Food, Art, and Passions
Many of us at Mama Sita’s Kitchen have been here for a decade or more (no, we’re not revealing our age!). In all those years, through stressful or boring times, we did what we had to—cooking, writing, drawing, taking pictures, traveling, selling—thankfully, without killing each other! Perhaps because each has his or her own thing that contributes to the wholeness. But as we worked and ate together, we knew we all shared one thing: a passion for food.
It’s not really a requirement, but it is something that grew on us as we spent hours in a kitchen, at a shoot, or at a food event. We’ve been having fun, not knowing we were digging deep into our souls for something we didn’t know would influence our daily life, goals, and dreams.
But before we cry, we would like to share with you a glimpse of some of the works of similarly passionate people, great visual artists who made masterpieces inspired by food. Their artworks for sale will be exhibited at “Patikim! The Art of Filipino Hospitality” from December 9 to 19 at the Art Center in Manila to benefit a Filipino culinary program in the United States.
Caroline Cainto’s painting of atsuete or achiote pods, whose seeds are used as a natural food color giving Palabok noodles and Kare Kare peanut stew their appetizing color.
Ronnel Cainto’s Sinigang to be cooked in a palayok (earthen pot). Batuan, is used as the souring ingredient. It’s also used to make refreshing broths for soups or stews like kansi and Kadyos, Baboy, Langka (KBL)
Manuel Baldemor’s Kusina (Kitchen)
Portion of the sales of the artworks will fund a scholarship for deserving Filipino-American students who aspire to become chefs and learn Filipino Cuisine at the Academy of Culinary Education (ACE) in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California, run by Chef Cecilia de Castro.
Visit the Art Center at Level 4 of SM Megamall Bldg A., Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City. To know more about the exhibit and how to purchase pieces of art, you may contact the gallery curator Sarah Alcantara [email protected].
Mama Sita Foundation has a number of interesting projects promoting Filipino food and agriculture, click the link to know more: www.mamasitafoundation.com
Cheers from Mama Sita’s Kitchen!