Kare Kare for Antonio Kornerup (Ox Tail Soup for Antonio Kornerup)

I could write a chapter of my life dedicated to my friendship with Antonio (Tony) Kornerup. Tony is now smiling down at me from that blissful place in Paradise and I miss his challenging company. Instead of writing that chapter for this particular recipe, I will instead write down what he wrote about me. This piece came about in 1996, when I had asked him to write something about me; something that I might use for the publication of my book “The Secret Is In The Sauce.” At that time of my life I didn’t want it too known that that I was a ‘witch’. But now, who cares if people know that I am a ‘witch’ and so, here is what Tony wrote about me. En el centro de la isla de Luzon, por alla en el ano de 1980. It was hot, hot, hot! The summer’s sun was at its peak, shinning over the plains of Central Luzon and over the Barangay San Isidro (not the one connected with the late famous fugitive), when a gentle breeze tickled my delicate and large nose with a subtle aroma that persisted over the dust and heat; it brought back from perennial memories the enchanting fumes given by cauldrons of magic concoctions performed by undefined and unknown culinary spirits. Enticed to follow it, I obeyed this strange compulsion until I discerned a very young and beautiful witch bent over cooking pans, emerging from cloudy steams, elaborating the family fare of the day, Kare Kare. Being a curious admirer of gourmet concoctions, I cast a spell inquiring about her enchantments. Her inner being was powered by a very strong will that flamed around her, like the interior fires that Mother Earth spews through active volcanic craters; her light was enticing yet dangerous; her warmth was sincere; her heart was very much palpitating with love for life, pain, concern, the Universe, the known and unknown, cooking and baking. That was my first look of MARIANNE As it was pre-ordained by destiny, we met physically in a very ordinary, every day store at the market place, in a dusty town with a Royal and Holy Name (San Fernando, Pampanga). Since then, through the years, glimpses of her life, her loves, her fights and difficulties, her quests in her way upon this Earth, were tenderly offered for sharing, commenting, dissecting, enduring and forecasting; knowing that the choices and decisions will dictate the outcome, the realization of dreams and enjoyment of daily toiling. Having a very active and restless mind, Marianne loves to experiment; to look for new ways to obtain and prepare new dishes; to share new culinary skills; should I mention her special...