The East Meets West culinary competition, organised by Bord Bia – the Irish Government Food Board, attracted a large entry of just under 200 participants from a diverse range of professional chefs, culinary students, food influencers, and kitchen-savvy home cooks from all over the country.
The judging panel was tasked to review all entries carefully and to select the top 10 semi-finalists. The judging panel comprises of world-renowned chef judges Chef Mark Hagan, Executive Chef of Grand Hyatt Manila – Bonifacio Global City and Chef Philip John Golding, Founding Chairman & President of Disciples de Escoffier International Asia – Philippines, the talented chef Donie Bigcas, the grand prize winner of the East Meets West Culinary Competition 2020 and Bord Bia representatives. Marion Rogan, EU Pork & Beef Programme Manager, said, “We are delighted with the greatly increased entry numbers in the East meets West culinary competition in 2021 and the standard of creativity has excited the judging panel. We look forward to the grand final and finding this year’s top 5 winners.”
The top ten semi-finalists include:
- Bianca Abola|
Student, De La Salle, College of Saint Benilde
Bulcachong Smoked Curry - Mae Romelin Almirante
Student, La Flamme Bleue Center for Culinary Arts, Iloilo City
Preserved Lemon and Capers Pork Adobo Tagine - Joaquin Carsi Cruz
Student, Center for Culinary Arts – Manila
Charred Onion Adobo with Sweet Garlic Puree and Ensaladang Mangga - Marc Rensus H. Espinosa
Student, University of Santo Tomas
Striploin Bistek - Mae Loren Guerrero
Student, Apicius Culinary Arts, Laoag
Sticky Pork Belly with Sukang Ilocos - Ibrahim Hawari
Student, Apicius Culinary Arts, Parañaque
Bilbilunak (Bilbil Belly and Bilunak Spinach) - Miguel Antonio S. Lorino
Chef Instructor, Center for Culinary Arts – Manila
Kabisera: European Pork Belly Braised in Pahimis Coffee - Charmanie Pua
Student, Center for Culinary Arts – Manila
Bistek Asado with Garlic, and Tausi Suman; Ensaladang Labanos, Pinya at Kamatis, and Pork Crackling Crumbs - Louise Orlane R.Reyes
Student, University of Santo Tomas
Short Rib Beer Pares - Kenneth M. Villanueva
Student, University of Batangas
Deconstructed Pork Belly Sisig with Lime caviar, Chicken Liver Pate and Homemade Mayonnaise
In cooking, culinary techniques are the most essential; however, originality, creativity and innovation of one’s recipe are equally important to express the character or story of the dish making it more meaningful. The panel of judges was thrilled by the imaginative recipes that featured endemic, regional and indigenous Filipino ingredients like labanos (radish), sukang Ilocos (vinegar), and pahimis coffee (exclusive blend of roasted Robusta, Arabica, Excelsa & Liberica). Charmaine Pua, a student of Center for Culinary Arts Manila, won her place in the semi-finals with her entry called Bistek Asado with Garlic and Tausi Suman, with Ensaladang Labanos, Pinya at Kamatis and Pork Crackling Crumbs. This recipe was inspired by the traditional Chinese dish called Machang. Another interesting recipe was Bulcachong Smoked Curry by Bianca Abola of De La Salle University – College of Saint Benilde. Bulcachong is typically a Filipino Soup cooked with carabao meat. It is unique as well as comforting and traditional.
Bulcachong Smoked Curry 
Bistek Asado with Garlic, and Tausi Suman; Ensaladang Labanos, Pinya at Kamatis, and Pork Crackling Crumbs 
Charred Onion Adobo with Sweet Garlic Puree and Ensaladang Mangga
From October 15th – 30th, the semi-finalists are tasked to submit and present both their pork and beef recipes in their own creative way in a short video describing the positive aspects of the dish, such as aroma, taste and texture. The judges will evaluate their recipes according to the following judging criteria: creativity (40%), presentation (30%) and video introduction (30%) for selection of the top five finalists.
The top 5 finalists of the East Meets West culinary competition will be announced on the 8th of November. The five finalists will showcase their world-class Filipino culinary talents by cooking their winning recipes at a final cook-off event. The Top 5 Winners will then be announced by rank highlighting the overall winner.
There is an exciting prize pool to compete for that includes PHP325,000.00 prize vouchers, a cooking class with renowned chefs Philip John Golding and Mark Hagan, a luxurious hotel staycation with Irish breakfast and high quality chef’s kit supplies.
For more details of the European Pork and Beef Campaign in the Philippines, a campaign financed with aid from the European Union, visit the website https://europeanporkbeef.com/ph. Please visit the Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/EUPorkandBeefPH/ and Instagram page: http://www.instagram.com/euporkbeef_ph/.
