Simply Shawie
In spite of the trappings of megastardom, singer-actress Sharon Cuneta insists that she is oh-so-simple and easy to please.
On the sets of her movies and TV shows, she would order isaw, banana cue and barbecue from the neighborhood vendor for her and her visitors.
She indulges in modest pleasures at home, too: Members of her household staff would often whip up arroz caldo and fishballs for her. “Our nanny makes delicious sauces.”
She confesses that she is basically a “loner,” a homebody who can spend the entire day binge-watching movies and TV shows.
She’s not daunted even by the four-hour and eight-hour movies of Lav Diaz (she has “Norte, Hangganan ng Kasaysayan” on DVD), and plans to view it, sitting “Indian-style.”
Another guilty pleasure are crossword puzzles that keep her mind razor-sharp.
She’s a voracious reader, as well. These days, her reading fare mainly consists of home, food and interior books.
Big dream
Her big dream is to take up Hotel and Restaurant Management in the United States.
Running a bed and breakfast, or a small inn somewhere, is another item on her wish list.
“I consider myself a self-taught cook,” she relates. “When I was younger, I studied under Sylvia and Lorie Reynoso. I’ve always wanted to go back to school and take up culinary and pastry arts.”
She wouldn’t think twice about putting up a bakeshop, and fill it with homemade carrot cakes and banana bread. But show biz is much too demanding a taskmaster.
As she often says: One lifetime is not enough for her to fulfill all her dreams.
Sharon, who returns to the concert stage tonight, at The Theatre of Solaire, lists down her favorite things.
Her passions, she concedes, revolve around two things. “The common denominators are always food and home. Aesthetics. Whatever feeds your soul and belly.”
IN THE KNOW
Cheese: Brie, blue cheese
Hot merienda: Arrozcaldo
Cold merienda: Mais con hielo
Snacks: Crackers with fig or strawberry jam
Fruits: Apples, seedless grapes
Kindle reads: Books on interiors and entertaining at home. Cooking and baking books, especially by Mark Bittman
Street food: Isaw, fishballs
Tea: Chamomile
Songs of her life: “Pangarap na Bituin,” “Bituing Walang Ningning,” “Sana’y Wala Nang Wakas,” “Dear Heart, “Mr. DJ,” “Maging Sino Ka Man”
Vegas shows she wants to watch: Celine Dion, Jennifer Lopez, Britney Spears, Donny and Marie Osmond
Dream duets: Regine Velasquez (local), Sam Smith, Adele and Bruno Mars (international)
