I spotted Arlinfi’s Kitchen as I was walking towards the Department of Foreign Affairs office in Ali Mall. An item on the stall’s menu caught my attention: Biko Bumbong. After the 20-minute passport renewal process, I purchased a small serving to bring home and try. When I returned to pick up my new passport a few weeks later, I got the bigger size.
The Biko Bumbong is obviously a fusion of two of our most popular kakanin – the biko base is blanketed with puto bumbong toppings of butter, cheese, fresh coconut, and muscovado sugar. Aside from premium glutinous rice, I don’t know what else goes into Arlinfi’s biko but it’s really good. “Ang dami ngang nagtatanong, ano yung nilalagay mo sa biko mo ha? Hindi nila maintindihan kung bakit nila gustung-gusto, may something. Tumatawa lang ako, may magic ako eh,” says owner Arlene Gerardo who concocted the recipe while living in the US and had to improvise with limited resources.
From 2008 to 2019, she stayed in Florida with her husband, Bong and their children, Michael and Michelle. It was there that she discovered her knack for cooking. Her hidden talent surfaced because there was no one else to rely on for meal preparation. “Kung anong kine-crave namin, titingnan ko lang online kung paano lutuin pero hindi ko sinusunod, guide lang, tapos iibahin ko sa panlasa ko. Eh ang dami namang nasasarapan!” she shares. “Ang daddy ko Kapampangan so mahilig magluto. Sa mother’s side, puro chef. Si Annie Lim ng Chocolate Lover, tita ko ‘yun. Ang mga pinsan ko ay mga pastry chef so medyo nasa dugo siguro,” the Interior Design graduate rationalizes.
She cooked up a storm during the pandemic. “Pagka-gusto talaga namin kumain ng anything, gagawin ko talaga. Pumipila pa noon para makabili ng ingredients,” she recalls. In June 2020, she decided to create a Facebook page and try advertising her creations within her personal network. Arlinfi’s Kitchen was born. Arlinfi is a pet name that evolved from Arlene P, Pineda is her maiden name.
Her first product was the Chocolate Ganache Cake. “Pag may pumansin, tumatalon ako, kahit isang piraso lang ang order, tapos pag magte-text ng feedback na ang sarap. Ganun ako kababaw.” Then she thought of offering kakanin but wanted something that would stand out from the rest. “Ayokong magbenta ng kahit na ano na ordinary, gusto ko maiiba ako.” That’s when she remembered her Biko Bumbong.
She has continuously been experimenting with her menu, market testing different items for Arlinfi’s Kitchen. “Ito si Biko Bumbong ang matibay,” she exclaims. “Ang layo na nang inabot niyan. Umabot na kay Jinkee Pacquiao. Nabigyan si Ben Chan and si Ben Chan, nag-order na din sa akin at ipinang-regalo. Naging follower ko si Lucy Torres. Natikman na rin ni Madam Leni Robredo.” Arlene rattles off. “Naisip ko, siguro nga masarap talaga kasi bakit mo naman bibilhin tapos ipangre-regalo mo kung hindi ka confident na masasarapan yung pagbibigyan mo?” she muses.
She is immensely grateful for the support of early customers who have stayed loyal, friends, relatives, high school and college classmates like fashion designer, JC Buendia, who has been ordering Biko Bumbong and giving it away to his celebrity contacts. “Nagtataka ako, bakit ang nakapaligid sa akin ay mga taong mababait simula umpisa. Mabait ba ako, bakit na-a-attract ko yung mababait na tao? Ang swerte ko naman. Or baka reminder sa akin na maging kind din. Sabi siguro ni God sa akin, ‘oy magpakabait ka, tingnan mo, ang babait ng nasa paligid mo.’”
Queso Maja Maize from Arlinfi’s Kitchen
Arlene marvels at the unfolding of events, clearly in awe of where life has taken her. “Ang galing kasi hindi ko naman sinasadya lahat. Parang binulong sa akin ni God na ito yung gawin mong negosyo. Ang dami ko nang gustong i-try before pero binigyan ako ng product na o dapat ‘yan, ‘wag na ko lumayo pa.” Prior to the pandemic, she attempted two ventures but both did not push through. She got a little frustrated and for a minute, questioned the path she has chosen but she never considered throwing the towel in. “May motto ako, luck favors the brave. ‘Yun ang lagi kong iniisip. Alam mo, kung duduwag-duwag ka o mahina ang loob mo, walang mangyayari sa ‘yo. Kung hindi ka naman tataya, mananalo ka ba? So ako, hindi ako tumitigil, kahit anong age ko na,” states the 57-year-old.
At one point, Arlene worked for the architectural firm of National Artist Bobby Mañosa. While in the US, she was employed at a fastfood restaurant then at Edible Arrangements. “Andami kong natutunan doon,” she says. And now she has the opportunity to apply what she has learned. She believes she is really meant to be an entrepreneur. “Siguro nasa business talaga ang utak ko kasi yung lolo and lola ko sa business sila umangat, sa woodcrafts. Tapos yung tita ko. And yung daddy ko din, hindi naman nag-opisina, puro business lang din.”
Michael, Michelle, Arlene, and Bong Gerardo
Arlinfi’s Kitchen has been a family affair from the start. It was her daughter who designed the logo, her son helps out with social media content creation and her husband is her partner in the kitchen. It’s been pretty much a home-based operation but not for long. They’re gearing up for franchise, currently building an office and commissary. With more branches, more people will have access to Biko Bumbong, which is by the way registered with the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines, so copycats beware!
For now, you can visit Arlinfi’s Kitchen at the Ali Mall Food Gallery in Araneta City, Cubao where you can enjoy kakanin, kape, at iba pa. Aside from Biko Bumbong, you’ll find a selection of drinks, mostly coffee. And if you like corn, their creamy Queso Maja Maize is a must-try. Other items such as Puto Bingcake and Brigadeiro Cake may be ordered via Instagram and Facebook.
Arlinfi’s Kitchen’s specialties
All images are from Arlinfi’s Kitchen
