THOUGH they recognize the intention of the mayor to further promote the chicken inasal of Bacolod City, the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Negros Occidental (HRANO) said it is impossible for them to use a uniform recipe for the product.
Sylvia Golez, president of HRANO, told SunStar Bacolod yesterday, May 7, that the proposal of Mayor Evelio Leonardia among restaurants, hotels and other food establishments in the city to use one common recipe for their chicken inasal product is unlikely to happen.
Golez, who owns 18th Street Pala-Pala also selling inasal, pointed out that each restaurant has its own recipe of chicken inasal, which has given them individual identity in the local food industry.
Golez said Nena's chicken inasal is different from that of Aida's, Chicken House, and Chicken Deli, among others. Each of these establishments has already created a market niche through their own version of chicken inasal, she adds.
"The idea is not feasible and not good for business," Golez said, adding that having uniform recipe would eventually dissolve the identity of each food establishment.
The mayor announced such proposal at the sidelines of the first Bacolod Chicken Inasal Festival over the weekend.
Leonardia said it is his dream to uniformly name all the chicken inasal in the city as Bacolod Chicken Inasal.
For the mayor, one way to achieve this is by having a uniform recipe for all restaurants, hotels and other establishments offering chicken inasal.
He has also recognized that even stalls at the Manokan Country in Reclamation Area have different tastes of chicken inasal, like that in restaurants and hotels.
“Even establishments that have branched out outside Bacolod City have varied chicken inasal products,” Leonardia said, adding he has made such proposal since before, however, he is not sure yet of the acceptance of the business sector.
For HRANO, when one talk of chicken inasal, it is already Bacolod City that they would first recognize thus, there is no need for a uniform recipe.
Instead, HRANO suggested that one way to sustain the popularity of the city's chicken inasal is urging the vendors to further improve the taste, presentation, and the service they offer to clients especially tourists.
Golez said chicken inasal sellers should ensure cleanliness and food safety on their product while continuing efforts to develop better packaging.
"We are willing to sit down with the mayor if he calls for a dialogue," she said
"We can discuss other aspects to make our chicken inasal better but not through utilizing one recipe," Golez added