CCA tops first Philippine Culinary Cup

MANILA, Philippines - Students and chefs from the Center for Culinary Arts (CCA, Manila) wowed leaders and connoisseurs from the food and beverage industry once again after winning medals in the recently concluded First Philippine Culinary Cup, a competitive event that is part of WOFEX 2010 (World Food Expo), the biggest food show in the country held at the SMX Convention Center.  

CCA, Manila student Sonny Mariano won the gold medal in the Live Pasta category with chef Mira Cruz, chef-instructor, as coach. The pasta dish, entitled Rolled Spaghettini filled with Forest Mushroom Mousse, Cheese Stuffed Tomato Confit, and Truffle Cream Air, used a technique dubbed cannelloni-style using spaghettini.

Mariano also bagged silver under the category Live Filipino Cuisine with his teammates Chino Salazar and Earl Michael Calica. Under the supervision of CCA, Manila chef-instructors Mira Cruz, Jon Tin and Richie Custodio, the four delectable and distinct Filipino dishes (puso rice, kulawo, pinais na hipon, and pork hardinera) were presented to the judges and public.  

Student Raymond Mendoza got a silver medal in the category Live Local Seafood with his dish Trio Pepper Crusted Bangus Belly with Pomme Pave, Chives Hollandaise and Caponata. He was also coached by chef Mira Cruz. 

Marie Anne Uy bagged a bronze medal under the category Wedding Cake Display with chef Carol Lavin, CCA, Manila’s chef-instructor, serving as coach. Marie was inspired by the words je t’aime (I love you) in French.

Also cited for bronze was Arthur Ong in Dress the Cake with his entry Chocolate Satisfaction. Chef Carol was also the coach of Arthur, who said he was inspired and fascinated with chocolate.

CCA, Manila is currently accepting enrollees for the 13-Day Fundamentals in Culinary Arts Course (FCAC) – a program designed for novice chefs and culinary hobbyists who want to take their cooking skills to a higher level. For more information, call CCA, Manila at 994-2520/30/40, e-mail marketing@cca-manila.com or visit the website at www.cca-manila.com.