PhilRice cookbooks reap int'l awards
TWO PhilRice cookbooks were recognized among the best cookbooks in the world in the 2018 Gourmand World Cookbook Awards held in Yantai, China, May 26-27.
The Mushroom Feast: A Collection of Filipino Mushroom Recipes, which features commonly cultivated mushrooms on ricebased farms in the Philippines, won 2nd place in the Truffles and Mushrooms category along with entries from France (1st place) and Sweden (3rd place).
The cookbook was edited by Rosaly Manaois, Riza Abilgos-Ramos, Josefina Ballesteros, and Amelia Morales of PhilRice’s Rice Chemistry and Food Science Division, together with the faculty members of the Department of Hospitality Management, Central Luzon State University. Carlo Dacumos of the Development Communication Division (DevCom) set the overall layout and design. He also served as photographer together with John Glen Sarol, also from DevCom.
Meanwhile the PhilRice Tapuy (Rice Wine) Cookbooks & Cocktails, a collection of recipes and cocktails using rice wine, bagged 3rd place in the Cocktails category together with entries from Canada (1st place) and USA (3rd place).
The flip-type cookbook was led by Chona S. Narvadez and Elga Magliocchi-Manangkil of the Business Development Division in collaboration with top chefs around the Philippines. The editorial team include Joy Bartolome A. Duldulao, Hanah Hazel Mavi M. Biag, and Mary Grace V. Lanuza. Carlo Dacumos designed the cookbook and served as main photographer. Duldulao and chef Bruce Lim provided additional photos.
Narvadez, one of the project leaders of the PhilRice Tapuy (Rice Wine) Cookbooks & Cocktails, said the cookbooks are meant to add value to rice production and increase awareness among Filipinos.
“The cookbooks should increase awareness about these culturally attached food products and increase their sales so farmers can produce and earn from them. We also hope the general public will patronize tapuy so it won’t be forgotten,” she said.
Established in 1995, the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards honors the best food and wine books, printed or digital, as well as food television every year and is regarded as the ‘Oscars’ of the food industry. This year, 1372 entries were chosen as finalists from 215 participating countries and regions for 100 categories in Food and 30 categories in Drinks.
Previous winners from the Philippines include celebrity chef Tatung Sarthou (1st place) and actress Judy Ann Santos (3rd place) in the Best Authors and Chefs Outside Europe category.