SATTIsfaction

SATTI IS ASIA’S FAVORITE FOOD

Those of us who are introducing our very own Satti to friends should be proud that our kind of food is not only delicious; it is one of Asia’s favorite foods as well.

Here is a letter I wrote to my friend Carla Paras-Sison in response to her query about Satti in preparation for an article she plans to write in the Philippine Star newspaper.

The letter reads in part:

``Per your questions, for one, I am targeting people in Metro Manila as my main customer base. I am out to ``Sattinize’’ non-Muslims here who are looking for something new to try.

``I believe that people here are gastronomically adventurous judging on how they have adopted to foreign foods to include Japanese, Vietnamese, Thai, and Singaporean and now even the spicy Korean food which actually taste like medicine.

``People seem to go for the novelty of the food concept and I tell you Satti is one such kind of food. It’s unique taste can only be found in Zamboanga City, Basilan and Sulu because a Chinese-Muslim family there had been successful in keeping the secret recipe to themselves – well, not until now that I too obtained the recipe from a Muslim cook in Sulu.

``Aside from the unique taste of its peanut-based soup, it also presents a totally new dining experience because this is the only food where the rice served has been cooked in coconut leaves and it is then immersed (or dunk Oreo-style) in the soup.

``Satti also has all the attributes of becoming a popular food to all Filipinos because it has its origins in Mediterranean countries and Southeast Asia where it is known as sate or satay.

``Satay is so popular in Singapore that there is a Satay Club – which is made up of satay outlets – along Beach Road and Clarke Quay. Satay is even served to First and Raffles Class passengers of the Singapore Airlines.

``In Malaysia, satay is only only served in almost all restaurants, food courts and street stalls; it is also served to First and Business Class passengers in the Malaysian Airline and Air Asia flights.

``In Bali and all other key destinations in Indonesia, sate is served with turtle, pork, goat, snake and even crocodile meat.

``In the next 12 months, we plan to expand Satti Grill House into about five to six more outlets all over Metro Manila, after which we plan to offer the business for franchise to speed up the spread and reach of this kind of food all other the country.

``In serving the satti to our customers, we don’t differentiate between Muslims and non-Muslims because we want everyone to have the taste of satti according to its original and unadulterated flavor. That includes not serving pork or using any pork ingredients or utensils cooked with pork oil. If there is a minor change in our servings to non-Muslims, it is the fact that we tone down the spicy taste for those who are not used to spicy food.

``As to your question on why we chose SM-Fairview, it is because we know there is a heavy concentration of Muslims in the Fairview and Bulacan areas to such extend that even action star Robin Padilla had opted to put up a Madrasa school in the area.

``I hope I have answered all your questions. Thanks a lot for your big help in our desire to show Filipinos the rich and incomparable food that our brother Muslims in the country have to offer for all of us.’’

From my letter, you can readily see that it is only the Philippines that had not jumped into the satay, sate and satti bandwagon. So, what are you waiting for? Go out and taste satti at baka maiwan kayo ng train …

Vamolos amigos y amigas, comer y man alegria con el sabor de satti – El Rey de mga comida na Asia (Chavacano for ``Let’s go friends, have a hearty taste of satti – the king of food in Asia.’’)