Danica and Ciara Sotto: Of Cousins and Cooking

Cousins Danica and Ciara Sotto share their many stories from the kitchen and motherhood.

It’s no secret that Danica and Ciara Sotto are close. The Sottos are quite clannish, the two remark. Besides only having a two-year age gap, being schoolmates, and being daughters of veteran actresses (Dina Bonnevie for Danica and Helen Gamboa for Ciara) bringing them close, their Lola — they recall — would always have a family gathering that the brothers (or their fathers) continue holding until today even after her passing. They would coordinate what they wear and that bond continues even into motherhood as they work together in the kitchen, becoming each other’s confidantes as they navigate being a modern-day mom.

“We would even just call each other to go grocery shopping or even yoga,” Danica reveals. “But that was before she [Ciara] moved to the south.”

Ciara laughs. “Yeah, we lived so close to one another. But the traffic is so different now. We can’t hang out as much and usually have to plan things out.”

Yet the distance hasn’t stopped them.

“Danica is someone I could always vent or talk to. Ever since we were kids,” Ciara reveals. “We would talk to each other about everything. While it doesn’t have to be a cousin, I’m just lucky that she [Danica] is!”

Savoring the sweet memories

But they still haven’t forgotten the sleepovers they had as children and the food that came from the Sotto kitchens. Some of these recipes even continue to grace their own family’s tables such as Baked Cheesy Prawns — a sure win between Danica’s three kids: 16-year-old Mic, 13-year-old Caela, and even one-and-a-half-year-old Jean-Luc. The meals even served as an inspiration for Danica’s cooking page: Kusinica.

“I learned cooking from my mom and Ninang Helen (Ciara’s mom),” Danica admits. “My mom was very old school. She would call me to join her in the kitchen and tell me, “Oh Nics, cut the carrots. Dapat matuto mo yan.”

“When Nics would come over, that was usually part of the visit. My mom was the one who always cooked family meals but she couldn’t cook just for two; it was always a feast!” Ciara beams. “And she’s still cooking — even at 77 years old!”

Being the masters of their home kitchens

Now as moms, Danica and Ciarra Sotto now have to deal with what parents will consider the toughest food critics in the world: their kids!

“A meal with Crixus is always so eventful,” Ciara laughs. “Besides him always having stories to tell, he just loves spicy food! Like the Spicy Shrimp I make for him. Or Chicken Wings from Frankie’s.”

The 9-year-old’s love for spicy food seems to run in the family — something Ciara shares she believes he got from her and her dad. “Tabasco is his go-to. Everything needs Tabasco, from pizza to spicy shrimp to fried chicken! He used to like Sriracha because I would mix it in the Spicy Shrimp but once he tasted Tabasco, that was it,” she intimates.

While Ciara’s meal with Crixus is an eventful one bonded over soccer stories and spicy food, Danica reveals the challenge of balancing the tastebuds of her three children. “My eldest, Mic, is the picky eater. Caela likes soups and food with sauce. But Jean-Luc eats anything, thank God.”

With her eldest being a bit picky with food, separate meals would sometimes be made for him. It does get exhausting, Danica admits. “But I think it’s [Mic’s picky eating habits] because I used to be so careful with what he eats. Plus, he’s an athlete so he eats more.”

But siblings do tend to rub off on each other as Caela learns more about Western food and Mic explores Filipino flavors. They share a love for curry, reveals Danica. “They sometimes make special requests. Like Caela would ask for Japanese curry. Then even Indian curry — there are just some flavors that hit differently for them!”

As to the secret to Jean-Luc’s flexible taste palate, Danica reveals she’s been doing some baby-led weaning. “Not too aggressively though since there are some parts of the practice that my husband [Marc Pingris] isn’t too keen about. So we just keep it small and so far, it’s been working. He eats everything!”

Eating to live, not living to eat

They say that a person’s meal is also reflective of their lifestyle. Just like how Ciara and Crixus love spice in their meals, they embrace the fun as a soccer mom and son duo or the interesting tidbits that happened in school. With her son starting face-to-face classes and entering his tween years, Ciara reveals she’s letting Crixus “be a boy.”

“I’m letting him be messy, explore, try stuff like any kind of sport. And be more encouraging because I feel if I don’t, he’ll lack confidence. I’m being my son’s no. 1 cheerleader,” Ciara reveals.

Whereas, Danica’s ever-changing menu is reflective of the three kids in different phases of their lives. With Mic going into college soon, Caela entering adolescence, and Jean-Luc being a baby, the challenge is finding something that caters to all three of the kids – especially when traveling around.

“Mic’s at that stage where he’s going out with friends and it heads a little towards the later hours,” Danica reveals. “I admit I’m a bit of the conservative mom but, I’m trying to balance things. If it’s later at night, there’s a chaperone. Sometimes, it’s a family friend so it doesn’t feel so suffocating. And for Jean-Luc, sometimes, we really dedicate a day where it’s just everything he can do since Caela and Mic often have busy schedules.”

The best part is, she reveals, that the two having such large age gaps have “no jealousy.” “They’re the ones fighting for the attention of the baby!” she laughs.

That’s something both moms reveal they’re navigating together: adapting the conservative values into modern-day times. Just like how traditional recipes are reinterpreted for today’s diners, the traditional values just need a bit of tweaking in parenting executions to communicate their love for their kids.

This show is brought to you by Brittany Hotel BGC, the official home and venue partner of Modern Parenting Kitchen.

We would also like to thank Robinsons Supermarket, No Brand, AllHome, Rustans Marketing Corporation, and Nespresso.

Check out the CiaNica (Danica and Ciara Sotto’s) episode of Modern Parenting Kitchen here!

More about Ciara Sotto or Danica Sotto?

PHOTOS: Ciara Sotto’s Son, Crixus, Celebrates His 8th Birthday!
Marc Pingris and Danica Sotto-Pingris Celebrate Their Little Prince, Jean-Luc’s Birthday
Ciara Sotto: Blessings Despite Broken Dreams