Soul searching leads Victor Neri to the skillets

Victor Neri

Since becoming an actor in 1992, Victor Neri has had projects regularly. Yet while there was room for him to become a bigger star, he changed directions in 2007.

“I was doing very well then, even taping two shows with GMA-7. (Pero) siguro, I felt na parang nag-plateau na (‘yung career ko in that) I was just trying to keep it there, maintaining it. And for any artist, if there’s no growth, then it’s pointless already,” he said of his decision to “step down” at his peak.

Years later, Victor would open the restaurant Saute (“kasi halos lahat ng luto nagsismula sa pag-saute or sa pag-gisa,” he explained). But before anyone could say it’s a random decision or just a whim, Victor points out that he has always had a strong interest in cooking. He actually trained as chef at the Le Cordon Bleu Dusit Culinary School in Thailand.

“Bata pa lang ako, mahilig na ako magluto. But my interest to pursue it professionally started four, five years ago when a restaurateur-friend invited me to help him out in the kichen, ‘partners’ daw kami. So tumulong ako, at mula noon, ayoko ng umalis. Nag soul-searching ako and I realized eto na ang gusto kong gawin, ang pagluluto.”

Saute showcases Victor’s Asian palette, having lived in Bangkok, Beijing and Hong Kong for some time. Some of the dishes he whips up are Sisig Cottage Pie, Tinapa Fish Cake, Crispy Pork Leg—food mostly from the West but done with an Eastern mindset.

Victor is at Saute at least 12 hours everyday. He only removes the apron and toque when orders die down at around 10 p.m., then he’s up again at the crack of dawn to scour the market for fresh ingredients.

“Yeah, ako namimili, ako pumipili ng manok, ng baboy…kailangan eh kasi kung hindi, baka ang ibigay sa iyo kung ano lang.”

For now, Victor heads the kitchen which includes training other chefs. Saute is a family affair, by the way; it’s co-owned by his cousin, his brother-in-law, and some of his good friends. Some dinners see Victor holding an impromptu reunion at Saute, with his wife and 14-year-old son dropping by.

“I also have a two-month old baby, si Ramon Luis,” he said, smiling. “I’m a family man at magmula ng magasawa ako, tahimik na lang ang buhay. Pagkaluto, (diretso) uwi,” said the 38-year-old celebrity chef.

Does it mean he’s completely turning his back on show business?

“Hindi naman. Gusto ko pa rin though I’m on the look out for more challenging roles at kung magfit sa schedule ko ‘yung shoot dahil nga priority ko na itong restaurant. If the script is good, if the price is right, why not? But I think if I do get roles, iba na ang pagtackle ko kasi iba na din ang pananaw ko sa buhay (in that) mas mature na ako, mas totoo…”

Saute is on Scout Rallos corner Tomas Morato in Quezon City.

Soul searching leads Victor Neri to the skillets

Source: Mb.com.ph (January 27, 2015 at 12:27PM)

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