Throughout my childhood, I was not raised with the luxury of having all of my cravings granted. There was a time when I asked for an oozing-with-beefiness burger, as “pasalubong” from my parents, alas, I received siopao lumped with chunks of fats.  Also, I remembered myself desiring for a sautéed corned beef with tiny potato cubes as my breakfast every school day. During those years, that viand gave an awakening aroma and an impactful flavor, just perfect to sustain a kid’s tough day in school, caused by playtime of course. Yet, I was spoiled with the popular pork luncheon meat that was banned not so long ago.

     But this is not to degrade the latter’s quality, what I emphasize here is the experience of receiving something contrary to what you had expected, no comparison between them at all.

     Both alternatives (siopao and luncheon meat) are favorites of mine too, there is just the fact that my taste buds yearn for that delight which only beef can offer. From varied instant noodles to the hexagon-shaped chips, the succulence of their beef flavors has captivated my lips.

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     Incidentally, as I was scrolling down the recent stories on Facebook, I saw a post from Smart Gilas Pilipinas’ page regarding this contest. I read the mechanics first, and looked at the corresponding prizes; the DSLR camera for Roast Beef flavor drew my attention.

     One of my major subjects this semester in my third year as a journalism student includes photography. Some of my peers have already been practicing with their DSLR shots since last year. Luckily, our professor informed us that we will not be using DSLR “yet,” and an SLR is temporarily enough.

     So by winning in the Roast Beef category, I can hit two birds with one stone. Earning myself a gift vital for the career I have aspired, and also, paying tribute for the efforts that my parents have perspired. In food terms, it is like a two-in-one seasoning added to my being.

     It has come to my thoughts to just present a simple blog with the required image of the Tuscani™ pizza flavor I chose, without actually buying and tasting it, since it is costly in my opinion. But I realized that nothing beats honest adjectives for a personal blog like this. Thus, I bought a medium-size (6 slices) Roast Beef flavored Tuscani™ pizza worth P354 (take-out) from Pizza Hut’s SM Fairview branch.

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     I am not really that knowledgeable on how to critique a certain pizza flavor. In fact, I still haven’t tried the pizzas offered by the V-league sponsor and the restaurant with the title resembling a public vehicle.  And I seldom able to eat pizza, most of the time when there is only an occasion.

     But when I heard that Tuscani™ was a set of thin-crusts, I felt that it was a breakthrough, for I grew up being used to the expression “ang bilis ko namang mabusog” each time we eat a piece of that rich dough trademark from Pizza Hut’s pan pizza.

     And upon nibbling a slice of the Tuscani™ Roast Beef Pizza, I was overwhelmed. The beef chunks tasted like those “smoked” processed meats, justifying that this flavor was “roast” indeed. Not only that, its zest was so concentrated with superb marinade that it somewhat stung my jaw nerves on my first bite. And to top it all were the calming mozzarella cheese, and mild steak sauce surrounding that cattle meat, like chains fixed there to balance and harmonize with its pungent flavor. Perhaps, this pungency was brought primarily by that aptly-made crust, which embossed its luscious toppings.

     To sum it all, I definitely agree with Miss Shamcey’s belief in equality and how the word “deserve” is applicable for everybody. Just like how I hallucinated myself here as a gourmet pretentiously knowing how to criticize. Just as how I spent money assuming that I would win that prize. Just as how my longing for that certain beef taste was synthesized.

by: Jowen M. Avila