Passionate not just about acting, award-winning dramatic actress Cherie Gil also loves food. She took cooking courses under Peter Kumps in New York and at the International School for Culinary Arts and Hotel Management (ISCAHM) under Chef Norbert Ghandler.

This year, she joins the Nescafe Gold Spot Awards panel of judges and lends her expertise with her sophisticated and well-traveled palate. She takes time out in between bites and talks to SPOT.ph about her food fancies:

If you could eat only one dish for the rest of your life, what dish would that be?
I believe it would be Foie Gras, especially the Foie Gras ice cream served at Aubergine as an appetizer! Though I know I will starve because it isn't enough to sustain me, I will opt for wonderful sushi too. And sinigang, especially ulo ng salmon and sinigang na baboy and   sugpo too.   I love all the kinds of sinigang except sinigang sa miso.

Guilty pleasure?
Foie gras dishes.

Culinary idol?
Jamie Oliver and Masaharu Morimoto (The Iron Chef).

Best meal you've had in Manila?
Spaghetti Vongole at Bellini's and his Porcini risotto with truffle sauce.

Any surprise culinary finds in Manila for the year 2009?
Aubergine's Foie Gras   Ice Cream.

What do you hope will be welcome additions to the Manila's dining scene in 2010?
More straightforward, honest-to-goodness cooking but with quality ingredients.

What is the standard for the Nescafe Gold Spot Awards?
I believe that the standards don't necessary mean fancy cooking or high-end and exorbitant. I think that for as long as the restaurant meets good quality and service, especially if affordable, that would count. Unfortunately, good quality doesn't come cheap anymore.

How do you feel about this year's contenders for the Nescafe Gold Spot Awards?
When I began as one of the judges, I had not even tried a third of all the restaurants in town! I thought I had, but it was only then I realized that there are just so many more places I have yet to try. The choices made are pretty much the best in town but I also discovered more that should have made it to the list. There is always next year right?

Keep posted for the winners of the 2009 Nescafe Gold Spot Awards!

Want to win exclusive invites to the Nescafe Gold Spot Awarding Ceremony on March 17? Join the trivia promo and win tickets to the awarding ceremony at Encore, The Fort!

Photograph from Cherie Gil.