MAY kasabihan na “too many cooks spoil the broth” pero mukhang hindi ito umubra sa mag-asawang celebrity chef.
Ang kanilang kusina ay maikukumpara sa mga mga top restaurant ng bansa at ginawa batay sa ibinigay na detalye ng TV host at chef na si Rob Pengson at kanyang misis at kapwa niya culinary expert at model na si Sunshine Puey-Pengson.
Makikita rito ang pinakabagong culinary technology.
“Stuff for molecular gastronomy,” paliwanag ni Rob. “We have foamers, food processors, molders, ice-cream makers – even mixers, weighing devices …”
Mayroon ding regular na La Germania stove, Electrolux ref at Smeg induction cooktops. Ang ilan sa mga bagay na nasa kanilang kusina ay galing sa lumang resto.
“Cooking is more enjoyable if you have complete equipment,” ani Rob.
Ang mag-asawa ang nasa likod ng Global Culinary and Hospitality Academy at ang resto du jour, The Goose Station sa Bonifacio Global City.
Si Rob na naging host ng “Chef to Go” sa QTV ay anchor ngayon ng five-minute cooking show na “Del Monte Kitchenomics” ni Love Añover na ipinalababas apat na beses kada linggo sa GMA News TV.
Sa kabila ng kanyang mga high-tech gadgets hindi pa rin naaalis kay Rob ang pagluluto ng mga simpleng pagkain sa bahay gaya ng tortang talong at adobo.
“I prepare our meals for the entire week; we just reheat when needed,” saad ni Rob.
Ang paborito ngayon ay ang pochero na mayroong tomato sauce at mara-ming gulay “because I’m trying to lose weight. Also, we want our son to grow up liking fruits and veggies.”
Si Sunshine ay madalas na nasa bahay ngayon dahil inaalagaan niya ang kanyang tatlong buwang gulang na anak na si Santiago. “I can do R&D (research and development) here since our home kitchen is as well-equipped as the one in the restaurant.”
“We built a customized hanging rack for our pots and pans,” dagdag naman ni Rob. “It cost only P2,000 and was based on our own design.”
Nang ikasal sila tatlong taon na ang nakakaraan, karamihan sa kanilang mga kaibigan ay nagregalo ng kitchenware, linggid sa kanilang kaalaman ay marami na silang stock nito bago pa sila ikasal.
“The kitchen features lots of storage spaces for our cooking implements,” dagdag pa ni Rob. “My wife is very organized; I’m more of the artist, who’s into creative clutter.”
“Just black and white with touches of red. The red filing cabinet hides the trash bin.”
Upang mapatingkad ang kulay, naglagay sila ng siyam na tiles mula sa Spain para sa dingding kung saan nakalagay ang stove. “The tiles with fish design are from Turkey,” ani Sunshine.
Ang mag-asawa ay nakatira sa isang subdivision sa labas ng Maynila, malayo sa urban living.
“I grew up in the Katipunan area [in Quezon City]; my wife, in Alabang,” dagdag pa ni Rob. “After we got married in 2008, we looked for a quiet place with lots of greenery. It’s so polluted in the city na [already].”
Nagustuhan umano nila ang lokasyon ng kanilang bahay. “Everything is within reach. There are good schools, top hospitals, malls, restaurants and grocery stores in the area.”
At mas lalo pa umano itong napaganda ng pagkakaroon ang Muntinlupa ng plastic ban. “The entire Muntinlupa, even fast-food chains and convenience stores, has stopped using plastic bags. It’s great for the environment. Our area no longer gets flooded in the rainy season.”
Nakakatulong din umano ang lugar para sa healthy living goals ni Rob. “I’m into triathlon, Frisbee and football. I hope to introduce my son to sports someday.”
Siya ay miyembro ng International Football Club, isang multi-national team. “We’re like the United Nations, with teammates from Germany, Korea, United Kingdom, Mexico and the Philippines.”
Ang den naman ang nasisilbing comfort zone ni Rob. Nadedekorasyunan ito ng football memorabilia. Madalas siyang tumatambay doon para manood ng football tournaments sa TV o naglalaro ng computer games. “I play sporty games; my wife is into Call of Duty.”
Ang karamihan ng mga decorative pieces sa den ay galing sa mall maliban sa kalabasa na galing sa Vietnam.
Isang frame naman ng Fort Santiago ang nakasabit. “Rob proposed to me in Intramuros in 2007,” ani Sunshine.
Ang mag-asawa ang siyang namahala sa interior décor ng bahay sa tulong ng mga professional designer. “Sunshine did 75 percent; I took care of the remaining 25 percent,” ani Rob.
Kasama sa tulong sa pag-aayos ng kanilang bahay ang nanay ni Rob na si Cristina, isang interior decorator.
Ilan sa mga furniture ay galing naman sa kanilang lumang apartment at ang ilan ay regalo ng kanilang magulang at kamag-anak.
“The old bauls (wooden chests) are from our grandparents. The polka-dot chair came from my grandfather,” saad ni Rob. “We just had it reupholstered. The antique fans are from Sunshine’s mom.”
Ang koi fish painting naman sa living room ay obra ni Ramon Diaz samantalang ang fruit and flower still life ay gawa ni Isabel Diaz.
“We didn’t want our home to be too modern,” paliwanag ni Rob. “We didn’t want it to look like a hotel. More than anything, we wanted our home to exude a cool, cozy, colorful ambience.”
Hindi sila naglagay ng maraming nakasabit sa dingding upang mas maging “breezy and bright” ang loob ng bahay.
“Our home reflects our personality,” hirit naman ni Sunshine. “There’s a mix of old and new –with a lot of pieces inherited from our parents.”
Mayroon din silang nilagay na abaca rug sa living room at isang dao wood dining table naman na mayroong walong upuan ang nasa lamesa. Mayroon din silang hardwood buffet table.
Naka-display naman sa dining area ang naka-frame na menu mula sa kanilang mga paboritong restaurant sa buong mundo.
Ang nag-iisang Filipino resto roon ay ang Antonio’s ng Tagaytay.
“Some of the menus are from San Dominico in Italy, Iggy’s in Singapore, Pierre Gagnaire in France, Martin Berasategui in Spain. We had our honeymoon in Modena, Italy.”
May inilagay din si Sunshine na vintage menus mula sa Paris, France kung saan siya nag-aral ng culinary arts.
Mayroon din silang maluwag na garden na maraming nakatanim na puno at halaman.
“We’re both outdoorsy, and we want to give our son plenty of space to run around in,” dagdag pa ni Rob. —Text at photos mula sa
Inquirer
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