One of America’s top chefs is Filipino-American Chef Ron Bilaro, who is known as a private chef to the rich, the famous and the powerful, including Oprah Winfrey.
Currently based in Chicago, Ron Bilaro is also famously known in the Fil-Am community as the star of Life Pinoy Style which will air its 9th season this December over GMA Pinoy TV, every Saturday at 6 pm PST.
Ron has also written for Chicago Tribune for 3 years, as a weekly food columnist. His first recipe book, LifePinoyStyle book 1 was launched last year and has sold-out. He is now writing his second book, due for release in late 2011.
Ron was born in Pasig City, Philippines and attended High School in Pasig Catholic College. He attended Letran and Maryknoll (now Miriam) College then moved to the States and was based in the West Coast for several years. He then became a flight attendant for United Airlines before pursuing a career in the culinary arts.
Ron started working as a personal chef even before graduating -- at the top of his class-- from the Cooking and Hospitality Institute of Chicago under Le Cordon Bleu. He apprenticed as a pastry chef at Rhapsody and trained under Chef Gene Kato, who is now the executive chef of Chicago’s premier restaurant, Japonaise. He then became the sous chef of Art Smith, Oprah’s personal chef who featured Ron in his book, Kitchen Life.
Ron has also cooked for Hollywood’s best but keeps his roster of clients private. His regular Chicago client base is made up of corporate families, though special events and private dinners continue to fill up his professional calendar. He has been featured in newspapers and magazines in Chicago and has been interviewed on CBS.
Ron’s stint with Oprah is the one career highlight that everyone wants to know about.
When asked the inevitable question, “What’s it like cooking for Oprah?,” he replies with a grin, “It’s just like cooking for you. It took some time but I now realize that it shouldn’t matter whom you’re cooking for. Just focus on the food and COOK.”
Aside from hosting Life Pinoy Style, Bilaro is also currently one of the celebrity friends of the Ronald McDonald House Charities that promotes the welfare of children around the world. He is also in the process of writing a heart healthy book with prominent Chicago cardiologist Dr. Annabelle Santos Volgman. Ron is likewise an active supporter of Gawad Kalinga, an anti-poverty movement in the Philippines and other developing countries.
As an exclusive Thanksgiving treat for Asian Journal readers, Ron has prepared a delectable dinner menu, complete from appetizer, to 3 main dishes, to a yummy dessert.
Ron’s menu is a fusion of Pinoy and other cuisines. “Living here in the States for many years now has given me the chance to explore different types of cuisine. I realize that many of our classic dishes can be easily integrated or fused with other cuisines,” said explained.
“I suggest these dishes for people who find it hard to access original Pinoy ingredients. I make these dishes to give my fellow kababayans options or ideas to make our classic dishes a little different or unique, sometimes simpler, occasionally healthier or in some cases—to give it another appeal, to make it even more palatable to non-Filipino guests,” said the young chef.
Known as a very generous guy who constantly helps needy people, especially those back home in the Philippines, Ron explains what Thanksgiving means to him. “Thanksgiving is not just a day of feasting. It is also a day when we unite and express our gratitude for the kindness shown by our family and friends. We say thank you to all the blessings we receive from our God. I have so much to thank for. A wonderful gift, the talent for cooking, tops it all. With this, I was able to reach out to many. Of course, I am thankful that my family is healthy. I am also thankful for my health. I thank God for all the people He surrounds me everyday, for without these people, I would not have the courage to be where I am now.”
Ever coming up with new things, Ron is promoting a unique- and delicious- adventure. “Life Pinoy Style sails to the Carribean from April 10 to 17, 2011. I am inviting everyone to come and join us in this once in a lifetime experience.”
Among the blessings Ron is thankful for this Thanksgiving is the countless number of fans who never fail to watch his show. “To all of you my dear friends, maraming salamat po sa walang sawang pagtanggap nyo sa akin sa inyong tahanan every Saturday. You may add me as your friend in Facebook under chef Ron Bilaro and for more recipes and food pictures, be a fan of Lifepinoystyle in Facebook as well,” said Ron.
(For those interested in the Caribbean cruise, please visit www.bestcruisesntours.com or contact Marita Domingo at 1-800-519-1806 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information. The password to register: lifepinoystyle. Make sure to mention that you want to join the Life Pinoy Style cruise. For more information and dishes featured in the show, please visit Lifepinoystyle.com)
(www.asianjournal.com)
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