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‘Sushi’ cakes, gourmet dips, among top local products at IFEX Philippines


Sushi cakes and gourmet bottle dips are just two of the top 10 emerging products from local food entrepreneurs and chefs, according to the Department of Trade and Industry-Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (DTI-CITEM). 
 
The top 10 products were revealed at CITEM's Red Box Food special exhibit at the 10th edition of the International Food Exhibition (IFEX) Philippines in SMX Convention Center, Pasay City that kicked off on Thursday. 
 
Originally for furniture and fashion, CITEM's Red Box is a development platform for young and up and coming designers, an avenue to showcase their products to more clients and the international market. Their works were usually exhibited at the Manila Furnishings and Apparel Manufacturers' Exchange (Manila FAME). 
 
CITEM Deputy Executive Director Rhea Matute explained that the program is meant to capture the innovators of the millennial generation and highlight how they express themselves. 
 
Red Box also gives young designers and entrepreneurs a chance to talk to experts on how to refine and improve their ideas and businesses. 
 
This year is the first time that CITEM introduced the Red Box program to the food and beverage industry and hand-picked local food entrepreneurs and chefs that offer "one-of-a-kind, innovative specialty products with strong potential for an international market." 
 
Matute told GMA News Online that online buzz and presence at weekend markets were keys in choosing the products that made it to Red Box Food. But more importantly, she sai,  they chose entrepreneurs whose hearts are in their venture. 
 
"It's all about having an eye for all these innovative concepts that are really authentic... Innovation but also the passion," she said. 
 
CITEM shortlisted and interviewed at least 25 local food entrepreneurs and chefs before choosing the top 10. 
 
Adam's Ice Cream

 
Using an old and tedious technique from France, every Adam's ice cream is cooked twice and rested or put aside for 24 hours before it is churned.

The creators also said they only use imported ingredients like cream from France, milk from Australia, cheeses from Spain, and many more. Some of the flavors Adam's offers are wasabi, Thai peanut, dark chocolate with chili, Italian blue cheese, and even a unique combination of Spanish wine and goat cheese. 
 
Bucky's

 
"It's not brownies. It's Bucky's," owner Miguel Vargas clarified even before anyone could ask what his products are. Indeed, Bucky's are not brownies. They are a mixture of his three favorite desserts: fudge, chocolate cakes, and brownies--of course. The result of this fusion is a soft, chewy "cake" that melts in your mouth. 
 
Chili Chili Bang Bang

 
This is nacho ordinary dip. Chili Chili Bang Bang promises to bring more spice to your usual chips with flavors like "Bite the Bullet," "The Big Bang," and "Chili Con Quezo." 
 
Deep Dips

 
Created by Chef Arnold Bernardo, Deep Dips gourmet bottles try to add more flair to your usual dining by taking ordinary ingredients to the next level.

It mixes bagoong with spicy chocolate, mushrooms, or tamarind, among other innovations. 
 
EDSA Beverage Design Group 


 
EDSA Beverage Design Group prides themselves in being pioneers in the "pursuit of the noble beverage." This group makes their own coffee, cocktails, sodas, and beers.   
 
Pink Wasabi

 
Hand-rolled sushi cakes? What?

Pink Wasabi is the brainchild of Chef Anna Chua. She makes hand-rolled cakes filled with ganache wrapped in chocolate and topped with other sweets.

Her signature flavors include Oolong Berry with Strawberry Roe and Midnight Mint with Mint Roe. 
 
Slurp Coffee

 
Fashioning themselves as coffee connoisseurs was on point.

The team behind Slurp Coffee creates custom-made coffee blends using locally-sourced as well as imported beans.

A word of caution, though, their blends are really strong--perfect for those who need a caffeine kick. 
 
The Original Cookie Sticks

 
Cookie Sticks are a modern twist to an all-time classic. Its offers include snickerdoodles, almond butter. Cookie Sticks also has grissini or breadsticks in Italian herb, parmesan, and garlic. 
 
Up in the Clouds Ice Cream 

 
With flavors like campfire smores, butterbeer, and choco rocky mountain, it is impossible not to be taken to the cloud nine after you get a taste of Up in the Clouds ice cream. 
 
Voila! Jars
 

 
You don't need to go through the long process of baking just to get your cake fix.

In just three easy steps, you will get a chance to enjoy any of these picks: Red Velvet Vanilla Fudge, Belgian Fudge, and Peanut Butter Mudcake!

Just add water, microwave it for a minute--voila! You'll have your cake, and it'll be heated, too. — JDS, GMA News
 
You can visit the Red Box Food products at the IFEX Philippines at the SMX Convention Center. It will run until May 24. For more information, check out http://www.ifexphilippines.com/en/.
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