THE whole place was buzzing with excitement and anticipation as the participants and their supporters awaited the announcement of winners during the closing and awarding ceremonies of Kumbira Masters: The Food Basket of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines (BIMP) last week at the Atrium of Limketkai Mall, Cagayan de Oro City.
It was on the evening of August 16 that Bigby's Cafe and Restaurant was declared as the Kumbira Chef Master under the Professional Division, besting the other competitors such as Newdawn Hotel Plus, Limketkai Luxe Hotel, and Sevenseas Waterpark and Resort with their silver award, and Double M Hotel and Boy Zugba with their bronze award.
Saint Michael College of Caraga, on the other hand, won as the Kumbira Chef Master under the Student Division.
The said school also won several gold awards for different competitions such as: Plated Dessert "Mango Mania", Cake Decorating - BIMP Celebration Cake, Bamboo Floral Centerpiece, Flairtending Tandem, Cupcake Decorating-Kiddie Division, Fruit Shakes: Blend your way to the Bar-Kiddie Division, and Cake Decorating-Junior Division.
The title of Kumbira Latte Art Master for this year was bagged by Liceo de Cagayan University, who also won the gold award for Cupcake Decorating-Open Division, Pica Pica Platter-Kiddie Division, Cake Decorating-Junior Division, and Fruit Shakes: Blend your way to the Bar-Junior Division.
Joining the Kumbira Masters were the gold winners of each of the culinary event's competitions.
Agusan del Sur College (The Filipino Carver-Student Division)
Father Saturnino Urios University (Pica Pica Platter-Student Division)
Lourdes College (Fiesta Buffet Table Setting: "The Flavors of BIMP"-Student Division, Del Monte Set Menu-Open Division and Cake Decorating-Junior Division)
Sevenseas Waterpark and Resort (Creative Ham Garnishing: "Pamasko"-Professional Division)
Nomad Bar and Grill Surigao (The Filipino Carver-Professional Division)
Marianne Suites Hotel Inc. (Fiesta Buffet Table Setting: "The Flavors of BIMP"-Professional Division and Bamboo Floral Centerpiece-Professional Division)
Apple Tree Resort and Hotel (Bamboo Floral Centerpiece-Professional Division)
Tagoloan Community College (Del Monte Set Menu-Open Division)
The Oak Room CDO (Mixology Challenge-Open Division)
LC-IBED (Cake Decorating-Junior Division)
Kumbira, organized by the Cagayan de Oro Hotel and Restaurant Association (Cohara), is the biggest and longest-running culinary show and competition in Northern Mindanao.
Anchored on the theme "The Food Baskets of BIMP," this year's three-day culinary show aims to showcase and promote cuisines of the aforementioned countries apart from the flavors and regional recipes of Mindanao.
Kumbira Masters 2019 also exhibits the appreciation and application of indigenous ingredients in local recipes, and to hone culinary skills, new techniques and technologies in developing local cuisine, and to promote skills certification to professionalize the hospitality industry.