“We were very excited to witness our talented Pinoy chefs showcase their ingenuity in making a classic Filipino dish stand out like we’ve never seen nor tasted before. This competition was created to provide an avenue for our chefs and cooks to showcase their talents and creativity to reignite everyone’s love for Filipino food. The talent and creativity of Pinoy chefs are definitely something to be proud of. As a team of chefs who understand the needs of the culinary industry, we at Unilever Food Solutions are always finding ways to provide them avenues to gain more inspiration, knowledge, and access to the right products that will complement that and help them improve the dining experience of their loyal diners.” ~James Benedict Carreon, UFS Philippines Managing Director
After a rigorous selection among 160 mouthwatering recipes of different Filipino dishes with a twist, only nine chefs and cooks from across the country battled it out at the grand cook-off of the first-ever Funlasang Pinoy Twist Fest competition by Unilever Food Solutions (UFS) Philippines. The finalist chefs were challenged to deliver the best tasting and most innovative take on the classic Pinoy dishes with fun twists that will surely fuel the love of Pinoy's for Filipino cuisine.
UFS Philippines Managing Director James Benedict Carreon shared that the aim of Unilever Food Solutions in creating the Funlasang Pinoy Twist Fest competition was to “provide an avenue for Filipino chefs and cooks to showcase their talents and creativity to reignite everyone’s love for Filipino food.”
After a rigorous selection among 160 mouthwatering recipes of different Filipino dishes with a twist, only nine chefs and cooks from across the country battled it out at the grand cook-off of the first-ever Funlasang Pinoy Twist Fest competition by Unilever Food Solutions (UFS) Philippines. The finalist chefs were challenged to deliver the best tasting and most innovative take on the classic Pinoy dishes with fun twists that will surely fuel the love of Pinoys for Filipino cuisine.
A staunch advocate of food innovation and modernization, Aracama Filipino Cuisine Executive Chef Fernando Aracama shared that “food innovation is staying faithful to the original concept of the dish but with the addition of creativity to improve the taste and overall experience of the diners as they eat it, which can help chefs and cooks to cater to the evolving palate of diners and to stand out from the clutter of food choices available these days.”
- Chefs and cooks from across the country unleash their creativity in putting a twist on classic Filipino dishes.
“Food innovation is not about changing the original recipe of a dish. It is about staying faithful to the original concept of the dish but adding creativity to improve the taste and overall experience of your diners as they eat it. We chefs need to remember this to cater to the ever-changing palate of diners who continue to seek a different kind of dining experience, and to stand out from the clutter of food choices available these days.” ~Chef Fernando Aracama
Among the classic Pinoy dishes that the finalists needed to innovate with a twist were:
- Sinigang
- Kaldereta
- Pansit
- Sisig and t
- Tapa
Using Knorr products and Lady’s Choice Real Mayonnaise. The dishes were closely scrutinized and judged by esteemed culinary experts:
- Executive Chef Fernando Aracama of Aracama Filipino Cuisine
- UFS Senior Sous Chef Brando Santos
- UFS Senior Sous Chef Paulo Sia
Based on the creativity of the twist, food taste and presentation, and the use of UFS products.
There are concessionaires in the event offering free taste and some are selling their products:
CRACKLE CHIPS
Made with 100% Philippine Potatoes
NIETA PRESERVES
Abuelas' jam recipes for today's taste buds. Handmade in the Philippines.
NATIVE GOURMET
Filipino Artisan Delicacies.
SABAW DUMPLINGS
Making Filipino Xiao Long Baos and Potstickers.
SISIGHORAY
The first and original freshly prepared Sisig.
TAPADDICTION BY MOM'S BREAKTIME
Mom's Breaktime offers All-Time Favorite dishes with a twist.
KAPENG MAINIT
By Chef Bryan Francisco " The greatest dishes are very simple". Serving coffee and modern Filipino comfort food: Tapa w/ kimchi rice, Tocino w/ sinigang rice, pasta etc and our famous Beignets.
HIRAYA BAKERY
A home bakery focused on combining sweet and savory flavors highlighting the best of what the Philippine landscape and harvest season can offer.
THINK WINK COOKIES
MAJALICIOUS
LOKALITEA
Lokalitea is a healthy drink alternative, made with freshly brewed turmeric tea as its base, with choices of all-natural flavors to choose from.
BALANGAY'S BEST
High-quality, wild-caught and naturally-processed Sustainable Seafood Products made by Artisan Filipino Fishers.
https://www.facebook.com/balangaysbest/
High-quality, wild-caught and naturally-processed Sustainable Seafood Products made by Artisan Filipino Fishers.
https://www.facebook.com/balangaysbest/
ENCHANTED NUTS
Enchanted nuts are the first Peanut brittle with unique and healthy flavors. Our vision is to grow bigger in order to help the others.
https://www.facebook.com/Enchanted-Nuts-231078137280103/
Freshly made & filled with love, Papa Rem uses his grandmother's recipe for cooking the Best Puto in Town!
HEALTHY NUGGETSS
Healthynuggetss-Patent-MALUNGGAYNUGGETS+other veggies.
https://www.instagram.com/healthynuggetss/
Healthynuggetss-Patent-MALUNGGAYNUGGETS+other veggies.
https://www.instagram.com/healthynuggetss/
BAGNET RICE PATONG
"Busugin at paligayahin ang bawat Pilipino, Tangkilikin ang sariling atin."
https://www.facebook.com/bagnetricepatong/
"Busugin at paligayahin ang bawat Pilipino, Tangkilikin ang sariling atin."
https://www.facebook.com/bagnetricepatong/
BAGWINGS
GOLDEN DUCK (Slated Duck Eggs and Golden Duck Burger)
GoldenDucK is a social enterprise in Gawad Kalinga - Enchanted Farm, Angat, Bulacan.
https://www.facebook.com/TGDPhilippines/
GoldenDucK is a social enterprise in Gawad Kalinga - Enchanted Farm, Angat, Bulacan.
https://www.facebook.com/TGDPhilippines/
MASTER FLAN (Duck Eggs Leche Flan)
Creamy Leche Flan made from Farm Fresh Duck Eggs. Produced lovingly by the hands of small girls with big dreams.
https://www.facebook.com/Gkenchantedfarm/
Creamy Leche Flan made from Farm Fresh Duck Eggs. Produced lovingly by the hands of small girls with big dreams.
https://www.facebook.com/Gkenchantedfarm/
OHGK (Origano, Honey, Ginger, Kalamansi)
KESO BESO
All natural health drink made from local farm grown oregano, ginger & kalamansi sweetened w/ honey.
After cutting through 160 entries and besting eight other Filipino chef finalists, Chef Danilo Puga II hails as the first-ever Funlasang Pinoy Twist Fest Champion with his original recipe of Octopus Sisig, a spin-off on the classic Pinoy favorite sisig dish. The culinary competition was initiated by Unilever Food Solutions (UFS) Philippines to provide an avenue for Filipino chefs and cooks to showcase their talents and creativity to reignite everyone’s love for Filipino food.
“Personally, mahilig kasi ako sa sisig [I personally like sisig]. We were thinking of healthier alternatives to sisig, so we used octopus instead. It was my father-in-law who introduced octopus to me. Whenever I would see octopus in the market, I would come up with different dishes with it, one of which was this dish. We should never be afraid of getting out of our comfort zone by using new ingredients or infusing different techniques to Filipino food because this will help the cuisine evolve. Innovation will bring the Filipino cuisine to the world map. Never stop learning and always believe in your talent. Also, practice the fundamental methods of cooking because at the end of the day, no matter how good your concept is, but the cooking method is not right, wala din. We have to go back to basics.” ~Chef Dan Puga II
Chef Danilo Puga II won the hearts of the chef judges with his own take on the classic Pinoy sisig by using octopus as a twist to his dish.
Octopus Sisig wins
Reigns Supreme with Octopus Sisig Dish at the First-ever Funlasang Pinoy Twist Fest.
Puga, 30, took up Culinary Arts and Technology Management at the Center for Culinary Arts but first worked in the corporate setting before pursuing his passion for cooking. After a leap of faith, deciding to make the great shift to fulfill his dream and also have more time with his family, he put up his own 40-seater restaurant in Antipolo called Minced Manila.
In line with UFS’ initiative to place the limelight on Filipino cuisine, Puga also shares in the same advocacy and practices food innovation in his own restaurant to help the cause, give Pinoy food the recognition that it deserves, and encourage chefs and cooks in the Philippines to create their own unique recipes too.
Apart from his now-award-winning Octopus Sisig dish, Puga also offers a variety of innovative and flavorful dishes with a twist such as Ensaladang Pakwan at Kesong Puti, Sizzling Fries, and Lechon Ceasar Salad in his restaurant.
Puga’s Octopus Sisig surpassed the rigorous judging by notable chefs in the industry, including Aracama Filipino Cuisine Executive Chef Fernando Aracama and UFS Senior Sous Chefs Brando Santos and Paulo Sia, and took home the grand prize of PHP 100,000. The unique dishes prepared by the nine finalists were scored according to the creativity of the twist, food taste and presentation, and the use of the UFS products such as Knorr and Lady’s Choice Real Mayonnaise.
This milestone is just the beginning of greater things to come for Chef Dan Puga as he envisions to put up even more restaurants if given the opportunity. In hopes to inspire chefs and cooks with his win at the Funlasang Pinoy Twist Fest, he would like to create even more impact on those who share the same passion and love for cooking.
Without a doubt, the creativity and skill of Pinoy chefs is something to be proud of as seen in the exceptional dishes created by the Filipino chefs and cooks at the Funlasang Pinoy Twist Fest. With UFS’ continuous initiative to create avenues for chefs and cooks to showcase their skills, creativity, and knowledge, and give them access to the right products, chefs and cooks can expect even more opportunities from UFS that will cultivate their talent, and celebrate the Filipino cuisine.
This milestone is just the beginning of greater things to come for Chef Dan Puga as he envisions to put up even more restaurants if given the opportunity. In hopes to inspire chefs and cooks with his win at the Funlasang Pinoy Twist Fest, he would like to create even more impact on those who share the same passion and love for cooking.
To know more about UFS and Funlasang Pinoy, visit www.ufs.com.
Without a doubt, the creativity and skill of Pinoy chefs is something to be proud of as seen in the exceptional dishes created by the Filipino chefs and cooks at the Funlasang Pinoy Twist Fest. With UFS’ continuous initiative to create avenues for chefs and cooks to showcase their skills, creativity, and knowledge, and give them access to the right products, chefs and cooks can expect even more opportunities from UFS that will cultivate their talent, and celebrate the Filipino cuisine.
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