SAVOUR NATURE’S CUISINE

Savour Nature 2005 is epicurean delights for the soul, business and the environment.

For the third straight year, retailer Ayala Land Inc. and conservation organization World Wildlife Fund(WWF) -Philippines have teamed up for Savour Nature which is now one of the much-awaited annual culinary event for epicures and environmentalists in highly-urbanized Metro Manila. The food festival has been drawing some of the best fine dining restaurants in Greenbelt 2 and 3, its world-class chefs putting in their time and resources to whip dishes for a banquet that honors biodiversity and to raise funds for the conservation of the country’s fragile natural resources.

This year, there are 15 participating restaurants in the food festival. On November 23 at Greenbelt 3 Park, these restaurants, Bizu, Café Havana, Casa Armas, Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, D’ Marks, Segafredo, Sugi, Una Mas, MyLK, Gaudi, Max Brenner, People’s Palace, Seafood Club, and Zhongnannhai will line up a sumptuous buffet-style banquet.

For only P350 per person, 300 ticket holders can take part in the feast of delectable cuisine. Each restaurant will be featuring at least one of their bestsellers.

To further drum up interest in the food fest, some of the participating restaurants agreed to have select food writers sample their original dishes that will be featured in this week’s banquet.

Some of the sure hits include the Spanish chorizo lumpias of Gaudi; Bizu’s Violette, a delicious, melt-in-your-mouth tart filled with almond and pastry cream and dulce de gatas topped with ube cream swirls; Max Brenner’s Fruity Chardonnay, a merry mix of chardonnay in jello, with slices of fresh apples and grapes served chilled in a cocktail glass; MyLK’s tuna skewers on organic rice, Zhongnannhai’s Xiao Long Pao soup dumpling, and People’s Palace’s refreshing prawn, pomelo and coconut salad.

"This is all for a good cause. I believe that everyone in the city, especially establishments like us, have the responsibility to pitch in and take part in an event that supports the conservation or preservation of the environment," says Alexandra G. Cacho of Gaudi.

Cacho notes that the restaurants’ participation in Savour Nature will hopefully raise the environmental consciousness of city dwellers, especially urbanites who have the capacity to make a difference by really throwing in their support and commitment to sustain critical environment conservation projects in the country.

"I always say that it is my dream that my grandchildren will one day be able to fish at Manila Bay and swim in the Pasig River. Singapore has done it, it took years but what it demonstrates is that a concerted effort can make these aspirations a reality, it can really be done," adds Cacho.

All funds raised from Savour Nature will go to the conservation initiatives of WWF-Philippines. The organization’s 20 conservation projects are located in some of the most critical and biologically-rich areas.

The proceeds of the food festival will help fund existing projects like the Humback Whale Research and conservation in the Babuyan Islands, Community-based resource management and food security of Northen Guimaras Strait, developing capacity to long-term conservation of the Tubbataha Reefs, population, health and environment in Roxas. Other efforts include participation in the Marine Mammal Strnading Networks and the establishment of Bantay Dagat units in and around Balayan Bay in Batangas, the Sulu-Sulawesi marine ecoregion, an ecoregion of enormous ecological and economical importance, featuring productive ecosystems such as coral reefs, seagrass beds and mangrove forests., Sibuyan in Romblon, Donsol in Sorsogon, Tawi-Tawi and the Turtle Islands.

"As the challenge of environment conservation gets bigger, more and more people want to contribute to the cause. But often, making a difference is not accessible to individuals especially for urban dwellers. Savour Nature allows them to take part in various enjoyable events that suit their lifestyle while giving their own share in maintaining a living planet," says Louella Beltran, media officer of WWF-Philippines.

Environmental organizations like WWF-Philippines recognize that it makes good sense to tap the resources of business groups to sustain their various conservation campaigns, research and educational efforts. At the same time business establishments realize that participating actively in the conservation and responsible use of the earth’s resources is important for them to continue doing business.

Aside from the food festival is the photo exhibit of renowned wildlife photographer Scott ‘Gutsy" Tuason dubbed "Borrowed Vision," which features 20 of his most favorite nature shots. Many of Tuason’s work — of raw and aw-inspiring takes of underwater portals, magnificent sea creatures and complex reef systems, have been used several times for WWF’s publications and environmental education materials. The exhibit which runs until the end of November is at the Greenbelt 3 Cinema lobby. The rare photographs are for sale and part of the proceeds will go to WWF’s project sites.