My brother Bong and I have varying tastes when it comes to food. It has happened a few times that the restaurant I suggest is not to his liking, and vice-versa. He brags about a certain dish, which, when I try it, I can’t understand what the big fuss is all about. He does the same about some dishes I rave about. But, we have something in common: We both love authentic French food. Having both lived in Paris for years, we were exposed to this wonderful, rich, fattening and most creative cuisine.
At an early age, I was exposed to fine French cuisine via our restaurant Au Bon Vivant on Leon Ma. Guererro Street, Ermita. At that time, I wasn’t aware of the quality of food I was eating. To us kids, it was ordinary fare.
People open restaurants because the owners feel they can offer dishes that will draw diners in. A dish’s popularity is credited mostly to its creator, but many times determined by diners.
Having lived in Paris and experienced the cuisine of Michelin-star restaurants, it isn’t easy to impress me with traditional French food.