past and of recent times who had contributed immensely to make home and commercial baking what it is today.

Acclaimed musician, emcee, poet, journalist, broadcast personality and activist Lourd H. De Veyra wrote the witty ‘Afterword: The Undying Magic of Food, The Future of Food in the Philippines. He so kindly summarized his somewhat lengthy discourse by saying that in the future, food will be healthier, simpler, more exotic, more experimental and more photogenic.

The book then touches on how Maya started and the journey it has gone through and the path that it continues to tread with young bakers and food enthusiasts. One section features well-known chefs who have graciously lent their time toThe Maya Kitchen Culinary Elite Series.

The launch held recently at the National Bookstore in Glorietta 1 was a gathering of the who’s who in the culinary world.

Seen were some of the chefs who so kindly participated in the book like Jessie Sincioco of Chef Jessie Restaurants,Vicky Pacheco of the Chateau 1771 Group, Martin Kaspar of l’entrecote, Seiji Kamura, Dr. Efren “Boy” Vasquez of Café Juanita, Miguel de Alba of Alba Restaurante Español and Patrice Freuslon.

The recipes of the following chefs and restaurateurs are also featured in the book: Aracama Filipino Cuisine’s ChefFern Aracama, Via Mare’s Glenda Barretto, Wooden Spoon’s Sandy Daza, El Cirkulo’s Chef J Gamboa, Cyma’s ChefRobby Goco, VASK’s Chef J. Luis Gonzalez, Junior MasterChef Kyle Imao, Ilustrado’s Boni Pimentel, Restaurant 9501’s Chef Myrna Segismundo, Purple Yam’s Amy Besa, Lolo Dad’s Café’s Chef Ariel Manuel and ‘Adobo Queen’Nancy Reyes-Lumen.

Some of the special guests were beauty queen turned cultural guardian Gemma Cruz Araneta, grand dame of Philippine fashion Patis Tesoro, stage director Nonon Padilla, journalists Vergel and Chit Santos, restaurateur Conrad Calalang, TV personality Chef Sharwin Tee, Appetite Magazine editor Nina Daza, Food Magazine editor Nana Ozaeta, Good Housekeeping editor Roselle Miranda, PR icon Lydia Castillo, columnist and food writer Norma Chikiamco, Ethel Timbol, Dee Dee Sytangco, Tetta Tirona, Linda Keng, Beth Romualdez, Pia Castillo and a number of winners of The Great Maya Cookfest.

A special mention was also made of the people behind the biggest bakeshops in the country who honed their baking skills at The Maya Kitchen like the Go sisters of Goldilocks, Luningning Go of Jonis, Gloria Nichols of Rolling Pin,Inocencia Hizon Zamora of Hizon’s, Nieves de Leon Cruz and Nena Cruz Jacinto of D’Swan and Josefina Ruff ofRuff’s Inn Baguio.

In full force is the creative group behind the book led by book designer Ige Ramos, writer Joy Mañalac, recipe editorRory Subida, food stylist Sandee Masigan and photographer Stanley Ong.

A decidedly artistic flair came from the Pancake Art live presentation by four groundbreaking artists – sculptor and visual artist Jinggoy Buencuceso; theater, film and fashion designer Leeroy New; Philippine based Japanese designerWataru Sakuma and visual artist Raphael David.

‘Simply Delicious’ with its cover photo of a mango chiffon cake topped with bright mango slices and cream frosting is a welcome addition to anyone’s book collection.

“Simply Delicious” is published by Anvil Publishing and is now available for P595 at National Book Store andPowerbooks.