The Davao Culinary Cup returns this year with a simpler, tastier format, featuring nine celebrity chefs from across the Philippines who will conduct live cooking demonstrations at SM Lanang on May 22-23, 2025.
This year’s edition focuses on giving back. Instead of the usual competition where chefs judge participants’ dishes, the invited chefs will prepare their own signature dishes and provide culinary education to participating students.
Sally San Jose, president and founder of LTB Davao—a chapter of the LTB Philippines Chefs Association—said this year’s format is simpler but more meaningful, as the celebrity chefs will not only showcase their skills but also share valuable insights with the students for free.
San Jose also shared that they participated in the Worldchefs Congress in Singapore, which served as an eye-opener. The event exposed them to new creative ideas and insights that they have since brought into Davao’s culinary scene.
“It’s an eye-opener for educators to see that there is still much to learn in the culinary field. There are many areas to improve, and we need more opportunities for learning,” San Jose added.
When asked about the challenges facing Davao’s culinary scene, San Jose said they provide greater motivation to work harder and share knowledge with the city’s growing culinary community. She added that educators, students, and enthusiasts passionate about becoming chefs find inspiration in knowing there is much more to explore in Davao’s culinary scene.
This alone is a major factor in this year’s Davao Culinary Cup, as it provides not only learning opportunities for students and educators but also helps strengthen and expand Davao’s culinary scene according to San Jose.
According to incoming LTB Davao president Chef Bambi of Le Culinaire, the Davao Culinary Cup showcases proficiency and high quality. The invited LTB chefs are game changers and serve as an inspiration to young, aspiring chefs.