During the days when the idol sa kusina was just a starting his career, Chef Boy Logro, just like everyone else, snacked on the popular “street” delicacies Pinoys absolutely love. For him, it was very practical; it was affordable yet very tasty. He described street food as a proof that good taste doesn’t have to be expensive.
“BBQ, adobo, kwek-kwek, adidas, kikiam, fishball, Pinoy versions yan ng iba’t ibang pagkain sa restaurant tulad ng chicken feet, humba, tempura. Ito ang mga pagkain ng masa. Masarap ito (street food) balik-balikan dahil ito ang mga pagkaing kinalakihan.”
Chef Boy Logro, the world-class chef who came from humble beginnings, was always fond of street food despite having tasted the best dishes in the world. When asked why, he responds “yan ang kinalakihan kaya dapat binabalik-balikan.” As most people may know, Boy Logro wasn’t exactly born with a golden spoon. The “Idol sa Kusina” worked his way up starting as a “restaurant boy” in Quiapo back in 1969. With great appreciation for street food, Chef Boy Logro became the face of last year’s search for the best Pinoy street food together with SM Hypermarket. This year, SM Hypermarket and Chef Boy are bringing it back in hopes of fulfilling another cook’s culinary dream.
Last year, Jose Nestor Guevara II’s dreams came true when he won the competition. His food stall, Lola Ebeng’s; a lugawan that operated in his garage, is now one of SM Hypermarket Bicutan’s top selling food tenants serving delicious yet very affordable rice meals that impressed Chef Boy Logro himself. This year, SM Hypermarket and Chef Boy Logro are at it again. SM Hypermarket searches for the next Best Pinoy Street Food. Like the previous year, the winner of the competition gets a food stall at SM Hypermarket rent-free for one year plus P100,000 worth of prizes.
As Chef Boy said, “My dream is matulungan ang mga Pilipino. Magaling ang Pilipino magluto kaya maganda ang ginawa ng SM Hypermarket dahil malaki ang tulong nito sa street food.”
The first round of eliminations will be held on Oct 28, 2015 at SM Hypermarket Valenzuela featuring sinigang, October 30 at SM Hypermarket Pasig featuring breakfast/merienda, and SM Hypermarket Sucat Lopez on November 4 featuring spaghetti. A minimum purchase of 500 pesos worth of groceries inclusive of a participating item as well as a well-cooked featured dish are all any food business owner or someone working at one need to join the competition.
According to Chef Boy, it takes two things to succeed in life; passion and humility. One must love what he or she does and one must set aside ego by being as good a follower as one is in being a leader. Because of these two, Chef Boy became the first Filipino executive chef of Diamond Hotel, he became one of the best in France, and he was also able to serve powerful people; the sultan of Oman, Queen Elizabeth, Princess Diana and President Bush among others. Such culinary expertise makes it hard to picture the great chef still appreciating local street food from time to time. “Siyempre yan ang pinanggalingan, pag di ka marunong tumingin sa pinanggalingan, wala kang mapupuntahan,” he said. Now it’s time to, once again, recognize the talents of Pinoy street food cooks at the grand stage of SM Hypermarket’s Best Pinoy Street Food 2015 who could also make it big one day like their idol sa kusina.