Vice guv shares her ‘meaningul’ dish
Leche flan is among the most common desserts served during special occasions in every Filipino household.
But what makes Cebu Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale’s version of the sugary dish any different?
Along with the other essentials, Magpale said she adds a special ingredient to make her leche flan sweeter and fluffier.
She revealed this during a culinary demonstration yesterday during the culminating activity of the Cebu Province’s third food festival.
But rather than the traditional drop of vanilla extract and extra pinch of sugar, Magpale’s secret ingredient for her leche flan is one that can’t be bought in any grocery store.
“My secret ingredient is love. You always have to put love into your cooking. It’s a very simple recipe, but there’s a romantic story behind this,” she said.
It was in the late 1950s, and a newlywed couple, both in their early 20s, had just moved in to their austere two-room apartment in Quezon City.
After sharing a honeymoon dinner, the young wife decided to indulge her husband with a dessert since he had a sweet tooth.
Several years, hundreds of home-cooked meals and three children later, the leche flan still holds the top spot among the favorite dishes served in the Magpale household.
“It is close to my heart because it is the first dessert I prepared for my then brand new husband. He also liked leche flan,” she said.
It may have been seven years since the vice governor’s husband, retired judge Arsenio Magpale, passed away but the sparkle in the family matriarch’s eyes remains as bright as the day they exchanged their vows.
A wide, sweet smile lit up her face as the spectators during her cooking demonstration suggested calling her dish the “Honeymoon Leche Flan.” /