Trissalicious

El Comedor Meals and Memories

Ever since I can remember, Mama (my grandmother), showed us her love through her food.  Every Sunday all her seven children, their spouses and us grandchildren would go to her house for our “Sunday Lunch”.  Good food was what kept our family together.  On many occasions the food was prepared by El Comedor, our Spanish restaurant and delivered to her home.  I can honestly say that it is only today I can appreciate what a treat it was to always have great food around the house – I guess back then because we had it all the time, I thought it was the norm!

Anyway, this is the start of a series of recipes dedicated to my Mama.  I want to dedicate this section to her because she taught me the importance of family and staying together and so many years later, despite our busy schedules, my brother and sisters still continue to have our own Sunday Lunch.

I also want to dedicate this section to her because I think she was one of the strongest persons I know.  She was widowed at the young age of 42 and she started cooking to support her family. First she started teaching and accepting orders for some of her cakes.  As her fame spread, she was asked to run executive loungers or dining rooms around Manila.

She founded El Comedor (The Dining Room) in 1975 with her two daughters and what began as a housewife’s pastime, literally became her bread and butter!   She not only had my Mom and my aunt (Tita Chito) to supervise and run the restaurant, she also taught her house help to cook and trained one of them to be the maitre ‘d.

El Comedor's first location in Manila (1975)

In 2004 my Mother and my Sister (Tina) along with Mama published a cookbook called  El Comedor : Meals and Memories Featuring the Recipes of Lourdes P del Rosario.

This recipe collection is like our very own family album and all the dishes were served during our Sunday lunches, birthday parties, weddings, baptisms, Christmas meals and many more special occasions.

I have over 300 cookbooks today and yet this is still and will always be my favorite.  For me, it’s familiar, comforting, and part of my heritage.

Mama with her grandchildren

Mama with her daughters (in daugthers in law) during one Sunday lunch

There is one thing though that I would like changed it the cookbook, or maybe one day, suggest it for the updated version – that is – to have someone photograph the dishes.  Unfortunately, the cookbook has no pictures… and I am getting old and forgetful.  So when I make the dishes, sometimes I have to ask my Mom or sisters how the food was presented.

So while I had no part in writing the original cookbook – this is my humble addition to the cookbook.  Every so often, when inspiration hits, I’ll blog about a recipe and share with you a pictures of the dish as well.

So stay tuned for the first recipe tomorrow… can’t tell you too much about it except that it was one of my favorite desserts!

I think Mama would be proud!