Town known for eggplant to launch cookbook

VILLASIS, Pangasinan, Philippines – After successfully staging four series of talong (eggplant) cookfests as part of its annual fiesta celebration, this town is set to make a record by launching a book that contains the winning recipés of its main vegetable produce on Jan. 15 next year. 

Dita Abrenica, wife of Mayor Nonato Abrenica, told The STAR that they decided to come up with the “101 Ways to Cook Talong” book upon the prodding of their townmates based abroad. 

“(The book) is now being prepared and ready for the launching on Jan. 15,” said Mrs. Abrenica, who regularly chairs the Talong Cookfest. 

Aside from the winning recipés in the past four years, she said they have added some bestselling dishes and have conducted actual cooking demonstrations to see if these would click with the people. 

“This talong cookbook will prove to all that indeed this long, purple-colored vegetable produce that has made our town synonymous with it, can be cooked in unlimited ways,” she said. 

Twelve of Villasis’ 21 barangays are engaged in eggplant production with a total of 3.35 square kilometers planted with the vegetable.