by Ianne Monfort
SINCE the dawn of 2010, Unilever Foodsolutions has caused a big bang in its effort to leave a mark in the history of the Philippines through its well-delivered Sooo Pinoy movement in partnership with the Department of Tourism and Philippine Daily Inquirer. As Filipino food has always been a fusion of different dish types, the campaign aims to project its identity and boost further what is already great in Filipino cuisine by way of ingredients which Unilever Foodsolutions newest products are top examples of. These are the Knorr Lime Powder, Bango Kecap Manis, and New Knorr Oyster Sauce. To be more particular, the top ten (10) Filipino dishes are: Adobo, Bulalo, Inasal, Pansit Canton, Sinigang, Kare-Kare, Inihaw na Liempo, Sisig, Bistek, and Kinilaw.
For ten consecutive weeks, ten restaurants from different places in the country were cited for coming up with “the best Filipino dish”. After the long and tedious selection process, a grand culminating event was successfully carried out last April 28 at the SMX Center, SM Mall of Asia. The best dishes were showcased during the evening. It was a buffet of ten different recipes for each Filipino dish, an unimaginable grand buffet! It was a fun-filled gathering hosted by Ms Tessa Prieto-Valdez and Unilever Foodsolutions Sous Chef Paolo Sia. Colorful performances by top Filipino artist Bayang Barios and several ethnic dance groups hyped up the celebration. Three Davao-based restaurants–Melmont’s Pinutos Republik for Adobo, Penong’s Seafoods and Barbeque for Chicken Inasal and Nanay Bebeng for Kare-Kare. Each took home a plaque as recognition for being among the best Filipino restaurants in the Philippines. Owners and representatives were invited by Unilever Foodsolutions to receive the awards for their respective establishments.
Check out for yourselves the truest Filipino tastes at all outlets of the winning restaurants. Melmont’s Pinutos Republik along Torres Street, Penong’s with several outlets around the city and still expanding, and Nanay Bebeng’s at the Gaisano Mall Davao Foodcourt, … It’s undeniably cool to be Pinoy. Let it burn in our hearts.
