Pinoy food for the Holidays

Pinoy food for the Holidays

Casa Manila: Home of high quality Filipino cuisine

Zaldy and Mila Cuachon

By Irish Mae Silvestre
The Philippine Reporter

Cheery Christmas carols play over the speakers, while delicate parols (lanterns) light up the windows at CASA Manila. Inside, there’s freshly cooked lumpia and steaming bowls of kare-kare. It’s the perfect antidote to the winter blues. CASA Manila has long been a favourite for high-quality Filipino cuisine since co-owners Rizalde “Zaldy” and Mila Nabor Cuachon took over the restaurant in 2010. We caught up with Mila to talk about food, opening a restaurant and what it means to be a great host.

TPR: What made you decide to open a restaurant?

Mila Nabor Cuachon: Eight years ago, a Canadian friend wanted to experience Filipino food and culture but I had nowhere to bring them that fit my idea of what a Filipino restaurant should be like. I had owned a chain of furniture stores so I went to the Philippines frequently. There, I saw creative renditions of Filipino restaurants and I said to myself, “Why isn’t this being done here?” I discovered CASA Manila, which was near our house and across the Westin Hotel. With my husband Rizalde’s support, we took a leap of faith and bought it. The rest is history!

TPR: What makes the food at CASA Manila stand out?

MNC: Our holiday catering is always busy because we cater to people with particular and discerning tastes, to those with vegetarian and gluten-free preferences, and to those with food allergies and dietary restrictions. Our “Nature to Nurture” philosophy is: “The less we tamper with Mother Nature’s goodness in cooking our food, the more it will nurture our bodies.” We use only real ingredients like real garlic, onions, ginger and lemongrass. We don’t use MSG or flavour packs that contain artificial ingredients and colouring. We also avoid cross frying (we have five fryers). We lower the salt, use sea salt, and avoid putting fish sauce in all our dishes. We take other extra steps to make our food healthy and nutritious.

TPR: Do people who come in tell you that they feel homesick?

MNC: We get quite a few millennials from downtown. They say they come here because they’ve never been to the Philippines and that they’ve been here all their lives. And then there’s the lolas. They’re the ones who gush and say, “Oh, parang nasa Pilipinas, nakaka-homesick! (Oh, it’s just like being in the Philippines. Makes you homesick!)” So I think, over the years, CASA Manila has evolved into something I really envisioned.

TPR: What are some of your favourite memories of celebrating the holidays at CASA Manila?

MNC: Some of my favourite memories are the Kamayan Christmas family parties for 50 to 60 guests. Also, hearing how our customers and their family enjoyed excellent Filipino food at home without working so hard. And, of course, seeing them coming back year after year is the best compliment.

TPR: What makes someone a good host?

MNC: One of the reviews said, “You really made us feel welcome.” To me, it’s like you’ve come into my home; that’s how I see you. I’m always going to make sure you’re well-fed and comfortable. My husband’s the same way, he’s also asikaso. I want people to feel like they’ve come to a favourite aunt’s house. That’s why I call myself Tita Mila.

TPR: How would you define Filipino Christmas celebrations?

MNC: It embodies the Filipino values, faith, family and food!

TPR: How will you be celebrating?

MNC: I’m having a Kamayan Christmas luncheon with family. We’re closed on Christmas Day, however, I’ve figured out a way to make it the day before and still retain the freshly cooked taste and cook 10 dishes without the hard work. Everyone’s so excited.

879 York Mills Road, Toronto, (416) 443-9654, www.casamanila.ca and www.facebook.com/casamanilarestaurant

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