Yats Restaurant in Clark Philippines Welcomes a Touch of Cuban Flair
The very likeable Pedro is the new face at the Wine Club. He's arrived at Clarkfield via Shanghai where he's spent the last 10 years.
His love of and knowledge about Cuban cigars comes from a childhood spent on his grandfather's plantation.
It was the French liqueur giants Pernod-Ricard who first lured him away from his homeland. Some time ago, they bought Havana Club Rum. Pedro joined the company when they announced a world-wide marketing campaign. One of their marketing strategies was to form Cuban "festival groups" made up of chefs and bartenders as well as bands and dancers to send to target markets to celebrate Cuban culture and, of course, sell Havana Club.
In 2000, Pedro found himself in Shanghai where he met a Filipina from Pampanga. The rest, as they say, is history. They got married and had a baby boy. They enjoyed Shanghai and Pedro became the Executive Chef at Shanghai's top Cuban restaurant.
However, the lure of the Philippines proved too strong for Pedro and his family and earlier this year they made the decision to relocate.
Pedro is equally at home in the kitchen or behind the bar. He has maintained his membership of the Cuban Cooks and Bartenders Association. He explains that, while a cook is a cook and a bartender is a bartender, the members were always encouraged to learn at least the basics of the "other" skill.
Pedro's vision in his new position at the Wine Club is to develop the cigar lounge with Havana cigars, Cuban rum and maybe some gentle Cuban rhythms on the sound system. He really wants to create a little piece of his home country in Pampanga!
His love of and knowledge about Cuban cigars comes from a childhood spent on his grandfather's plantation.
It was the French liqueur giants Pernod-Ricard who first lured him away from his homeland. Some time ago, they bought Havana Club Rum. Pedro joined the company when they announced a world-wide marketing campaign. One of their marketing strategies was to form Cuban "festival groups" made up of chefs and bartenders as well as bands and dancers to send to target markets to celebrate Cuban culture and, of course, sell Havana Club.
In 2000, Pedro found himself in Shanghai where he met a Filipina from Pampanga. The rest, as they say, is history. They got married and had a baby boy. They enjoyed Shanghai and Pedro became the Executive Chef at Shanghai's top Cuban restaurant.
However, the lure of the Philippines proved too strong for Pedro and his family and earlier this year they made the decision to relocate.
Pedro is equally at home in the kitchen or behind the bar. He has maintained his membership of the Cuban Cooks and Bartenders Association. He explains that, while a cook is a cook and a bartender is a bartender, the members were always encouraged to learn at least the basics of the "other" skill.
Pedro's vision in his new position at the Wine Club is to develop the cigar lounge with Havana cigars, Cuban rum and maybe some gentle Cuban rhythms on the sound system. He really wants to create a little piece of his home country in Pampanga!
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