F&B experts from all over asia to speak during International Culinary Congress

CEBU, Philippines - To further enhance the food and beverage industry, Angelita Dy and Bernadette Jingco of Grandhope Ventures Ltd., in cooperation with the University of Cebu (Main Campus) – HRM Department is once again holding the International Culinary Congress (ICCON) on October 7 to 9, 2010 at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.

Ms. Jingco said she and Mrs. Dy saw the need for continuing education to enhance the present knowledge and skills of food and beverage practitioners which is why they created ICCON. “Food is our passion. We love to eat, we love to cook. We believe that there is something more to just dining and with an industry where we both grew up in, we saw the need for continuing education not only for ourselves but also for present and future practitioners,” she said.

ICCON was first held in 2005 at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel with the support of the Department of Tourism-Region VII, Province of Cebu and the City Government of Cebu, San Miguel Corporation, Café Laguna, Casino Espanol de Cebu, Creative Cuisine, Plantation Bay, Shangri-la’s Mactan Island Resort, Hilton Cebu Resort & Spa, City Sports Club, Conferie De la Chaine Des Rotisseurs, The Royal Institute of Public Health.

ICCON aims to enhance the food and beverage industry by imparting the best practices of the prime movers of the industry, developing linkages amongst amateur and professional practitioners, as well as national and international organizations, and showcase the finest in the industry.

The Congress targets the participation of companies involved in the food and beverage services and supply, the academe, hotels, resorts and restaurants, carenderia owners, caterers, hospital and corporate food concessionaires, and even housewives who want to learn more.

Short courses that discuss global trends and best practices which may benefit the culinary, hotel and restaurant, as well as food and beverage business highlight ICCON 2010. Culinary experts from Cebu, Manila, as well as other parts of Asia have been tapped to speak and share their expertise during the Congress.

Among the speakers during the ICCON 2010 are:

· Food and Beverage Managers Association in Singapore (FBMAS) President, Mr. Hai Poh Cheong, who discuss the practice of Food and Beverage as a part of every occasion and a practice that may be available for everyone who is interested.

· SHATEC Institutes Singapore Executive Chef Matthew Yim who will handle a short course on Hospitality Management and Catering.

· Belcris Foods Executive Chef Dietmar Deitrich, who will speak about sausage making.

· Chef and Food Stylist Eugene Raymundo will talk about Food Styling.

· Ms. Genie Arambulo, with Chef Eugene, will discuss techniques on Food & Lighting Photography.

· Tuan Haji Mahmud Mohd Nor from Dewan Usaha Wan Industry of Malaysia who will talk about Halal Certification.

CCON 2010 will also feature student category competitions in partnership with the University of Cebu-HRM Events Management Class.

Among the competitions to be held during the congress are Napkin Folding, Fruit and Vegetable Carving (Life/Freestyle), Fruit and Vegetable Carving (Display/Saving Flora and Fauna), Flairtending, Dress A Cake (Live/Debut), Lobby Centerpiece Making (Students and Teacher Tandem/Christmas), 3 Tier Cake (Philippine Festival Cake), Artistic Bread Showpiece (Pinoy Christmas Theme), Chefs Relay (Team of Three Students) and Celebrity Showcase, which will be a showdown of the deans and chairmen to promote camaraderie among participating schools. (THE FREEMAN)