On January 3, host Iya Villania-Arellano and celebrity Chef Jose Sarasola reacted to feedback about the dish Cochinillo.
During the media conference for season three of the Ajinomoto cooking show, Villania-Arellano clarified that she doesn’t eat pork.
“I actually don’t eat pork.”
After that, Sarasola gave his insight as a chef in trying the Cochinillo dish.
“It’s a Spanish thing, eh. So actually, last year, we did have Cochinillo. It’s a milder flavor. It’s more tender compared to a regular pig. Kasi, it’s a young pig. It’s something really unique pero sa Spain it gets served a lot there.
“Pero, yeah, it’s okay. I liked it if that’s the question. If it’s good–once in a while, not every year, the last I had was last year pa.”
Earlier, the dish trended on social media after netizens posted several complaints about actor Marvin Agustin’s Cochinillo cuisine during Noche Buena.
Villania-Arellano then shared how she often provides feedback or constructive criticisms to restaurant and food business owners.
“Especially if it’s something na medyo mataas ang expectations ko. Kasi, it’s different when it’s a dish na gusto ko lang i-order then if it doesn’t meet my expectations then hindi ako magsasalita, maglalagay ako ng ganito, or hihingi ako ng patis or whatever.
“But if it’s a dish na grabe ‘yung build up, na talagang grabe ‘yung build up, na talagang ito ‘yung pinupuntahan doon, and then I’m not satisfied, magsasalita ko.”
She then noted that her feedback comes from her concern in improving the restaurant or the business.
“Because I feel its also for the good of that company or that restaurant, kasi word of mouth is so fast eh. So it just takes one wrong dish, ‘yun ‘yung mapadala mo, or ‘yun ‘yung i-serve mo sa isang tao na grabe pala ‘yung colors nito sa vlog, masisiraan sila eh.
“Pero I’ll say it in a nice way na, hindi ‘yung parang gagawa ako, ‘parang hindi naman masarap eh.’ Hindi naman ganon, probably just say ‘kuya napansin ko lang parang ganito.'”
Sarasola, on the other hand, gave an insight into how he accepts feedback from customers as a food business owner.
“As a chef din–having a restaurant or a bar, when somebody critic my food, I’m the type na I take it in a constructive way. It helps the place–it helps the restaurant, it helps improve the food because one ‘bad’ dish can ruin you na eh. Pero, if you take criticism from someone, you take it in a positive way. You can actually improve your dish and make it better para next time hindi na maulit.”
As for Eat Well, Live Well. Stay Well, its third season airs every Friday beginning January 7, 2022, at 11:20 am on GMA Network.
