Chef Claude Tayag wins ‘People’s Choice Award’ at 8th Annual Embassy Chef Challenge
MANILA, Philippines – Chef Claude Tayag’s bringhe and Enzo Lim’s special cocktail bagged the People’s Choice Award at the 8th Annual Embassy Chef Challenge organized by Events DC and Cultural Tourism DC last May 25 at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center.
“The Filipino people won it. We have conquered the world with our cuisine,” said Chef Claude. “See the trending here in the US. Philippine cuisine has crept into the mainstream. They know about adobo, pancit, and lumpia. A lot of people around the world have what I call a ‘Filipino cuisine connection.’ I really think it is our decade.”
Master mixologist and restaurateur Enzo Lim, whose special cocktail was described as “bold in its use of tropical flavors and locally inspired by way of ginger zest and kalamansi,” shared Chef Claude’s enthusiasm and excitement about the Philippines’ inaugural participation in the Challenge.
“This is the first time we joined and I am glad that I’m a part of it. It is a great way to learn about the cuisines of other countries and obviously, to showcase ours, which I think we did,” added Enzo Lim.
The Philippines’ offering bested the entries of 17 other embassies in the People’s Choice category whose results were compiled through social media and hard copy ballot voting. Chef Craig Greenridge, representing the embassy of Barbados, took home the Judges’ Choice Award.
“Winning the People’s Choice Award is a nod to the world-class quality of our cuisine, its strong appeal to international palates, and of course, to the talent of Chef Claude and Enzo. With this achievement, we hope to bring our culinary diplomacy to even greater heights,” said Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose L. Cuisia, Jr.
Flavors of the Philippines a joint project of the Philippine Embassy, Philippine Trade and Investment Center and Office of the Agriculture Attaché in Washington D.C., is supported by the US-Philippines Society, Philippine Airlines, Seafood City Supermarket, and 13 Degrees North.
