Pauline Mary Gorriceta Banusing: What you see is what you get
Pauline with husband Gus during Tatler's fundraising party
* I live in only one principle and this is to be sincere in anything I do
PAULINE Mary Gorriceta Banusing has been lauded as Iloilo City's remarkable restaurateur and businesswoman, superb hostess, fabulous fashionista, philanthropist and a devoted wife and mother.
She made waves with Italian cooking when she opened Al dente. She recreated the Ilonggo way of cooking by offering twists to our popular dishes. She even introduced it to non-Ilonggos by opening Freska in Manila. She also ventured into Japanese cooking.
Get to know more about her in this interview.
Kathy Maquino Villalon (KMV): What is your food creation process like?
Pauline Gorriceta Banusing (PGB): I am a very spontaneous person so my food is derived more from an inspiration or sometimes I dream of something and I wake up and can't wait to do it. There are occasions that my dreams are just a mirage so when I do a certain dish based on a dream, it doesn't really turn out what I expect it to be (laughs).
Son Justin and daughter Nadine
KMV: Where do you get inspiration?
PGB: My travels always serve as an inspiration. I value the opportunity to eat in great restaurants of great chefs abroad and I am always at awe with the food, the creativity and the uniqueness that comes with each dish. When I travel, I don't spend on shopping but eating at these fantastic restaurants that sometimes require a month in advance reservation. That is why before we leave, I do research and already reserve. I try to also go abroad at least once every two years and study again.
KMV: What is your comfort food and why?
PGB: At all times, give me any pasta dish and I am super happy. A bowl of Kadios, Baboy at Langka is also good for my heart and soul.
KMV: What's your favorite meal in the day and why?
Pauline's recent food trip in New York
PGB: I love having dinner with my husband because he never fails to ask me how my day went. Our dinner usually is at 9 pm and since we are both busy people, it is only in dinner where we have our quality talks. I make sure I have dinner with my husband even if I am going to an event or a meeting or a night out with my friends.
KMV: Any particular recipe or culinary approach that you have introduced to the food industry?
PGB: Nobody can claim that he/she owns a particular recipe. All dishes have history and therefore we cannot call it an "original." I respect history, the heritage of the dishes and at present, what I am trying to do is to make a certain dish evolve and add some twist. Eight years ago, I opened AL DENTE, the first Italian Restaurant in Iloilo City and many were shocked of my guts to open a gourmet restaurant but I just followed my intuition. At present, I think I made Ilonggo food again more modern, global and contemporary.
KMV: On family. What is your most treasured activity with your husband and children?
PGB: We simply treasure just staying in our master's bedroom and we play board games, watch a family movie and eat popcorn. My children love to talk and having non-stop conversations with them for hours makes them so happy . Simple pleasures are what makes us very happy. Traveling also makes us bond like crazy and I get to know my limit as a MOM since every time we travel, I am their dakilang alalay. I bathe the children, dress them up and cook them breakfast every morning when we are in the United States.
KMV: What are the challenges of being a wife, mother and career woman and how do you handle these?
PGB: I am just lucky to have a husband who is very supportive and who pushes me to explore my talent. He also is a good provider to my children and our needs so I never felt pressured to "work." He always tells me to just enjoy every moment of it and be sincere in what I am doing.
KMV: What's the best thing that your family has done for you?
PGB: My mom Sandra and my brother Trix always willingly offer their houses as "temporary home" to my children Justin and Nadine every time my husband and I are out of town for business. We never leave our children alone in the house and leaving them with my family gives me a peace of mind that cannot be bought with money. My children are in good hands with them.
KMV: What is your socio-civic advocacy?
PGB: I always have a passion in supporting abandoned children. I support charities whose primary purpose is to uplift the lives of these children. This December, Al dente , Villa Regatta and Maki are working hand-in-hand with SOS CHILDREN'S VILLAGE . For every certain dish your order in the particular restaurants mentioned, you give a donation to the children of the SOS VILLAGE. I am also a member of the Quota Club of Iloilo.
KMV: On fashion. Are you particular about signature brands?
PGB: I am an advocate of quality and not quantity so I buy certain brands because they last. I buy a particular brand because I know the color will not fade and the fit is great. Because my dresses are of good quality, many of my clothes has been with me for years until of course I have to part with them because I can't fit into them.
KMV: Do you also wear ukay-ukay?
PGB: I am a regular fixture in ukay-ukay shops in Iloilo. I have two "bauls" full of my ukay-ukay finds and I keep these to give to friends. Some I still didn't use but I just love getting them and hoping that one day I can find an occasion to wear them also. When I go to an ukay-ukay, I also shop for my friends. If I see something nice for a friend, I get it for her. I had given designer bags as Christmas gifts or birthdays gifts to friends and they love it. My daughter Nadine is an ukay-ukay fashionista, I get her clothes made in Japan. They have very good quality and very unique.
KMV: Are you a dress person or a shoe person?
PGB: Both, my dear. To get a polished look, one has to look good from head to toe. Shoes can break a total attire and also a bad dress cannot save a good pair of shoes.
KMV: What's your favorite color combination?
PGB: This season, I am into white.
KMV: What's your usual get-up?
PGB: My daily get up is something that I can wear from day to night. I have this black Tina Turk slacks, five pairs in the same style, that is almost my daily uniform. For years, this never changes. But I dress according to the season and my body for that particular moment. During summer, I like wearing bohemian dresses and ukay-ukay Sunday dresses, a nice pair sandals with eye catching color completes the look. During the rainy season, I like wearing jeans so I try to lose weight during those times so I can tuck in my Tyler blouses and tone them down with my Puma trainers. As holiday season approaches, I wear basic clothes but I accessorize with big bangles, one of a kind accessories and loose clothes forgiving of the bulge gained from eating too much Queso de Bola and holiday desserts.
KMV: What's your bedside book and why?
PGB: It's funny that on my bedside table are dozens of cookbooks. I have this habit of reading cookbooks everyday. My friends give me cookbooks as gifts and I can say have a collection already. For me, reading a book about food makes me relax.
KMV: Favorite movie?
PGB: It's been a while I haven't watched a movie but my all time favorites are: MEET JOE BLACK, LEGEND OF THE FALL, HEART AND SOUL because of the soundtrack.
KMV: Favorite actors?
PGB: Brad Pitt and Catherine Zeta Jones
KMV: On life. What principle guide you?
PGB: I am a simple person really and this is what I also want in my life --- no complications, peace of mind and just bliss, so I live in only one principle and this is to be sincere in anything I do. Big or small things that I do, I try to be sincere. What you see is what you get.