Maxine Medina and Casie Banks tell us what they love about carinderia food

Casie Banks and Maxine Medina. Image: Regal Entertainment, Inc. and GMA Network

What do some of the nation’s most renowned beauty queens have in common, besides their exceptional good looks, self-confidence and stage presence? I guess that would be their love for good food.

For the ninth episode of “Regal Studio Presents” on Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021 at 4:35 p.m. in GMA Network, “Karinderya Queens” starring Maxine Medina, Casie Banks and Derrick Monasterio, the classy, beautiful and elegant beauty queens will be ready to drop their prim-and-proper guard, go all out and show everyone a different side to them — their own comical, hilarious and slapstick side.

In my short interview with Maxine Medina and Cassie Banks, I was able to ask them to tell us what their comfort foods are at home, their favorite carinderia food, and what special dish they themselves would prepare for the man of their dreams.

Below are their answers to my questions:

After a hard day’s work, what three dishes do you hope to find set on your dining table at home?

Maxine Medina: Actually, my number one favorite is pompano. That’s really my favorite, pompano with vegetables. I don’t know, though, if others relish that same dish, too. I also like kare-kare and sinigang. Those are my favorite dishes.

Casie Banks: Well, for me, I usually always have vegetables. So, I often have chopsuey at home. But tonight, I will have ampalaya with eggs. I love ampalaya. Actually, I find I developed a liking for it just recently. When it comes to the main dish, I am partial to baked salmon and roast chicken. Tonight, though, I will have adobo. And I always round off my dinner with fruits.

It is said that “the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.” What special dish would you prepare for the man of your dreams to impress him?

Maxine Medina: I would rather cook for him baked chicken with rosemary, lemon on the side, and vegetables, too. Well, that’s healthy, and I am sure he will finish what I prepared for him with gusto. And, of course, I will make sure we would be having a meaningful conversation. And that would help make him savor the dish even more.

Casie Banks: I do believe mine is adobo. When you say adobo, that is Filipino style. That’s the only dish I have learned to cook aside from pasta dishes which are easy to prepare, anyway. Well, when it comes to Filipino food? I love Filipino food. That’s what I am always craving for. When I cook adobo, I like it with more oil so it’s more delicious. So, that’s the dish I would cook to impress him. I am sure of that now. Then, I would make sure to set up the table nicely with candles. I guess I would have to go through it with elaborate plating and table display.

What are your three favorite dishes that you are inclined to order in a local carinderia? Why?

Maxine Medina: Number one, probably, would be pinakbet. Number two, dinuguan. Number three would be sinampalukan. Those are my favorite dishes that I look for at a carinderia. Because food cooked in a carinderia tend to be very tasty and delicious which make the dishes more enjoyable to eat.

Casie Banks: I have always been a fan of carinderia food since my college days. And I always look for sisig, tortang talong and dinuguan. That’s the perfect combination for me. Plus, extra rice. Sometimes, I would even order take-out so I can also have them at home. That’s my constant orders at a carinderia. You can ask my family. That’s what I always look for in a carinderia. What do I like about carinderias? Are you looking for a taste of Filipino culture? Just go to a carinderia. All your favorite dishes are there. To top it all, everything’s delicious. And sometimes, I have friends from abroad who come for a visit. Okay, off to the carinderia, we go! That’s where I take them.

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