The Adobo Festival's 13th

IT'S a lucky day for the winners of the 13th Adobo Festival and the 5th
Muscovado Cooking Contest - and a quite confusing time for the judges.

The entries had taken the whole affair to a higher level and most of these were products of serious efforts (some concerted) of individuals and groups.

First, may I present the judges for the Adobo Cooking Contest: Mr. Joe Chan of Biscom, Sugarland Hotel's new exciting chef Datu Pendatun, the Adobo Festival's brains Ms. Lynell Gaston, Mr. Gerardo Veloso, and petite but power-packed restaurant mogul Margarita "Gaita" Fores (Cibo, Pepato, Cafe Bola).

The adobo cooks worked very early and furiously for the plum prize. These top chefs churned out fantastic creations considering that they had to lug their cooking paraphernalia and ingredients all the way to the Balay Negrense where the contest had always been held to commemorate Al Cinco de Noviembre.

I'd like to acknowledge the Muscovado contest judges, namely: Ms. Kring Locsin of the Sugarland Hotel, Chef Vincent Macasa of Felicia's, and Chef Richard Ynayan of the Institute of Culinary Arts of USLS. All in all, Negros always manages to produce very talented people in the field of cooking.

This year saw the only foreign participant in the person of amiable Britisher
Robert Harland. He came up to me and pointed out that he was contestant #13. I

didn't know that he was superstitious and I assured him that I consider myself
lucky being born on a 13th, and that it might be his lucky day because it's
the Adobo Festival's 13th year after all. Sure enough, he won first prize. AND

4th prize for his Muscovado entry. Do I smell a treat coming up for being his
rah-rah girl?

Listed below are this year's winners.

The 13th Adobo Festival:

1st prize: Adobo Crevette a l'Anglaise -- Robert Harland
2nd prize: Adobo Pasta Leanna -- Marie B. Severino
3rd prize: Angus adobo with Sweet Ham Cicero Bayle
4th prize: Adobo Kangkong Special -- Dean Eugene Celis
5th prize: Chicken Adobo Spring Rolls -- Jojemar Sevellejo

The 5th Muscovado Cooking Contest:

1st prize: Muscovado Sampler -- Jason de Oca
2nd prize: Cookies -- Paul Benedict Castillo

3rd prize: Butter Cream Silvanas -- Victor Dumancas
4th prize: Queen Elizabeth Pudding -- Robert Harland
5th prize: Pecan Pie -- Ivy Faule

Congratulations, everyone! And to the participants, thank you for being such good sports and avid supporters of Negrense cuisine. Acknowledgements are in order for without the following sponsors, this annual festival wouldn't be something to look forward to. Our deepest gratitude goes to Hawaiian-Philippines Co., the Government of the City of Silay represented by dignified and very supportive Mayor Oti Montelibano, BISCOM, Carmela Valley, Ayala Land, Spa Natura, Board Member Patrick Lacson, Nature's Village and Sugarland Hotel, the Ciocon Family of L'Fisher Hotel, RGA Poultry, Cafe Uma, and Congressman Albee Benitez.

Since the winners are sharing their recipes, I hope to see festival-worthy adobo fare on the buffet table. The ones offered this year is a rehash of last year's offerings. Let's have a reason to go all the way to Silay and that is...great adobo!