Culinary Team Philippines defends title

MANILA, Philippines – Les Toques Blanches Philippines (LTB) Team prepares to battle it out once again at the Hong Kong International Culinary Classic held in the HK Convention Center on May 9.

The Philippine team, led by team captain Ariel Manuel of Lolo Dad’s Cafe and team manager Fernando Aracama of Embassy-Cuisine, will defend the title as the 2007 Gold and “Best of the Best” trophy winners in the Gourmet Team Challenge Competition. Let’s all cheer them on and support them by attending its fundraising dinners, enjoying over 30 different dishes that compose our official entry to the Gourmet Team Challenge, featuring foie gras, Maine lobster, Norwegian salmon, Wagyu beef, kurobota pork, Spanish cured meats, fine pastries, artisan breads and much more.

This year’s lineup is composed of Marge Villena from Lolo Dad’s Café, Andy Tabotabo of Lolo Dad’s Brasserie, pastry chef Pauline Lagdameo and chef baker Bubbles Lerias of the International School for Culinary Arts and Hotel Management (ISCAHM). Lending them assistance are Jopz Legaspi and David Uy of ISCAHM, Mark Lesaca of Lolo Dad’s Brasserie, and Johndy Rivera and Ria Mendoza of Malacañang Palace with Nana Nadal handling PR and logistics. All the activities will be under the supervision of LTB director Maja Gamboa of Cirkulo and Milkyway Restaurants and LTB president Othmar Frei of Werdenberg International Corporation.

For the Gourmet Team Challenge category, the gastronomic masterpiece will be a cold buffet spread consisting of a total of 27 different items such as tapas, soup, appetizers, desserts, cakes, artesanal breads, seafood and poultry platters which have to be prepared and presented to the judges in 24 hours.

Metal and glass artist Mike Aguas of Vulcan Resources designed and manufactured the display especially for the competition from recycled steel formed into cantilevered shelves. The theme (“Renewable and Sustainable Cuisine”) will be evident in both the menu and display.

There will be live cooking events as well, to be taken on by Carlo Miguel of Sala Restaurant. He will be participating in two categories. Ariel Manuel will also be joining the World Association of Chefs Societies (WACS) Global Chef Challenge, a live-market basket-cooking event where the competitors make menus from the ingredients presented and cook a four-course meal in five hours. If chef Ariel wins this category, he will represent Asia at the World Finals in the World Association of Chefs Societies (WACS) Congress in Santiago, Chile, in January 2010.

The LTB-Philippines Culinary team is supported by Ajinomoto, Werdenberg International Corporation, PTC, Mida Foods, Selecta, Alternatives Food Corporation, San Miguel Purefoods, Fonterra, Meat and Livestock Australia, Unilever Foodsolutions, Golden Acres Food Service, Happy Living Fine Wines, Sweetlink-Siliconezone Products, Chef Revival, Philippine Airlines, Kyocera Ceramic Knives, Gourdos and KLG.

If you’ve missed last Sunday’s fund raising dinner, here’s another chance for a taste of the team’s buffet entry on Sunday, April 5, 7 p.m. at Cirkulo Restaurant and on April 19 at a venue still to be determined. It’s P3,500 net per person, inclusive of iced tea, soft drinks, wine, local beer, coffee and tea. Seats are limited to 60 so reserve now at 810-8735, Cirkulo Restaurant, G/F Milkyway Building, 900 Arnaiz Ave. corner Paseo de Roxas, Makati City.