Jose Sarasola raring to pursue hunky chef image for his network switch

Jose Sarasola

With new faces and show biz hopefuls sprouting regularly, actor-entrepreneur Jose Sarasola hopes to use his background as a chef to set himself apart and find a new niche in the industry.

“I realized that if I just stick to being an actor, things are going to be more difficult because there are already so many actors out there—younger and good-looking. It’s going to be hard to keep in step with everyone. But at least, me being a chef, I will be able to bring something else to the table,” he told the Inquirer in a recent video interview.

After his stint in the reality show “Pinoy Fear Factor” in 2009, he ventured into acting and became part of various soap operas in ABS-CBN in the 10 years that followed.

This year, Jose decided to switch networks and sign up with GMA 7’s Artist Center in hopes of fulfilling his goal of becoming a celebrity chef.

“Perhaps I can explore the hunky chef concept, focusing on healthy food,” said Jose, who took up culinary arts at the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde. “You have to find your niche. I want to be someone who’s able to do more high-end stuff, but also do homemade food and quick dishes.”

The timing of this career move is a little unfortunate, Jose admitted. But he’s thankful, nonetheless, that he was able to sign his contract despite the COVID-19 pandemic. “It’s disheartening. But there’s a silver lining, GMA 7 still welcomed me,” he said.

So far, the Filipino-Spanish talent has done a few cooking demos for the morning show, “Unang Hirit.” The next goal is to have his own cooking show, hopefully, once the health crisis eases up and better days come.

“I would also love to try something that will allow me to travel around the Philippines, and try different cuisines from different provinces,” said Jose, who admires celebrity chefs like Gordon Ramsay and the late Anthony Bourdain. “But baby steps first.”

That doesn’t mean, however, that Jose will be giving up acting for good. He still wants to enjoy the “best of both worlds.”

“I want to try new roles I haven’t done before or something new that will test my acting skills—maybe a fantasy series, which GMA 7 is known for,” the 33-year-old television personality said.

Jose owns a sports bar called Avenue 75 in Parañaque City. Running a restaurant during the enhanced community quarantine has been a challenge, Jose admitted. But with dining establishments now allowed to operate up to 30 percent of their capacity under the relaxed rules, he can finally breathe easier.

“It has been a bad year. I actually have a few friends who … [plan] to close their places. It’s difficult because there’s no income coming in. But of course, I have to continue paying my employees, whom I consider family. Some of their kids are my godchildren. I have to take care of them,” he said.

Now it’s about coming up with new promos to have the business moving. “We have been accepting orders for take-out, but it doesn’t make up for a regular night with a full crowd. But if we get to operate at 30 percent, that would help. It’s also good that the liquor ban has been lifted,” he related.

Meanwhile, asked about his love life, he related that he and his Japanese girlfriend, actress-turned-entrepreneur Maria Ozawa, have been in a long-distance relationship for the past two months. She spent a month of quarantine in Manila, before flying to Japan to be with her family at home.

“I was worried because returning here could be difficult. But I understand her wanting to see her family during these times,” Jose said of Maria, who also coowns bars, both here and in Tokyo.

Maria is excited about his career move, and Jose hopes he gets the chance to have his girlfriend in his future show. “She’s happy I now have a new home where I can start fresh,” Jose said.