BAGUIO CITY—More than 6,000 culinary professionals and students will compete in over 70 categories in the prestigious 10th National Food Showdown the city will host on Oct. 19-21, 2016.
The showdown is part of the 13th Hotel and Restaurant Tourism Weekend celebrated by the HRAB from September 5 to October 21.
The theme of this year’s showdown is “Bringing the Farm to the Table” which promotes organically grown fresh vegetables that will be sourced from local farmers from different parts of the Cordillera.
Ann Ramos, Hotel and Restaurant Association of Baguio Secretariat head, said the contest categories are food and beverage preparation, event planning and organization, floral arrangement, desert-making and others.
Anthony de Leon, HRAB president and general manager of the Baguio Country Club, said 70 percent of the participants in the competitions are students taking culinary-related courses, while 30 percent are culinary professionals.
Malou Galiste, HRAB executive director, and BCC assistant general manager, said the contestants are winners in culinary competitions in Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao and the National Capital Region.
Well-known national and international chefs from the different parts of the country will make up the panel of judges.
Winners of the different competitions will join international culinary arts competitions such as the Singapore Food Expo and similar activities in the United States and other parts of the world.
De Leon called on local residents and visitors to support the organizers of the National Food Showdown in the city to guarantee the success of one of the prestigious culinary arts competition in the country.