(Manila, Philippines, November 30, 2021) – The second edition of the East meets West culinary competition run by Bord Bia, the Irish Food Board was an overwhelming success! The competition in the Philippines was initially launched in August 2020 as part of the European Pork and Beef promotional campaign. After the success of the 2020 event, the 2021 edition attracted almost 200 participants across the Philippines, ranging from professional chefs and culinary students to homecooks and foodie influencers.
The top 5 finalists presented their recipe in a nerve-wracking final cook-off held in the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Manila last Tuesday, 30th of November 2021. Each finalist had to demonstrate their outstanding culinary creativity utilizing European pork and beef from Ireland in Filipino or fusion cuisine. The top 5 finalists cooked their individually unique recipes in a tightly contested competition and presented them to the well-esteemed panel of chef judges.
The prestigious East Meets West Culinary Competition proudly announces the successful WINNER Joaquin Carsi Cruz, a student of Center for Culinary Arts-Manila, with his winning dish Pares sa Gubat: Shortrib and Mushroom Pares with Sweet Garlic Adlai Risotto and Mango Chili Fluid Gel. While his closest contender as the 1st runner-up is his culinary instructor Miguel Antonio Lorino who cooked Kabisera: Pahimis Coffee Braised European Beef Shank. Bianca Abola, a student of De La Salle-College of St. Benilde, came 2nd runner-up with her intriguing regional dish Bulcachong Smoked Pork Jowl Curry. The 3rd runner-up position went to Mae Romelin Almirante, a student from La Flamme Bleue Center for Culinary Arts, Iloilo City. She presented a classic Pork Belly Adobo with Mediterranean flair in Tagine. Marc Rensus Espinosa, a culinary student from Tarlac City, came 4th runner-up with his Pork Belly Binagoongan dish.
Our world-renowned chef judging panel including: Chef Mark Hagan, Executive Chef of Grand Hyatt Manila – Bonifacio Global City; Chef Philip John Golding, Founding Chairman of Disciples d’Escoffier International Asia – Philippines and Donie Bigcas, 2020 East Meets West Culinary Competition winner, carefully evaluated the winning recipes to ensure they have excellent presentation and high quality world-class standards.
The recipes of the top 5 finalists were judged for the final round according to the following criteria:
• Taste and Texture – 50%
• Correct professional cooking & preparation -25%
• Mise en place – 10%
• Presentation – 10%
• Authenticity and originality of the recipe – 5%
Chef Mark Hagan, the Executive Chef of Grand Hyatt Manila, BGC, was impressed by this year’s finalists in their collective ability to create videos that “showed their ‘heart and soul’ while demonstrating the dish preparation, kitchen skills, and plating/setting.”
Chef Philip John Golding, at the start of the competition enumerated quite a list of qualities he was looking for, but the “key point is the expertise in bringing out the flavor of the high quality European pork and beef from Ireland.”
Donie Bigcas, the 2020 East Meets West Culinary Competition, winner from last year felt emotional as he was in the very same position just a year ago and was well impressed with the standard on display.
Bord Bia, the Irish Food Board’s aim through this competition is to raise awareness of the high quality and unique taste of European pork and beef from Ireland. Marion Rogan, EU Pork & Beef Programme manager at Bord Bia, said, “We are delighted with the strong interest shown in the 2021 competition and the high standard of recipes on display. We would like to congratulate our top 5 winners in successfully reaching the final and thank all participants who entered the competition.”
Exciting prizes won by the top 5 finalists include: a prize pool of PHP325,000 gift vouchers, a cooking class with renowned chefs Philip John Golding and Mark Hagan, a luxurious hotel stay with Irish breakfast and high-quality chef’s kit supplies.
For more details of the European Pork and Beef Campaign in the Philippines:
– Website: https://europeanporkbeef.com/ph
– Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/EUPorkandBeefPH
– Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/euporkbeef_ph