10 Pinoy Chefs Compete at the First-ever Funlasang Pinoy Twist Fest

After a rigorous selection among 160 mouthwatering recipes of different Filipino dishes with a twist, only ten chefs and cooks from across the country battled it out at the grand cook-off of the first-ever Funlasang Pinoy Twist Fest competition by Unilever Food Solutions (UFS) Philippines.

“We are very excited for this day to come as we witness our very talented Pinoy chefs showcase their ingenuity in making a classic Filipino dish stand out like we’ve never seen nor tasted before. This competition was created to provide an avenue for our chefs and cooks to showcase their talents and creativity to reignite everyone’s love for Filipino food,” said James Benedict Carreon, UFS Philippines Managing Director.

The finalist chefs were challenged to deliver the best-tasting and most innovative take on the classic Pinoy dishes with fun twists that will surely fuel the love of Pinoys for the Filipino cuisine.

 

1. Christian Lenard Lachenal – Baked Ox Tail Kaldereta
2. Miguel Valdez – Sisig Mashbombs
3. Fernando Joson – Sisig Parmigiana
4. Mel Adrian Tobias – Sinigang na Sisig
5. John Alouette Jugo – Grilled Sinigang and Sinigang Rice Topped with Kangkong Flakes
6. Lance Sendin –  Sisig Empanada with Liver May0 Dip
7. Jeane Cruz – Sisig Pasta with Salted Egg
8. Junrey Remiter – Kalderetang Tinali sa Pancit
9. Danilo Puga – Octopus Sisig
10. Rossana Rosal – Shrimp Sinigang Fried Rice

The dishes were closely scrutinized and judged by the creativity of the twist, food taste and presentation, and the use of the UPS products by esteemed culinary experts such as Executive Chef Fernando Aracama of Aracama Filipino Cuisine, UFS Senior Sous Chef Brando Santos, and UFS Senior Sous Chef Paulo Sia.

Chef Fernando Aracama said: Food innovation is not about changing the original recipe of a dish. It is about staying faithful to the original concept of the dish but adding creativity to improve the taste and overall experience of your diners as they eat it. We chefs need to remember this to cater to the ever-changing palate of diners who continue to seek a different kind of dining experience, and to stand out from the clutter of food choices available these days.

“The talent and creativity of Pinoy chefs are definitely something to be proud of. As a team of chefs who understand the needs of the culinary industry, we at Unilever Food Solutions are always finding ways to provide them avenues to gain more inspiration, knowledge, and access to the right products that will complement that and help them improve the dining experience of their loyal diners,” added Carreon.