By Antonette Pua

As Manny Pacquiao continues to bring honor to the country by constantly beating Mexicans in the boxing ring, and more Hollywood ladies rave over Filipino haute couture Monique Lhuillier’s glamorous gowns, here comes Tristan Encarnacion, a Filipino chef whose exemplary cooking style earned him his own signature line from the imported cookware brand Sunnex.

Unveiled on April 17 at SM North EDSA’s The Block, is a high-end cookware line tagged Tristan Chef’s Classics by Sunnex bearing the signature of Tristan Encarnacion, resident chef of GMA-7’s morning program, “Unang Hirit,” and owner of Bambouche restaurant.

It’s not frequent that an imported kitchenware brand bestows a signature line to a Filipino chef that’s why even Chef Tristan himself finds the whole experience overwhelming.

“I’m speechless…. Well, of course it’s overwhelming and it never crossed my mind that I’ll be having my own line with my signature on it,” he tells Tsibog during an interview.

To add excitement to the event, especially for restaurant owners and cooking aficionados present, Sunnex launched alongside Chef Tristan’s signature line its cookware for Summer 2007. Sunnex is manufactured by Sunnex Products Limited, a Hong Kong-based company, which has been around since 1972 designing catering and household cookware items.

Filipino households have been using Sunnex for decades now, thanks to its distributor Metro Kitchenware Inc., a member of the LJS Group of Companies.

It is not surprising to learn how highly Chef Tristan is regarded by Sunnex since he has proven his excellence in his turf on cam and in his own restaurant.

Aside from possessing the talent in whipping up marvelous dishes that would make you come back for more, Chef Tristan strongly believes using high quality equipment in your kitchen can make wonders in your concoctions.

“Actually, my mom bakes and cooks also. When I checked all the equipment that she’s using, I was surprised that mom’s also using Sunnex. So I grew up with Sunnex Kitchenware,” he reveals.

Always after quality and prioritizing the interest of his clients, Chef Tristan wants a set of equipment that is not below par. He trusts he can never go wrong with Sunnex which is made from the highest grade 18/10 stainless steel so it guarantees no adverse chemical reactions with food ingredients.

The Tristan Chef’s Classics by Sunnex is comprised of saucepan, saucepots, pasta cooker pot, frying pans, grill pan, and wok. Also inclusive in this line are kitchen accessories such as silicon scraper, silicon tongs, professional knife set and kitchen tools.

Having the right equipment in one’s kitchen, however, is only one basic factor to consider by anyone who aims to excel as a cook or chef. According to Chef Tristan, there are other important things to look into, those that your money can’t buy.

“Of course you must have the passion, heart and the right attitude,” he quips.

GETTING INTO THE BUSINESS

In his younger years, that stage when he was still sowing the seeds, Chef Tristan remembers how passionate he was already for cooking. Truth of the matter is, he looked up to a number of international chefs like Wolfgang Puck, Ming Tsai, Jamie Oliver, and Anthony Bordaine. Among the local chefs, he was fascinated with Pablo Logro, Gene Gonzales, Fernando Aracama, and their flare for blending offbeat ingredients that result in fulfilling the epicure.

“But to tell you the truth, it’s my Dad that really inspired me the most to do good and not just good but to be the best in the business,” says Chef Tristan of his late father and famous hairdresser Jun Encarnacion.

By heeding his father’s advice, Chef Tristan now sees everything right as rain. Although his comely appearance can give young actors a run for their money, Chef Tristan would rather continue doing what he is good at.

Cooking, however, wasn’t easy peasy, lemon squeezy in the beginning for Chef Tristan.

“It’s impossible to get the right taste and the right consistency of the food the first time when you cook it. Kailangan ulit-ulitin yung gagawing food to get the same taste, flavor and consistency of the dish,” he explains.

Nowadays, the chef cooks lip smacking international cuisine as well as he can local dishes but his personal favorites remain to be Filipino cuisine.

“I never get tired cooking kare-kare, kalderetang kambing, laing, bicol express. Basta Filipino dishes masaya, especially my favorites the TOCINO and LONGANIZA,” he blurts with a laugh.

Although he is a standout in his field, Chef Tristan denies he is difficult to please on the dining table because he is never a food critic. When asked how he would deal with a girl he is dating who is not so good a cook, the handsome chef says, “That’s the problem nga with them eh.. it’s always an issue about them and cooking. For me, basta nag-effort sya, sobrang saya na ako.. Sobrang madali lang akong pakainin, anything and everything. Di naman ako mapili sa food.”

So there women, cooking is never an issue with the chef.

For the love of his woman, Chef Tristan may tolerate her ignorance in cooking but it’s a different tune that he’s singing when it comes to sanitation and food handling. For him, it’s a mortal sin to work in a filthy kitchen and later jeopardize the health of people who are just about to dig into the food that you prepared.

At Bambouche, sanitation is number one on Chef Tristan’s ‘to do’ list that’s why he is confident with the food that he serves to his clients. Among the top entrees which his regular customers enjoy at Bambouche are the Tristan Pizza, Pan Seared Tuna, Korean Beef Stew, Buffalo Wings, and of course the beer

With Bambouche Restaurant, “Unang Hirit” and a Sunnex signature line, is there still anything that Chef Tristan would like to accomplish in his life?

“Oh… Movie and TV Series? Hehehe.. Siguro, coffee table books, chain of restaurants, more commercials, clothing line, ang dami eh… But syempre, always a happy and a healthy life!,” he ends.

Tags: Chef Tristan Encarnacion, Sunnex Kitchenware, Filipino Celebrity Chef, Bambouche Restaurant