‘Kain Na!’

Local food and travel festival heralds the holiday spirit

Festive celebration of the richlydiverse Filipino culinary culture will stir up the Christmas spirit with the simultaneous staging of the “Kain Na! Food & Travel Festival” of the Department of Tourism (DOT) in Davao City, Pampanga, and Laguna last Friday until Sunday.

DOT Secretary

said “Kain Na!” will showcase the specialties of local cuisine in the food and travel-fest’s latest edition that held at Davao City Ayala Mall; the Marquee Mall in Angeles City, Pampanga; and at the Ayala Mall, Solenad, Laguna.

“Travel experience, especially during the holidays, is really more fun when served with the fusion of the unique Filipino hospitality and delectable Filipino food,” said Berna.

She added that the series of events, held in partnership with the Ayala Malls, aims to promote distinct regional Filipino cuisine, as well as tourism destinations. The first edition was launched with two simultaneous events in Legazpi City, Albay and Cebu City last October while the launch in Cagayan de Oro was done in November.

“Each of the venues will feature prominent local chefs for degustation of distinguished guests. There is no way I’m

Romulo-Puyat Bernadette

sisig, morcon, tocino, lumpiang ubod and many more,” the DOT secretary added.

Slated to take the stage in Davao City are Chef and Chef

with their recipes, Tinunuang Pirit, Kagikit with Sinagapuna, and Pako Ensalada with Keso Itum; and Chef with his Malagos dark chocolate cake, durian panna cotta, and mangosteen peanut oat bars.

Featured Pampanga chefs and their recipes included: Atching San Nicolas, prenda, and suklating; Batirul Chef sisig, bringhe; Chef seafood paella; Chef catfish fillet on fermented rice and shrimp wrapped in mustard leaves; Chef tollhouse baked mac; Chef Adlai Chef sampayin; Apalit Chef Heinz, bibingkang halayang ube with pastillas.

Hugging the limelight in CaLaBaRZon were chefs and from Laguna, Chef

from Quezon province,

Paolo Garcia Shariff Khaled Pendatun Joel Frago

Rafael Ranido

Vic Dimawano, Fabian Maximilian Cabriga, Gene Gonzalez Nomer Maala Andre Vocalan

chefs

Sau,

Bang Sibala Cherry, Jam; Josie, Datu Lillian, Vince, Don, Angelica Costales Alfonso

and from Cavite, Chef from Batangas, and Chef from Rizal, each with their special recipes.

Exhibitors included hotels and restaurants, farm resorts, agro industry groups, eco-farm adventure parks, transport operators, and academe.

The local tourism offices presented specialty food products, coffee, vegetables, juices, handicrafts, and culinary tour packages.