Theo and Sam Zaragoza Featured in Manila Bulletin

From: 

http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/335521/its-not-movies

It's not like the movies

This couple proves that real life is better than reel

By JACKY LYNNE A. OIGA

September 25, 2011, 11:39am

(photo by Pinggot Zulueta)

MANILA, Philippines -- Bad boy falls for good girl, love at first sight, young love, whirlwind romance, a happy ending – Theo and Samantha Zaragoza’s love story has all the makings of the perfect chick flick.

But, while the chick flick genre is often criticized as senseless, sappy, and overly sensationalized fluff, theirs is an inspiring story of finding love, growing together, and working towards success that will put any Reese Witherspoon starrer to shame.  

Boy meets girl

In a span of 24 hours, after one unofficial first (group) date, cups of coffee, bottles of beers, one flat tire, and zero hours of sleep, chef and food stylist Theo Zaragoza knew that Samantha or Sam Ramos is the girl he wants to marry. 

“I first met her in the Bellevue Hotel back in 2005. She was an intern in the front desk and I was coming to meet with their marketing manager. We got each other’s attention right away. She toured me around, we talked a little, it was definitely love at first sight,” Theo recalled smiling.

“Everything stopped when I saw him. Parang sa movies lang,” Sam added laughing. “The next day, he texted me saying that he got my number from the marketing assistant. He asked me what I was doing and I told him I was having coffee with friends. Then he said, ‘Okay. I’ll be there.’ when I wasn’t even inviting him.”

 After grabbing coffee, Theo invited Sam and her friends to join him and some of his friends for drinks. The "group" date was going well so Theo asked everyone to move the party to his house. They stayed at his place until dawn and when he was about to send Sam off to her car, they saw her tire slashed.  

“I didn’t know how to change a tire, of course, so he was nice enough to help. But my car is so old the bolts were rusted. He couldn’t remove it, he even called his friends but it was hopeless. So I spent the (early) morning at his place until a garage opened,” Sam shared.

While waiting, they talked, got to know each other, and the next thing Sam knew, Theo was telling his friends, "Oh guys, eto na yung babaeng pakakasalan," over breakfast. “You really don’t know when you’re going to get struck eh. After spending a whole day with her, I already knew. I couldn’t explain why. I just knew it was her,” Theo said.

“It’s amazing how you can learn so much about a person in a short amount of time,” Sam agreed. “Pero siyempre naloka rin ako at first. I was like, ‘Oh my God, he’s going to marry me daw!’ I was just 19 at that time and we just met! After that day, I didn’t talk to him for a week. But deep down, alam ko rin naman na siya na.”  

Whirlwind romance

On their first anniversary as a couple, Theo proposed, rather casually – she was 20 and he was 29.

“He asked me, ‘So, ano? You want to spend the rest of your life with me?’ and I answered, ‘Oo nga, di ba?’ Then he took out the ring and said, ‘Oh di isuot mo.’ I was screaming like a little girl inside my head,” Sam said in jest.

But not everyone was thrilled with the news of their engagement. A lot of people, especially her mom, were telling Sam that she was too young to get married and married life is not a fairytale. And while the first two years of their marriage were fun— they are self-confessed partyphiles who love to have a good time – the realities of marriage eventually caught up with them.

“I realized that love and marriage are not all butterflies and violins on our third year. We didn’t have a long engagement so we didn’t have time to adjust to each other’s quirks. We went through a lot of tensions because we were getting to know each other without the helmets on,” Sam said.

Sam had a lot of personal problems during that year. She was young, unsure of herself, and seeking her identity in a marriage where her husband is always on the spotlight. She was always the young wife of Theo Zaragoza, which she couldn’t take because of her pride and hunger for success. Their marriage was in shambles, and it was their faith that saved them both.

“We went to counseling, Bible studies, and prayed a lot. To be honest, without Jesus, without our faith baka wala na kami ngayon,” Sam confessed. “I’m a Christian and Theo’s Catholic but we never saw that as a problem. My parents brought me up thinking na walang maling religion, it’s just what fits you, what makes you closer to God.

Now, Theo and Sam have changed for the better without forcing each other to change. “We sought help noong kailangan, we worked on our differences, and now we’re going strong for five years. Running our own business, building our own house, but no kids yet,” Theo said smiling. “We’re still enjoying each other’s company.

A beautiful partnership 

Before Theo met Sam, he was running a food styling and photography business called, Resultado, with his best friend Anton Feliciano. From their meager capital of P2,000.00 Theo and Anton went to different restaurants to show their portfolio. They got a major project for Dencio’s which earned for them P200,000.00, and the rest was history.

“Lumaki ng lumaki ang Resultado until my partner had to leave for Singapore. He left the business to me and became managing partner. When he left, I invited Sam to come in,” Theo shared.  With Sam as partner, Resultado now includes recipe development, food consultation, production design, and soon they’ll launch a publishing arm.

“When I joined Resultado, I wrote press releases for the company. Food magazine editors took notice of my writing and invited me to write for them. So because of Theo, I realized I have a passion for food writing,” said Sam who also teaches Hotel and Restaurant Management in Saint Scholastica’s College.

Theo, on the other hand, said that marrying Sam helped put his life into perspective. “Before I met her, I was really lost. When we got married, I was able to focus on my career and it opened so many doors for us. She’s my biggest critic. If she doesn’t approve of my food, menu, and styling -- kahit marami na akong experience, I won’t do it,” Theo shared.

Theo and Sam are a career-driven couple who plays hard, works hard, and gives back. With so much blessings in their life, the couple does charity to bring blessings to others.                                                                                      

“During my birthday and every Christmas, we do feeding programs for 200 children, we also send five kids to school. It’s such a nice feeling that we have the means to support other people now. When we got married, we had so little money and we usually just spend it on gimmicks and drinking. Life has so much meaning because of our work,” Theo said.

He elaborated: “Like what my dad taught me, if you don’t think about money and you just concentrate on your work and love your work, money will come. Wag kang magtrabaho dahil gusto mo magkapera, magtrabaho ka kasi gusto mo mag trabaho.”

Ten years from now, Theo and Sam hopes they would have several food stylists in Resultado (“Boss na lang kami.”), open their own restaurant, and have two kids playing around their house. But for now, this young, dynamic couple is just enjoying each other’s company, building their own food empire, and proving to everyone that life is not like the movies – it’s even better.

Message for each other

He said: Thank you for being patient and understanding. Without you I wouldn’t see the road that we have right now. Thank you for bringing me closer to Jesus.

She said: Thank you for being there for me, supporting me, being a good friend, for understanding all my quirks and living with them and for helping me grow. Thank you for being a wonderful husband and business partner. I hope it will never end. More power to us.

On what makes them unique as a couple

He said: We don’t like drama. When we fight, we keep it to ourselves and to our marriage counselor.

She said: We work well together, we complement each other, and we don’t stop each other from doing what we want. I enjoy doing the things he likes to do and he enjoys what I like too.

On their business

He said: She’s the brains of the business. She’s the one who handles marketing, management, and consultations. When I have to do reports for our clients, she does the writing, I do the testing of the product. Without her, I can’t do my job.

She said: He’s a food stylist and a chef; he’s the talent of the business. Ako I can’t cook. Even if I studied cooking, I can’t.

May 2010: The Month in View

Alaska Team Building

Resultado’s Chef Theo recently concluded his first Alaska Team Building seminar. The seminar was held last April 12, 2010 at the Maya Kitchen. Included in the seminar was a lecture on milk products and basic cooking principles. After so, the participants had the chance to show off their cooking skills in a live competition. They were divided into four groups and each group was given a set of recipes they had to complete in the time set for them. The judges deliberated and proclaimed a winner by the end of the seminar. Everyone received cupcakes and silicon pot holders as prizes while the winners received a special gift from Chef Theo and Alaska.

Quaker Oats New Print Ad

Quaker Oats’ new print ad with Aga Mulach is now out in the market. Resultado Gourmet Designs Co. had the chance to food style the oatmeal product included in the print ad.

Who Wants a Menu Makeover?

Greetings from Resultado Gourmet Designs, Co.!

We are offering a limited promo to restaurants and food companies (promo will end on May 31, 2010):

Included Services: Food Styling, Food Photography, and Production Design
No. of Layouts Included: 20 layouts
Total Price: Php.40,000


As much as we need regular fashion makeovers, restaurant menus have to have their own makeovers too. A menu is not just an “information guide” to what one wants to eat, but it also represents the total atmosphere a restaurant wants to convey. As a marketing tool, menus are as important as flyers and posters. But where does one go for a “Menu Makeover”? Don’t fret, because the professionals are just a phone call away. Meet the Resultado Gourmet Designs Team.

Resultado Gourmet Designs, Co. is a food styling and food photography firm that has expanded its services to food consultation and production design, making Resultado Co. your ultimate one-stop-shop. Resultado Co. aims to deliver the best results your business deserves, and what better way to do so but by taking care of your marketing needs? Resultado will be able to give you food photos that will express exactly what your restaurant wants to say, be it for your menu, flyers, posters, or billboards.

Still thinking twice? Then let our partners speak for us. Resultado has worked with an impressive list of clients such as Pancake House Group, LJC Group, Red Ribbon, Figaro, McCafe, Bubba Gump, French Baker, Shakey’s Pizza, and many more.

Resultado Gourmet Designs, Co.wishes to offer these new services to needing companies and restaurants. So what are you waiting for? Want that competitive edge and flair for your menus? Have your Menu Makeover today!

Contact us through: (02)8429480; (0917)7408319; theo_zaragoza@yahoo.com. Visit our website and learn more about our company, our partners, and to view our portfolio – http://www.resultado.com.ph/.

The Search for the Perfect Kebab

Spicy, sweet, salty, aromatic, flavorful, saucy, fresh… just talking about it makes me feel like Pavlov’s dog. Oh yes, these are the cuisines I believe have touched the Filipino hearts for their burst of flavor and their mouth-watering fare. They are the Persian and Mediterranean cuisine. The Moroccan, Greek, Turkish, Italian, Spanish and the other surrounding countries of the Mediterranean Sea as well as the identical cuisine of Persia have already been synonymous to street food, fast food, and comfort food in the Philippines. But who wouldn’t love these wonderful cuisines? We all know that a big part of our Filipino culture is our food. We love it saucy, we like it tasty, we want it to pack a punch in every bite… and these are the same characteristics that describe the Persian and Mediterranean cuisine. No wonder we drool at a sight of a Shawarma, Kebab rice, or that luscious garlic sauce… yum!

And so, this food lover and her friends decided to take a trip around town to try different Mediterranean and Persian restaurants. But beware! This is no simple joy ride, for we wish to bring you only the best of the best these cuisines have to offer… our personal views take a different toll as we carefully scrutinize every dish and restaurant. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the trip in search for the perfect Kebab.

Café Mediterranean
Our first stopover brings us to the closest and most convenient Mediterranean restaurant for us. Just a few minutes from home, Café Mediterranean in Alabang Town Center boasts a warm, cozy ambiance with dishes that are reasonably priced.
It was lunch time and we took our seats while we waited to be served. We all browsed the menu, looking for something different and good. Few minutes after, we looked at each other and noticed that we were still flipping the pages. I particularly had a hard time choosing because of the numerous dishes cramped in one menu. It was filled with specialties such as Mosaka, Couscous, Hummus, Falafel, Gyros, Baba Ghannouj, Pizza, and ofcourse, Kebabs. Finally, after deciding on trying their whole-wheat gyros while my friends picked their own favourites, we ordered and we waited…and waited…and waited. Oh boy! The restaurant’s service, especially that day, was terrible! They kept on giving us the wrong orders and the food servers seemed to be having a hard time managing their customers during peak hours. When the food arrived, I took a bite of my whole wheat gyro and watched my pita bread crumble away. Seemed like it was days old. But I have to give it to their Vegetable soup, their Baba Ghannouj, their pizzas, and their Kebabs. The meats were tender, it didn’t lack taste, and the flavours were there, though I wouldn’t say that it has that authentic taste. But please, don’t order the Baklava! It’s as small as a Fig Newton and it doesn’t have much “oomph”. All in all, we rated Café Mediterranean three out of five stars because of its accessibility, the cleanliness of the place, and the nice ambiance. For those who are fond of the cuisine but still likes the flavours to be close to “home” and wouldn’t want to drive far to eat, this is the perfect place to dine.

Persiana
For an hour and a half drive from Alabang, a restaurant better be good, especially when the drive is for a midnight snack. We all hopped in a car one evening and drove northward to Pioneer. We got in Persiana Restaurant just in time before it closed for the night. Parking was good, and the place was clean. It is a Casual-Mediterranean Restaurant named after a country that is not in the Mediterranean, but they also serve Persian food that is clearly not part of the said cuisine. This is a common mistake because of the sometimes indistinguishable difference between the two. But anyway enough of the lecture and let’s talk about the food! The restaurant had that usual Mediterranean design of yellows and blues, it was air-conditioned, and they had good mood lighting and music. I got all excited when I took a hold of the menu and read on its very first page the history and the pride of the restaurant – their authentic cooking and their famous garlic sauce. I thought we hit the jackpot until we started placing our orders. The dishes were either out-of-stock or would take ages to prepare. The servers seemed annoyed at us for coming in so late and they all looked tired as if they couldn’t wait for us to leave. So we ended up ordering Fried cheese, Keema, Beef Curry, and Anchovy Pizza. The Fried Cheese was great, but then again, what do you expect with frying cheese, you can never go wrong with it! The Keema was okay, and tasted like our version of Arroz ala Cobana. The Curry was really good and spicy, though it only had a piece or two of beef. The Anchovy Pizza was a favourite but it’s something you can make from home. To describe the food in one phrase, I can say that the dishes were already fused with our own comfort flavours in order to impress the Filipino palate. It is also very much like “lutong bahay”. I was disappointed with the “famous” garlic sauce though… the mayonnaise base was too strong, it didn’t taste authentic at all. We gave the restaurant two out of five stars, due to the bad service and the lack of menu items. Maybe next time we should try visiting a bit earlier to really get to see and try them at their best.

Mr. Kebab
I was actually very excited to go to Mr. Kebab in Quezon Avenue because I’ve been there countless times after gimmick nights. My favourite will have to be the Shawarma rice. I decided to be sober enough to try their food and ordered the usual. For a simple place, food preparation was really fast and before you can say “Shawarma!”, your dish is already at your table. I took a spoonful of my rice and chicken and thought that it actually tasted better when I’m dead drunk. It’s more like the “tapsilog” version of Persian food, catering to the late night diners who are fond of the place’s own version of the said cuisine, and who wants to enjoy good food at super cheap prices! One can never go wrong with delicious yet inexpensive food. But then, we are looking for authenticity. Mr. Kebab is very “Pinoy” in taste and style. Ambiance is okay, again, somewhat like a “tapsilog-an” shack, but clean enough that you wouldn’t mistake it for a “carinderia”. For its fast service, cheap menu, and good sized servings, we gave Mr. Kebab a good three out of five stars.

Shawarma Snack Center
I was actually surprised that people were raving about this place, because when we visited the one at BF Paranaque, I wasn’t quite impressed. Parking was very hard especially for those who fear for their lives and for their cars when parking on the side of a main road, and the place looked very much like a glorified “carinderia”. But I know that most great food is almost always hidden in the typical “hole in a wall” type of place. I was hungry as hell so for my dinner I decided to order the special - a choice of 3 barbeques (Kebab, Beef tenderloin, and Chicken), Arabic rice, salad, and pita bread. The order took a good twenty minutes before it was served. Maybe I was expecting too much, but when I tried my Arabic rice, I was searching for some flavour I couldn’t find. I smothered it once more with garlic sauce, salad, and Kebab, and this time it was tastier and better. So I thought, that’s the secret, shove a mouthful of everything in your plate down your throat in one bite. The meats in themselves were tasty and gave off a spicy aroma which I have to say is not so bad at all. But then, the effort of having to recreate the authentic flavour in every bite is quite tiring. We are still looking for a place that gives a person pure nirvana – from entering the place, eating their food, to feeling the ambiance. So for this dinner trip to Shawarma Snack Center, we give it two out of five stars.

Kabab Korner
Kabab Corner is a new Persian place in East Avenue, Matalino Street, near the Heart Center. One of the owners is an Iranian who also owns Kemand’s Kebab in Mendiola. When we entered the restaurant, the distinct aroma of the cuisine pierced my nose and right then and there, I know I finally found what I was looking for. I felt that I was transported to another country because I hardly saw any Filipinos around. They had a big parking lot and a huge place that was painted with warm tones and decorated with classic Persian pieces. We took our seats and comfortably read the menu. It included dishes I have never seen before at other Persian restaurants. The pictures in the menu all looked very scrumptious and added a bit of class to the place. We ordered different Kebabs (Tandoori, Beef Chelo, and Chicken), Grilled Tomato and Onions on the side, Beef Korma, Lobia rice, and Yoghurt drinks. We were surprised that the owners themselves greeted us and even served us some of the food. The cooking had a distinct authentic flavor that is hard to explain other than that it was delicious. I found the “kick” I was looking for. Like with their garlic sauce, it was the kind that pinches your tongue right when it touches it. The meats have a very distinct aroma from a certain spice that gave them a different zest. The Chello was juicy and aromatic. The yoghurt drink was exceptionally refreshing. The curry wasn’t only spicy, it had a spiced essence I can only describe as the sticking taste in your mouth, especially when you burp! It’s oniony, garlicy, spicy, sweet, salty… delicious. The dish servings were astonishly huge for its very inexpensive price and could be shared with a friend. By the end of our lunch, we were all happy and very, very full. Now I know exactly where to go for the perfect Kebab. Because of the superb service, the cozy ambiance, the price of the food, and the authenticity of the flavor, we gave Kabab Korner, you guessed it, a five out of five stars.

The search still continues, and who knows, we might discover yet another restaurant that could outdo the ones in our list. But after the treasure we have discovered at East Avenue, I don’t think anyone can top that anytime soon!

Resultado Gourmet Designs, Co. had the priviledge to food style and photograph the menu of Kabab Korner. For food styling, food photography, and menu makeover services, contact Resultado Gourmet Designs Co. at (+632)842-9480; (+63916)7408319; theo@resultado.com.ph; theo_zaragoza@yahoo.com; and visit the company’s website at www.resultado.com.ph. For the company’s news and articles, visit www.resultadofoodstylingco.blogspot.com.

By: Samantha Ramos- Zaragoza

Resultado Gourmet Designs, Co.

The perspective on food is constantly evolving and the world looks at food in a different way. Today, food is perceived as something more than a means to extinguish hunger; it is now considered a sensory experience. A delight not only for the taste buds but also beholds with sight and aroma.

Resultado Gourmet Designs Co. understands that food doesn’t just need to taste good, it also needs to look good. That said, presentation is as important as what greets the palate. Our goal is to foster good business relationships with our clients to address their specific needs whilst catering to their customers’ wants as well. Resultado shares the objective of the clients to give discerning customers the best that they deserve.

In a sea of food entrepreneurs, it is a must that the business stands out with distinct and unique advertising that fits its target market. Resultado shares this ideal thus, we strive to provide the freshest ideas and concepts in every photograph and menu to be able to reach the business’ full potential.

It is said that the only constant thing in this world is change. So make that change a good one! If your marketing tools needs improvement or the ultimate makeover, Resultado will get the job done. We offer you services from food styling to menu/recipe development.

Food styling and Food photography
Resultado delivers best quality styling that showcases food that come to life, providing a feast for the eyes as much as it is for the stomach. It is in our vision that we capture what the senses experience through creative and artistic styling and translate it to photographs.

Food Consultancy and Menu/Recipe Development
Menus are as important as the food. Resultado is ready to collaborate with clients in creating menus that present delicious options and selections that is sure to whet the appetite.

During our four years in the business, we are pleased to have worked with several notable companies. Our clientele include San Miguel Foods, Inc., Universal Robina Corporation (URC), LJC Group of Restaurants, Pancake House Group, Food Magazine, Kraft Eden Cheese, and Del Monte Philippines.

In partnership with Burnwater Design Studios, a graphic design company, Resultado will accomplish the best results that will meet your expectations, making us your ultimate one-stop-shop.

Resultado Gourmet Designs Co. looks forward to being your partner in achieving success for you and your business.

Please visit our website at http://www.resultado.com.ph/ to view our portfolio.
You can reach us at (02) 842-9480, (0916) 740-8319 or e-mail us at theo@resultado.com.ph or theo_zaragoza@yahoo.com

by: Raica Grace Y. Flores