Hi! I'm Richard Owen Luceñada. Married to Haydn Luceñada with 4 kids. I am based here in Makati City. A simple man with great passion in cooking. Without even a single background in being a chef. When I was a kid up to my teenage days, I love eating different kind of foods until I almost choke from eating too much because it's so delicious. If not, I won't eat it no more.
When I became a beneficiary voluntary scholar of Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine, I started loving all kinds of food. It may be Filipino dishes, pasta, foods cooked by priests. This is when I found my passion for cooking.
Sometimes after school at University of Makati, I came home around 9pm at the church to eat. Unfortunately there's no more food. So I decided to cook, but it burnt. The priests smelled it and they woke up because of it. They scolded me the next day.
I did not apply at the church just to be one of them. Instead Kuya Gerry Baay, a well-renowned conductor and teacher in a choir asked me if I want to be a member of their group. Which for me is not what I desire. I am once a Vocalist of a band called Manic Depression, however we disbanded because one of our member was stabbed to death. Although my mind is unwary I joined the choir.
Now that I am a family man here at home taking care of my kids, I watched a movie
Ratatouille and I remembered what Chef Gusteau said that "Everyone can cook." This gave me an idea to cook. It's not that I know how and to eat only that I love food.
Martin Yan came here in the Philippines and I went to his cooking show at Greenbelt. He also said the same that "If I can cook, so can you." So there's no difference between a movie and a real life professional Chef. And that persuaded me more to cook.
So my passion makes sense. Not only in a movie also in real life.
After Yan's demo in Greenbelt that's the time I started cooking with different styles. Also with the help of Asian Food Channel.
As I've said I am not a culinary graduate however I can cook as one.
