Mindanao Culinary Festival on its 7th year!

THIS year marks another milestone in the culinary industry in the fruitful city of Davao! Now on their 7th successful year, the Davao Tourism Association (DATA) has staged the biggest and most prestigious culinary event in Mindanao, the Mindanao Culinary Festival back to back with the 4th International, Hotel, Restaurant and Home Expo last October 5-7, 2007 at the NCCC Convention Center.

Some of the participants included (Professionals): Apo View Hotel, Casa Leticia, DMMA Culinary School, Garden Oases, Grand Regal Hotel (Over-all Champion, Professional Category), Merco Quality Cakes, NCCC Foods, Royal Mandaya Hotel, The Venue, Villa Margarita, Waterfront Insular Hotel, etc. (Students): Assumption College od Davao, Bronkenshire College, Davao Doctors' College, Davao Merchant Marine Academy, Gabriel Taborin Technical School, Goldenstae College, MATS College of Technology, Mindanao Polytechnic College, Notre Dame Of Midasayap, Philippine Womens' College (over-all Champion, Students Division), Polytechnic College of Digos, Samson Institute of Technology, St. Joseph Technical Academy, St. Mary's College-Tagum, University of the Immaculate Conception, University of Mindanao, University of Mindanao-Tagum and others.

For the Professional Category, there were eighteen (18) competitions, namely: Nestle Foodservices Market Basket, Unilever Food Solutions Market Basket, Table Setting, Coca-cola Bartending, Nestea Mocktails, Flavors of Mindanao Espresso Challenge by Monin, Wedding Cake Decoration, Centerpiece Arrangement, Cold Dessert Platter, 3-Plated Cold Appetizers, Tuna Platter, Unilever Food Solutions 3-S, Waiters' Relay, Fruit and Vegetable Carving, URC Globe Flour Artistic Bread Display, URC Globe Flour Durian Bake-off and Pastry Showpiece. As for the Student Category there were thirteen (13) contests such as: Nestle Foodservices Market Basket, Tanduay Bartending, Coca-cola Mocktails, Nestle Ice Cream Desserts, Table Skirting, Table Setting, Goldilocks Cake Decoration, URC Globe Flour Durian Bake-Off, Centerpiece Arrangement, Napkin Folding, Waiters' Relay, Fruit and Vegetable Carving, and Unilever Food Solutions 3-S Competition.

A great number of visiting chefs acted as judges for the competitions. The judges are respected chefs known in their own culinary field from Manila, Cagayan de Oro and Cebu namely: Andreas Katzer (Le Souffle), Anson Ng (Malacañang), Dorothy Ferreria, (Dorothy Cooking School), Ed Tuazon (The Marco Polo Hotel), Gene & Gino Gonzalez (Center for Asian Culinary Studies), J Gamboa (Cirkulo and Milkyway Restaurants & Director, Les Toques Blanches Philippines), Joanne Limoanco (Unilever Food Solutions), Lawrence Erfe (Center for Asian Culinary Studies), Norbert Gandler (Director for Culinary Arts, ISCHAM), Norma Chikiamco (Editor, Food Magazine), Paul Tee (Café Breizh), Penk Tan (Pastry Bin), Ritchie Mearns (Boyds Pizza House), Thomas Wenger (Mandarin Oriental), Wilfredo Quilatan (Philippine Airlines), Paddy Lascano (The Venue/Holoiday Spa), Marissa Te-Eng Fo (Columnist), Gatchi Gathcalian (Bluegre), Arlene Puentespina (Puentespina Farms), and many, many others. It was also a humbling experience serving as a judge together with some fellow Cagaya-anons like Ingrid Agudo & Eileen San Juan.

Several culinary demonstrations were also held in the demo room. I personally did a "Chocolate Candy making using CK Molds" for PSG Corp., a company based in Manila that also sells Oneida quality products. The attendees also had their share of the finished products which we have prepared ahead of time. Because a group of students failed to attend my demo, I had to do it again in the afternoon at the PSG booth to the delight not only the students, but also the other participants as well.

Several booths showcased their products ranging from processed foods to dry goods. The Indigenous Food Pavilion and the Mango Pavilion by DAREMCA are specially featured. The Indigenous Food Pavilion showcased specialty cuisines of the different cultural communities while the Mango Pavilion displayed all sorts of mango products from fresh produce to processed food and beverages.

I would personally like to thank the organizers, the whole group of DATA for inviting me and for the warm hospitality. To Ms. Baby Montemayor, Councilors Susabel Reta, Gene Bangayan, Susan Palad & Art Boncato and also their secretary, Ruby. As usual, I made a lot of new friends in Davao. Many thanks also goes to PSG Corp for the beautiful Oneida cutlery they gave me. Till next year! Congratulations for a job well done!

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/cag/2007/10/11/life/mindanao.culinary.festival.on.its.7th.year!.html