Makatang Putahe, as its title suggests, is a recipe book with a poetic twist. Each recipe, crafted by students and faculty of the University of Mindanao (UM) College of Hospitality Education, is paired with a poem written by the principal author, Dr. Ronnie V. Amorado, along with several teachers he rallied to contribute their own heartfelt lines over kamote and nilupak. The poems associate love with food, comparing breaking open a heart to unwrapping a lumpia.
Contributors and Curators
Drs. Maria Rina T. Quilestino, Kymwell R. Hinlayagan, and Florence Kristine M. Jimenez wrote and curated the students' winning recipes, serving as main chef, coach, or course teacher at the College.
A Nostalgic Surprise
At the book's conclusion, readers will find a delightful and nostalgic surprise: recipes from Loleng, or Dr. Dolores P. Torres, the matriarch of UM. Some recipes are reproduced as handwritten notes, while others are typed out anew for readability. These recipes were retrieved from the stash Mrs. Torres kept during her lifetime. Published as they were, the aged pages become silent witnesses to the days when Davao City was still in its infancy, and Loleng ruled over her kitchen. This section allows readers to recreate holiday and special-occasion foods, from the ubiquitous homemade ham to the labor-intensive callos.
A Dual Purpose Book
Makatang Putahe packs in a wealth of food and poetry, leaving readers torn over where to keep it: on the kitchen shelf to try the recipes, or in the bedroom to read the poems. Either way, the poems will inevitably drive you to the kitchen to whip up a special bihon complete with an ingredient that evokes memories of your lola's kitchen: chorizo de bilbao.
Conclusion
This book is definitely worth a read, a foray into the kitchen, and a brew. Such a unique blend of culinary and literary arts rarely comes around. Grab your copy while you can.
