Four chefs battle for Gordon Ramsay-approved Pinoy dessert
Who doesn’t want to get approval from the one and only Gordon Ramsay?
Last week, the multi-Michelin-star chef visited the Philippines to meet his Filipino fans and taste the best halo-halo in town.
During his meet-and-greet at the Newport Performing Arts Theater in Pasay City on Jan. 20, four amazing Filipino chefs—actress and chef Judy Ann Santos, content creator Ninong Ry, culinary student Danica Lucero, and Gordon Ramsay Bar & Grill Philippines head chef Bea Qua—battled to get the iconic host’s seal of approval for the best halo-halo.
In a MasterChef-like setup, the curtains unveiled a realistic representation of a competitive kitchen environment, where each contestant showcased their unique interpretation of the traditional Filipino dessert for Ramsay in 10 minutes. Each participant had the opportunity to utilize a secret ingredient to enhance their dish and make it distinctive.
Former MasterChef Pinoy Edition host Judy Ann brought black sesame polvoron in her version of halo-halo, layering it in the center and on top of the dessert to achieve a perfect balance of sweetness and saltiness.
“It’s good, it’s really good. I love the black sesame,” Ramsay commented, making Judy Ann squeal in silence.
Meanwhile, YouTuber Ninong Ry used coconut jam as his key ingredient.
“Sh*t, that is sweet! Oh my God!” Gordon said, taking another sip as the chef suggested mixing it up.
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“I can feel my arteries jamming up,” the global chef quipped, describing it as a “very sweet” halo-halo.
On the other hand, head chef Bea utilized cane sugar and the rare tibuok salt from Bohol to balance the Pinoy dessert’s sweetness.
“Oh my goodness,” the celebrity chef said.
CCA Manila culinary student Danica incorporated a kamias compote, crafted from the tangy Filipino fruit, which introduced a zesty flavor to her dish.
“It’s crunchy, it’s juicy, and it’s sour, so it gives that nice balance to the [those] I have here. I think it goes very well with all the other amazing ingredients,” Ramsay said upon tasting the dessert.
In the end, Gordon proclaimed Danica as the winner, stating that her concoction “had an edge that separated [it] in terms of the contrast and or the balance.” She also got to take home a signed uniform from the award-winning chef.
After the mini MasterChef competition, Ramsay applauded the four Filipino chefs.
“Give it up for these four amazing chefs. It’s a tough one. It’s really tough,” he stated.
“There is no low, it’s all highs, let me tell you. And I’m high as a kite now with all that sugar. Oh my goodness me,” quipped Gordon.