THE three-day food and travel festival will kick off at the Ayala Malls Capitol Central in Bacolod City on December 19.
The activity will highlight Negros Occidental as one of the culinary destinations in the country.
Dubbed “Kaon Na 'Ta,” the activity will be hosted by the Department of Tourism (DOT) and Ayala Malls in collaboration with the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental.
The opening day will have the food parade of different local government units in the province. They will showcase their respective unique and new cuisines.
Negrense chefs including Nico Millanes, Don Colmenares, Joerri Arro, Patrick Go, Nino Laus, JP Anglo, Margarita Flores, and Kalel Demetrio will also showcase their dishes using locally produced ingredients.
Demetrio will showcase his “Dios Buhawi and Lasa ng MassKara,” a locally inspired cocktails using liquors and ingredients from Negros.
Laus will create an exciting twist of Bacolod’s classic chicken inasal recipe called “Chicken Inasal Terrine.” He will also prepare a beef brisket braised in “batwan,” jackfruit seed puree, and banana crisp.
A Chinese-Filipino dish called “Batchoy Xiao Long Bao” will be presented by Go, who will also prepare his “Szechan Chicken Oyster Inasal with Sinamak Foam,” while Colmenares will feature his “Ginataan nga Monggo with Smoked Langka and Lampirong.”
Many other interesting recipes will be showcased by other chefs.
Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. and Mayor Evelio Leonardia are expected to speak during the program along with Tourism Undersecretary Arturo Boncato Jr., who will lead the opening declaration.
Other activities include ceremonial lamb slicing and wine toasting.
On the second day, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat will be the keynote speaker.
Provincial Supervising Tourism Operations Officer Cristine Mansinares earlier said the festival aims to encourage more people to know more about our local cuisines.
“The event is designed to further promote the country as a culinary destination,” she added.