IMAGINE global leaders like US President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping eating a typical Pinoy fare found on the dinner table of every Juan.

This, in a nutshell, is how restaurateur and gastronomer Margarita “Gaita” Fores summed up the menu that will be served to the heads of state attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) leaders’ summit when Malacañang hosts a welcome dinner for them on Wednesday.

Fores declined to go into details, only saying that Filipino herbs like “pansit-pansitan” that gardeners of old used to ignore would be showcased this time.

Fores and Glenda Barretto, another respected trailblazer in Filipino gastronomy, have joined forces for a culinary showdown that would have Apec leaders as spectators and diners as well.

“I cannot divulge exactly what we will be serving,” Fores told Inquirer Lifestyle in an exclusive interview.

“But what we plan to do is make people appreciate our common cuisine that is Filipino but executed in an innovative way. I am super excited,” she added.

Batanes to Jolo

Fores pointed out that their effort had pushed them to source assorted agricultural produce “from Batanes to Jolo.”

She also noted that the mission to educate Obama, et al., senior ministers and other Apec delegates about Filipino cuisine had inspired many local chefs to participate.

“Many of our chefs have been commissioned to prepare dishes … up until the 20th,” she said.

Fores said the “common advocacy of local chefs to source unique ingredients to showcase diverse produce and highlight the uniqueness” of Filipino food was the driving force behind the initiative.

“We tend to take for granted what is served to us everyday that we do not realize our food is already getting international attention,” she added.

Fores said many of the dishes that would be served to the world leaders were inspired by recipes from the book “Culinaria,” published by Anvil Books through the support of Asia Society and Doris Magsaysay-Ho.

Featured in buffet

The other night, a heady mix of Filipino food and Western dishes was the highlight at the dinner for Apec senior ministers and other delegates at SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.

Featured in the buffet laid out by The LJC Group were chicken galantina, bamboo rice with forest mushrooms, grilled boneless chicken with annatto and garlic, prawn in kamias cream sauce, lamb adobo, spaghetti, tagliolini, roast US black Angus rib eye and assorted rice cakes.