Find out why this top chef loves Pollo con Mantequilla so much and learn how to cook this dish just the way she likes it
Behind Bamba Bistro’s crave-worthy comfort food in the South is chef Tina Legarda. At her restaurant, which has been around for about nine years now, you can expect to find food that will remind you of home, soothe the soul, and fill the stomach. The charming neighbourhood watering hole has become a frequented spot over the years and continuously introduces new, innovative creations to its many fans. In the middle of the pandemic, she was able to smoothly transfer to a new location and re-vamped her menu all together while being able to launch secret menu drops too!
With chef-owner Tina Legarda in the driver seat, a woman who eagerly and happily pours her soul into her restaurant, there is no wonder what Bamba Bistro’s secret sauce is: her hard work and passion for her craft. She is known for an extremely hands on approach, putting in the hours and ensuring the team is well trained, well fed, and proud of what they do too.
Prior to opening Bamba Bistro she worked under chef Jessie Sinsioco, Billie King, and then in Singapore with Mario Batali at Osteria Mozza. With years of valuable on-the-job training she excitedly launched Bamba Bistro, an establishment bursting with flavours rooted in Filipino and Spanish culture, packed with memories of her youth and beloved family.
See also: Asia's Top Chefs Share Their Favourite Egg Recipes
Food truly can transport you through time and can be quite nostalgic, and for this chef, family means a lot. When asked what recipe evokes great memories she shared her Lola Charito’s Pollo con Mantequilla. Her father’s mum taught this dish to chef Legarda’s mum, who then passed it down to chef and her brothers. Hear what she has to say, here:
“Everything about it is comforting to me. It is a kind of dish that’s for everyone—I super love how I remember enjoying it as a kid. For some reason, the smell alone brings me back to a time when I would see it being served from my Lola’s kitchen—and they would cook 30 chickens because we're such a big hungry family. Plus the memory of it is in all my favourite places—the home I grew up in, my Lola Charito’s house every Sunday, family trips to Baguio, all our beach trips, and now in my restaurant. It’s a dish that doesn’t stop giving!”
Pollo con Mantequilla
Serves 6-8
Preparation time: 45 mins
Cooking Time: 5 hours
Ingredients:
- 1 whole chicken, cut into 8 pieces
Marination:
- 1 bar salted butter, softened
- Salt
- Pepper
Boiling:
- 1½ bar unsalted butter
- 1 piece white onion,
- ¼ cup chopped celery
- ½ cup chopped garlic
- Chopped parsley
- 3-4 cups water
Sauce:
- 1 bar butter
- 1/2 cup garlic, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup white onions, finely chopped
- ½ cup chicken broth
