Behind the limelight, the one who’s been helping shape the field of Philippine gastronomy is none other than Cebuano Chef Myke “Tatung” Sarthou. From his humble beginnings as a boy and simple observer in his grandparents’ kitchen, he has become a content creator, restaurateur, author, entrepreneur, and award-winning celebrity chef over the years.
From several cookbooks to the now-expanded integrated media community Simpol, the big boss embodies five of life’s wisdom and principles that chefs, and even aspirants and homemakers, can adopt and apply unto their daily lives and professions.
1. You are not just a chef.
In his interview with PAGEONE, Chef Tatung shared his plans as he took the backseat in Simpol, “I want to be able to reach out to more people, not only through social media, but you know, through real interaction. I want to be able to share my thoughts, my philosophies.”
Chef Tatung’s journey from being a mere cook for his family and loved ones to the person he is now—content creator, author, restaurateur, and entrepreneur—is the prime example that chefs, in actuality, are so much more than their titles.
“It’s a very exciting time for Simpol as we transform Simpol from my cooking blog, cooking show, into an integrated media community wherein not only we’ll be talking about food and cooking, but we’ll expand the horizons of Simpol to tackle all subject matters, lifestyle, and business that matter to the Filipino people.”
The expansion of Simpol into an integrated media community and Chef Tatung’s decision on pursuing his own journey shows that you don’t have to box yourself to a certain profession; you can expand your horizons and reach the world too. If you have the heart. And honestly, that’s all it really takes.
Chef Tatung has reached many people worldwide through his social media presence and storytelling—and will potentially reach greater heights—and as a chef, you can also make an impact on the world through various ways unique to your own.
Indeed, cooking is a platform that must not be underestimated because food, which educates and inspires, can reach many souls than you can imagine.
2. Food security must be close to your heart.
“You know, the heritage is one thing pero more importantly kasi when we talk of heritage, it’s really the survival of the Filipinos and it’s very important not only to talk of the heritage but the food security part of it all,” Chef Tatung said when asked about his advocacy and thoughts on the evolution of Filipino cuisine in the global culinary landscape.
A champion for the Filipino people, Chef Tatung’s advocacy addresses one of the nation’s greatest challenges: poverty, which often leads to food insecurity. No group should be more invested in food security than chefs and Chef Tatung embodies this principle wholeheartedly. While many chefs aspire to represent and promote the Philippines and its cuisine globally, he believes they must not lose sight of their responsibility to ensure food security for all.
“In a lot of cases kasi, we always glamorize and we always have lofty dreams of making Filipino cuisine the next big thing, the next big global sensation. Pero, sometimes we fail to look into food security, ‘no?” Chef Tatung said.
“There are chances, which I am afraid of, that Filipino cuisine will be in demand, will become popular globally, but the Filipino people will not benefit [from] the economic impact of this demand because we will not and we are not ready to export. We are not ready to produce enough of this supply,” Chef Tatung expressed, giving us a glimpse of what might happen in the future.
Food insecurity is a struggle that not all of us can be freed from at the moment but surely, you can do one thing to support this advocacy. As a chef, it’s only given that you take food security seriously and uphold it with all your heart—all in the name of Filipino cuisine.
3. Remember the people behind.
Cooking with the local farmers and manufacturers in mind would not make you less of a chef; having a “protect the industries” mindset is a mark that you are a true, selfless chef at heart.
Chef Tatung has been putting the Filipino people at the forefront ever since he established Simpol, and he wants you to do just the same. “It’s very important [that] when we promote Filipino cuisine on a global stage, it is the Filipino people who will benefit from it.”
Besides being committed to cooking, you ought to have the same commitment in putting everyone behind your success—the people behind the crops, machinery, facilities, mentorship, name it—at the forefront of your calling in life. Remember them. Think of them. And carry their labors, burdens, and struggles in every dish and every representation you ought to have. They deserve to be recognized, too, as the people behind the cuisine you grew up to and love.
“Dahil we are promoting and we have made Filipino cuisine global, it should create jobs, it should create livelihood for agriculture, it should boost our economy. So, kaakibat talaga ng pagpopromote ng Filipino cuisine is making sure na, “Uy, alaga ba natin itong mga farmers natin? Alaga ba natin yung mga manufacturers dito sa Pilipinas?” Sa akin kasi, hindi ko pwedeng ihiwalay. I cannot separate the need to promote Filipino cuisine and also protecting the industries that would benefit or who should benefit from this effort to promote Filipino cuisine,” Chef Tatung shared.
While preserving the nation’s traditional recipes, indigenous ingredients, and cooking processes to be passed on to the next generations are important, chefs like you should help small and medium-scale industries to scale up. As Chef Tatung put it, “there should be a balance of a clear advocacy on promoting and clarifying the narrative of Filipino cuisine.”
4. Cooking is servitude.
At the heart of it all, remember that cooking is a form of servitude. From every consumption and preparation of ingredients to the actual art of cooking and presenting the meal to your loved ones and even the world, you can touch lives and change the definition of “cooking” as we all know it. As the Bible puts it, let all your cooking be done in love.
5. Keep it simple but do it well.
Chef Tatung’s one piece of advice to aspiring chefs, “Keep it simple but do it well,” pretty sums up his life and career as a celebrity chef. It also sums up everything you have to learn as a chef: to excel in simplicity.
