The country’s biggest and most-awaited food fair, Best Food Forward is now on its 4th year! As always, expect a fun food-filled weekend packed with innovative cooking demonstrations, celebrity chef appearances, and of course specialty food stalls.
We’ve recently taste-tested some of this year’s first-time merchants. And boy, are we all in for a smorgasbord of flavors. Here are some of the yummy food you can look forward to at the fair:
Helmed by ex-advertising executive Cy Ynares, The Bald Baker started Christmas 2013 selling banana cupcakes. He later on took a break and decided to focus on baking a sweet treat which he genuinely enjoyed munching on – cookies! (Seriously, who doesn’t love cookies?) The Bald Baker’s Chocollows, which is the best thing that has ever happened to cookies, is an ooey gooey version of the classic choocolate chip cookie. It’s playful mix of marshmallows and chocolate chips will surely satisfy even foodies with the most discriminating taste.
Best-seller: Chocollows
Price: P60 per cookie (Chocollows), P65 per cookie (other flavors)
What we recommend: Aside from the delightfully addicting chocollows, we recommend that you get your hands on their new flavor, White Chocolate Cranberry – a moist and chewy cookie packed with white chocolate chips and cranberries!
Voila! Jars started with a firm belief that when it comes to cakes, nothing beats something that’s freshly baked. Armed with this principle and some backing by gourmet chefs, Voila! Jars was born. Voila! Jars are ready-to-bake jar cakes that anyone can make in 3 easy steps. First, pour packet contents into jar and add 6 tablespoons of water. Second, mix well. Third, Microwave it for 1 – 1½ minutes high without the lid, et voila! Enjoy eating your freshly-baked cake.
Best-seller: Belgian Fudge No. 5
Price: P120 per jar
What we recommend: Order both Belgian Fudge No. 5 and Peanut Butter Mudcake!
Crust and Crumb started like most home-based bakers, after getting a lot of positive feedback and clamor from friends who have tasted their baked goodies, Aldwin Aspillera and Mich Demavivas decided to put up their own business. Aside from their well-loved Spanish Bread and Baguette, they’re also planning to introduce new items like Sourdough Pandesal, Red Velvet Cookies, and Ciabatta Sourdough Loaves at the fair.
Best-sellers: Spanish Bread and Baguette
Price: Spanish Bread – P150 (pack of 6), Baguette – P60
What we recommend: Crust and Crumb’s take on Spanish Bread is a must-try but their Cheese Pull-Apart Loaf (P180) steals the spotlight. It’s pillow soft texture and cheesy filling will make you finish an entire loaf in no time!
If you want to test how adventurous your palate can go, try Moo-la-la’s unconventional flavors. Their Peppermint Brownie and Strawberry Coffee flavors are perfect for the most rebellious taste buds.
Best-sellers: Salted Toffee Caramel, Peppermint Brownie, Tibok Tibok
Price: P275 per pint
What we recommend: Salted Toffee Caramel
Crunchy Crab was founded by a group of friends who wanted to make seafood more fun and approachable. They’ve developed a seafood menu that’s both tastefully filling and affordable. They’re soft-shell crabs are sourced from a farm in Mindanao to ensure freshness of their crab burgers. Aside from Best Food Forward, you can catch them every Saturday at the Greenfield Weekend Market.
Best-sellers: Soft-shell Crab Burgers, Shrimp BLT, Shrimp Bucket
Price: Soft-shell Crab Burger – P165, Shrimp BLT – P135, Shrimp Bucket – P150 (¼ lb), P250 (½lb), P320 (1lb)
What we recommend: Shrimp BLT’s perfect combination of Cajun fried shrimps and crispy bacon won over our tummies
Special Mention:
BFF’s perennial hit, Paella Margarita will be back this year! Prepare your tummies for their best-selling Paella Negra and Paella Valenciana which have been declared by some foodies as one of the best paellas in the metro. It’s so good, even the only member of our team who normally shies away from rice easily gobbled up an entire plate. If that’s not love at first bite, then what is?
Best-sellers: Paella Negra, Paella Valenciana
Price: Paella Negra, Paella Valenciana, Callos, Bacalo – P280 per solo serving, Lengua – P350 per solo serving; For Paella Negra/Paella Valenciana – P4,500 (serves 10 – 12), Lengua – P4,500 (serves 12 – 15), Callos, Bacalo – P3,900 (serves 12 – 15), Chicken Iberico P1,900 (serves 6)
What we recommend: The Paella Negra is arguably one of the best paellas in town
Best Food Forward 2014 is happening on October 11-12, 2014, from 10am – 8pm at the Rockwell Tent. For more information on how to participate as a concessionaire, sponsor or simply be at the much-awaited event, please call (63 917) 887-1933, (63 920) 914-8175 or (63 2) 701-1398, and like Best Food Forward on Facebook.
