Novel Dishes, Creative Concoctions Win in Tanduay Rum Fest’s Culinaria and Mixology Contests

The first Tanduay Rum Festival in Bacolod City was off to a palate-pleasing start as dining establishments battled it out in the event’s Culinaria and Mixology finals held last Aug. 18 at the New Government Center.

Main Dish: Red Curry Prawn Risotto
1^st Prize – Anne Bistro
Dan Lendle Altarejos – Appetizer/Main Dish
Christian Rey dela Cruz – Appetizer/Main Dish

Appetizer: Kinilaw na Tuna
1^st Prize – Anne Bistro
Dan Lendle Altarejos – Appetizer/Main Dish
Christian Rey dela Cruz – Appetizer/Main Dish

Anne Bistro was declared the grand champion of both the “Appetizer and Main Dish Featuring Rum” and the “Dessert Featuring Rum” categories.

Dan Lendle Altarejos and Christian Rey Dela Cruz created the rum-infused appetizer Kinilaw na Tuna and the main dish Red Curry Prawn Risotto to win the PhP25,000 grand prize. John Fred Olvido and Niel John Cortez went home with another PhP25,000 for coming up with the mouthwatering Honey Rosemary Cake dessert.

Laurence Emmanuel Conlu of Al Fresco Café – LCC Bacolod, meanwhile, was declared the best in the “Mixology with Flairtending” contest with his concoction, the Tanduay Cooler. He also went home with PhP25,000.

Main Dish: Pinaasuhan Nga Sili (Smoked Freshwater Eel Glazed with Soy Honey Rum Sauce, on White Rum Risotto, Sautéed Asparagus Spears and Tomato)
2^nd Prize – Kusinata
Jolito Pandac – Appetizer/Main Dish
Benedict del Rosario – Appetizer/Main Dish

Appetizer: Pollo y Sandia Borrachos (Drunken Chicken & Watermelon Salad)
Served with Brie Cheese, Carrots, Cucumber, Edible Flowers, and Batuan Dressing
2^nd Prize – Kusinata
Jolito Pandac – Appetizer/Main Dish
Benedict del Rosario – Appetizer/Main Dish

The Winners’ Circle

Rounding up the list of winners in the “Appetizer and Main Dish Featuring Rum” category are first runner-up Kusinata with Jolito Pandac and Benedict del Rosario who created the Pollo y Sandia Borrachos and Pinaasuhan Nga Sili and second runner-up LCC Bacolod with Raymond Jan Ledesma and Matthew Arthem Gelvoleo who created the Scallops Flambé on Crispy Bangus Skin with Pomelo-Rum Vinaigrette and the Chicken Inasal with Batuan Rum Sauce Topped with Rum Infused Ginamos, Coconut Lemongrass Rice, and Rum Vinaigrette Green Mango Salsa.

Main Dish: Chicken Inasal with Batuan Rum Sauce Topped with Rum Infused Ginamos, Coconut Lemongrass Rice, and Rum Vinaigrette Green Mango Salsa
3^rd Prize – LCC Bacolod
Raymond Jan Ledesma – Appetizer/Main Dish
Matthew Arthem Gelvoleo – Appetizer/Main Dish

For the “Dessert Featuring Rum” category, Kusinata’s Reviel Villapana and and Gerard D. Grey, Jr. were declared the first runner-up with their Sugar-Glazed Caged GoodBood, while LCC Bacolod’s Jesus Samuel Solinap and John Alre Dales were declared second runner-up with their Handmade Piaya RUMbutan with Tanduay Coconut Rum Custard Filled Barquillos with Rum-Infused Kalabasa Halaya and Candied Bacon.

Completing the list of winners in the “Mixology with Flairtending” category are first-runner up Harry Servancia of Wild & Fresh Mobile Bar Bacolod with his Citrus Mojito and Kate Jaraiza Tecson of Barholics Mobile Bar Bacolod with her La Victoria.

Dessert: Honey Rosemary Cake
1^st Prize – Anne Bistro
John Fred Olvido – Dessert
Niel John Cortez – Dessert

The first runners-up in both contests received PhP15,000, while the second runners-up went home with PhP10,000.

Food and Beverage Experts as Judges

This year’s Culinaria and Mixology contests were judged by some of the food and beverage industry’s best.

They include Chef Don Angelo Colmenares, owner/chef of Berbeza Bistro; Chef Benedict John Uy, executive chef of Planta Centro Hotel Bacolod & Business Inn Hotel and owner/chef of East Bite, Daily Skillet, & Recados; Chef Nico Millanes, owner/chef of Terrasse, Portiko Café & Lounge, and Catch of the Day; and Victoria Beckley, events director of the World Gourmet Summit and National Sales and Marketing Director of Peter Knipp Holdings Pte Ltd in Singapore, publisher of Cuisine and Wine Magazine.

Dessert: Sugar-Glazed Caged “GoodBood”
2^nd Prize – Kusinata
Reviel B. Villapana – Dessert
Gerard “Jay” D. Grey, Jr. – Dessert

The Mixology contest, meanwhile, were judged by international mixologist and mixology expert Ricky Paiva; Chef Sammy Nuarbe, founder and president of Great Harvest Academy of Technical Skills, Inc. and TESDA trainer and assessor since 2012; and Gem Lenard Boy, Junior Brand Manager of Tanduay Distillers, Inc.

Dessert: Handmade Piaya RUMbutan with Tanduay Coconut Rum Custard Filled Barquillos with Rum-Infused Kalabasa Halaya and Candied Bacon
3^rd Prize – LCC Bacolod
Jesus Samuel Solinap – Dessert
John Alre Dales – Dessert

More Exciting Activities

The Culinaria and Mixology contests are just two of the exciting activities in this year’s Tanduay Rum Festival. Since the event kicked off last Aug. 17, a food bazaar has been held and would last until Aug. 24 at the New Government Center Grounds.

On Aug. 23, rapper Mike Swift leads the Street Art and Basketball Court Painting activity.

On Aug. 24, there will be a 5K Rum Run and Street Dance Parade in the afternoon and a free concert with iconic rock band Sandwich; Mike Swift; Idol Philippines’ Dan Ombao and Miguel Ordon; and Bacolod’s Project Juan, Barbie na Doll, and Cali Island at 8:00 PM.