MINDFUL MENDICANT by Oj Hofer

Eat to live. Mindful eating, which was explained in my previous article, enables us to maintain awareness and appreciation before, during and after meals.

BY OBSERVING THIS meaningful experience

of dining, we develop no attachment nor aversion to what we eat. No biases towards or against the food, venue, the occasion or the people whom we are with. Recently, this writer visited Eya and Chef Steve’s Potluk Pantry and Tasting Room which they opened in June this year. Located at 17 Acacia Street in Cebu City, Potluk has limited

dining space but a seemingly limitless menu of socially and environmentally responsible, wholesome plant-based food and non-vegetarian dishes.

They currently have a table and counter seating for four and on certain days, al fresco tables at their pop-up area. You can drop in quickly to grab their health-giving bottled drinks, chutneys, jams, and boxed meals or conveniently order their beautifully balanced, nourishing offerings online for delivery (www. facebook.com/potlukph/). This mendicant hasn’t seen Eya and Steve in kalpas, thus, dining- in was the only way to reestablish friendships and experience mindful

eating. As expected, everything went wonderfully well. One learned that Eya now heads CAFE-i (Communities for Alternative Food Ecosystems Initiative) the non-government organization that trains, develops, verifies and certifies organic farming while working with Cebu Farmer’s Market (www.facebook. com/cebufarmersmarket/). Meanwhile, Steve continues to create flavorful and mindfullness-enhancing dishes that are

responsibly and locally sourced. With these two advocates of mindful eating, Cebu’s food industry has become even more exciting. Potluk Pantry is providing us healthful food, delightful drinks and the causes and conditions for mindful eating.