Lima or Five is a number, but here in BF Homes Parañaque, Lima is also a street name. And here at Lima Street, a bistro restaurant can be found where happy serving students attend to your needs. Welcome to Bistro Lima.
A few days ago I was invited by a friend to experience a private cooking demo to be conducted by Chef Alvin John Eugenio here at Bistro Lima. It was a long trip coming from the north to the south, thats why I’m expecting that this should be something worthwhile to be visited.
We arrive at the restaurant a bit late than expected. And as we enter, I saw a lot of boys and girls in uniform (like in the ‘harry potter’ movie) greeting us on the hallway, wondering why?
Well because Bistro Lima is a restaurant intended to be a practicing ground of the students of Southville International School affiliated with Foreign Universities (SISFU). Bistro Lima serves as the school kitchen and fine dining area where students who have culinary and hotel and restaurant management subjects train. It’s a great idea, I may say, as this could not just be their training ground but also a source of income for the school. Chef Alvin John or Chef AJ acts as the Kitchen Supervisor of SISFU.
Southville International Schools affiliated with Foreign Universities (SISFU)
Southville International School and Colleges (SISC) is the only international school in the Philippines offering a complete array of educational programs officially recognized as an educational institution of international character based on the Republic Act (R.A.) No. 9493.
Southville International School and Colleges is likewise benchmarked with foreign colleges and universities through the pioneering transnational education interface with our sister institution, Southville International Schools affiliated with Foreign Universities (SISFU). This makes Southville International School and Colleges able to acquire the best of foreign and national education standards as well as offer premium college and higher education programs recognized by the Commission of Higher Education (CHED) and other international accrediting bodies.
Lets now go inside and check out their kitchen. SISFU got a spacious kitchen complete with differnet cooking facilities in support to their fine dining restaurant “Bistro Lima“. They even got an area and a big oven for cooking delectable pastries.
I caught Chef AJ already preparing for the dish he is about to cook. For today he will be creating a Tuscan Style Chicken, a simple yet complicated Italian dish. Simple because as he said its a very straightforward dish but complicated because of the preparation one is about to do to finish the whole dish.
Chef AJ has been acting as the kitchen supervisor here at SISFU for 3 years already. He was a former Head Chef at the popular buffet restaurant “Kamayan, Dads, Saisaki”. He said that what they offer here at the restaurants are no pretention cooking, simple and easy to do by the students. Did I already mention that the students here at SISFU acts as the cook, server and even man the cashier of the restaurant? Cool right?
I actually learn a lot from watching and off course asking Chef AJ some tips on cooking. One of the most important thing that he said was when cooking do not put anything in the mixture that you distaste.
After plating, Its now time to taste and get to know more about Bistro Lima.
Dining in Class at Bistro Lima
Bistro Lima is a fine-dining restaurant located at the lower ground of SISFU. It got a nice interiors, with around 10 tables inside. There are also a bar at one corner thou they weren’t allowed to serve alcohol for the minors. It got a wide variety of menu, and it is affordable, a budget of Php 200 can already suffice you.
The Tuscan Style Chicken cooked by Chef AJ was just delectable. It was boneless thus making it evenly well inside and out. One of the technique I’ve learn as well is that to put just a little amount of flour (as breading) for it not to be burnt. Also cover the chicken with spices like rosemary, salt and pepper for it to taste even better.
Makes me wonder, what if the students are the one tending to my meal? This could be serve differently. Chef AJ says that they usually tell the customers that Bistro Lima is a training ground for their students, thus they might experience a delay or maybe a diffenence to the food that they ordered. Luckily, it wasn’t that of a problem in this place, and most of the customers they have here are also students of the school, professors and parents of the students.
Check out more photos here: Album 1| Album 2
Bistro Lima will soon be offering a buffet meal for only Php 300 per head, also be prepared by the students. I’ve heard that they will conduct a draw lots to determine the cuisine that they are about to serve. Hope they would pick Greek or Korean! Will be waiting for this one.
It was a nice thing to learn about Bistro Lima and SISFU. Thanks Chef AJ and Louie for the invite. You can check out SISFU on Twitter and Instagram: Southvilleuni
