Currently, he operates a cafeteria situated at 4317 Emilia Street, Palanan, Makati City. The cafeteria accomodates mostly office employees from the nearby offices such as banks, pharmaceuticals, and manpower services. A civil engineer by profession, Lito went to London and worked at the famous Savoy Hotel and a fine dining Michelin star restaurant. Having been able to work at the Arts Council of G
reat Britain as Commis II (Kitchen Staff), provision for massive production to service employees' meal is not a new concept to him. With Lito's experience serving the cream of the crop in the United Kingdom including the likes of Lord Peter Palombo and the late Princess Diana, he decided to accept off-site catering functions in 1998. Bridging the gap between East and West, he specializes on Filipino cuisines with a European touch. TO die for dishes are Chicken Savory with Star-Anise Sauce, Beef Roulade with Marble Potatoes, Roasted Chicken with Demi-glace Sauce, and Turronitos con Langka with Sesame Cream Sauce. On the other hand, Mary Anne Tumanan is a full-time Assistant Professor at the Department of Hotel, Restaurant, and Institute Management, University of the Philippines Diliman. As a faculty member for nearly 10 years, she handles several Food and Beverage courses such as Catering Management, Beverage Management, and Introduction to Hotel Management. She is the faculty-in-charge of the Tearoom, a college coffee shop at the University of the Philippines. She is also a part-time lecturer of the New Holland and America Line Cruise that gives trainings on wine and bar service to bartenders and wine stewards. Certified by the Royal Society of Health in the United Kingdom of the essential of food hygiene, she is very particular to food safety and sanitation. Lito and Mary Anne's guiding principle in their endeavors exemplifies their aim to continuously learn and strive for the best. While Lito believes that he found the real treasure in his own native land, he confirms that the real treasure is found beyond the palate, the wonders of Filipinos' spirited celebration that inevitably connects the greatest joy found with eating.
-Excerpts were taken from Philippine Panorama Magazine of Bulletin Today, November 3, 2002
