The Food Showdown 2009
Front, from left are The Days Hotel Food
and Beverage Consultant Rey Ponsaran,
The Days Hotel General Manager Inky
Dario, Iloilo Convention Visitors Bureau
President Edgar Sia, St. Therese
President Terry Sarabia, The News
Today's Managing Editor Marichel
Magalona and chef Miner del Mundo.
At the back are the participants.
When America has its Iron Chef, Iloilo City has its own with the holding of the Food Showdown 2009, aka Chef Wars.
The first elimination was held recently at The Avenue, with St. Therese MTC College students competing against food practitioners of the different The Avenue restaurants. Each team has three competitors and they were asked to make three recipes.
Amazingly, the students garnered the top ranks in this competition. The first placers were Mark Errol Salvador, Arjie Janito and Paolo Daban of St. Therese. Their creations were Sinigang na Inasal, Grilled Bangus sa Gata and Estofadong Baboy. The second placers were Jim Bobis, Benedict Benedicto and Rojene Latumbo of St. Therse.
The winners from St. Therese College
with Inky Dario and Edgar Sia.
They cooked Chicken Caldereta with Chorizo Sauce, Bangus Bistek and Pan-Grilled Pork with Ginataan Sauce. The third placers were Julie Javillo, Mark Canuday and Rex Galarpe, who cooked Grilled Pork Chop, Latik sa Adobo and Lumpiang Bangus. The fourth placers were Santi Sodaria, James Balleza and Marilyn Medel. They made Pork and Green Mango Crepes, Creamy Native Chicken Broccoli Soup and Flaked Bangus Patty with Spicy Pineapple Glaze.
The judges were Marichel Magalona of The News Today and Rey Ponsaran & Inky Dario of The Promenade.
The event was a project of the Iloilo Convention and Visitors Bureau headed by Edgar Sia.