After enduring almost six months of various community quarantine acronyms, the coronavirus pandemic (Covid-19) continues to plague our nation and batter the economy, forcing thousands of businesses to fold while leaving record numbers of Filipinos unemployed.
Suffice it to say, not a single industry has been spared by this unprecedented global crisis, and although a handful of them may suddenly be thriving, the vast majority find themselves struggling to stay afloat in these uncharted waters. Winford Manila Resort & Casino (Winford) is no exception, owing to the fact that its primary business is in travel and tourism—arguably the worst hit sector by the pandemic.
Amid the trail of disruption, however, hope springs eternal.
Winford is just one of the myriad hotels in the National Capital Region forced to temporarily halt operations in an effort to flatten the so-called curve. Determined to not become a Covid casualty, however, an inspired Winford team singled out an opportunity to maximize its resources and move forward—while fully complying with government orders.
Winford’s management decided to turn to the culinary expertise of its F&B department, whose banquet services often receive acclaim from both discerning guests and public figures alike. By tapping Chef Fatima “Patty” Libre, Winford’s chef de partie, to spearhead the initiative, the casino hotel reinvented the wheel for itself while awaiting the green light to reopen and Winford on Wheels was born.
Its value proposition is a unique one: enjoy five-star hotel cuisine at a friendly price delivered straight to your door. Simple as that may sound, however, therein lies the challenge for Chef Patty and her crew. In the culinary world, it takes raw talent, unwavering dedication, and a burning passion to consistently meet or exceed the lofty standards of visitors to a luxury resort.
“To be able to cook well, you must have a good sense of taste,” explains Chef Patty, borrowing the words of one of her heroes, iconic Filipino culinarya Nora Daza. “It was my lola who inspired me to become a chef and it always makes me feel alive! To cook for my family and see them fall in love with my dishes makes me smile, and it never fails to boost my confidence.”
Having earned the seal of approval of her family—often a chef’s toughest critic—Chef Patty decided to spread the love outside the four walls of home and took the plunge head first into the pressure cooker that is the kitchen of an upscale casino hotel such as Winford.
“Working in a resort that is open 24 hours can be overwhelming, challenging, and even exhausting…but for me, it is worth every drop of sweat,” says Chef Patty. “We, Filipinos, love to eat together as a way of bonding and few things make us happier than when our tummies are full.”
Sadly, the restaurant industry has also been badly affected by the pandemic and with many dining establishments either closing shop, or operating at limited capacity, the typically exciting episodes of eating out, that have become an endearing cultural trait of Pinoys, have been abruptly suspended.
“The way I see it, just because people are afraid to eat out shouldn’t mean that they cannot recreate the experience. The concept of Winford on Wheels is to address this opportunity while adjusting to the new reality, and that means not only do we deliver great food to our customers’ door, we also let them relive the nostalgic tradition of enjoying group meals together.”
“Our initial lineup of dishes was designed to re-establish Filipino cuisine as comfort food in a simple and deconstructed way. In this new normal, we understand that we must take our game to the next level. Nowadays, cooking good food is only half the job. The health and wellness of our customers are our top priority, so it is our responsibility to ensure that our staff always practice good hygiene, our surroundings are sanitized at all times, and only Winford personnel are authorized to make food deliveries.”
To experience a taste of the good old days when dining out was once the norm, interested groups may call the WMRC hotline at (02) 8528 3600, or send a text message to 0917 878 8670 or 0917 872 8583. Delivery is available within Metro Manila, provided orders are placed two (2) days before the desired delivery date.