DOT celebrates PHL declaration as 'emerging influencer' in global culinary map

The Philippines was identified as an "emerging market of influence" in The Future of Food, a report released in April 2015 by Catch On, an independent strategic marketing and communications consultancy agency based in Hong Kong and Shanghai.

 

"The food festival Madrid Fusion's decision to hold its annual event in (the) Philippines this April signals the country's growing influence and importance," the report read. 

 

A year later, the Department of Tourism, celebrated the accomplishment and affirmed the declaration that the country has a place in the global culinary map. 

 

"The fact that the organizers of the prestigious Madrid Fusion decided to hold the first and only Asian edition in the Philippines signalled to the rest of the world the growing influence and importance of Philippine cuisine and the Filipino talent. As more travellers are starting to choose their travel destinations and plan their itineraries based on the food culture of a place, this is definitely an added boost to Philippine tourism,” Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez, Jr. said in a statement on Tuesday.

 

Along with China, Iran, Israel, Korea, Mexico, Peru, and Vietnam, the Philippines was named part of the new Gastronomic 8.

 

"Our Gastronomic 8 were chosen because of their nascent yet vibrant food scene and how their indigenous ingredients and culinary traditions are increasingly finding their way into world cuisine," the report by Catch On read, "The fact that half of them come from Asia demonstrates the region's growing influence globally."

 

According to the report, Filipino cuisine has long been misunderstood and dismissed as a "bland mishmash of culinary references" that stem from its colonial past. 

 

"Filipino cuisine is becoming more than the sum of its sawsawans (sauces)," the report continues, crediting the surging economy for attracting internationally renowned chefs like Nobu Matsuhisa and Davide Oldani. 

 

Global influences

 

Moreover, local chefs like Margarita "Gaita" Fores are also gaining more confidence in "interpreting native dishes infused with global influences."

 

Aside from Fores and her restaurant Grace Park, Catch On also gave recognition to other "Hot Personalities and Restaurants" in the Philippines:

Catch On also cited Paul Qui of Qui (Texas), Dale Talde of Talde (New York), and Cris Comerford (executive chef at The White House) as key personalities in the landscape of Filipino cuisine.

 

The report also identifies kinilaw, sisig, adobo, dinuguan, chicken inasal, lechon, and halo-halo as the country's signature dishes. — APG, GMA News