A Wok-a-holic Experience

CEBU, Philippines - The wok (or kaha in Cebuano) has been, for years, a favorite cookware of Filipinos. During fiestas, large woks are lined up, cooking up delicious creations that nevertheless fulfill our stomach’s desires.

Cebuanos have been known to be great cooks. Like most Filipinos, we love to cook for large groups of people, especially during fiestas.

This was perfectly proven last June 26 at the Ayala Center Cebu Activity Center where the Electrolux Wok-a-holic Level Up! Cook Off Grand Finals was held. The festival feel of the event was enough to excite the spectators. Complete with a marching band and majorettes, banderitas and body-shaking music, the only thing missing was the food.

Then the food was served. Three teams of amateur cooks competed to be the Electrolux Kitchen Masters: Team Regatta, Team Sandok and Team Mar-Lyn. They emerged as the grand finalists after the three-day event where they endured so many hurdles. The judges saw them fit to compete for the grand finals because of their ability to cook up magical creations from a wok.

For the grand finals, the finalists were judged by Jude Bacalso, a well-known DJ and writer; Malu Estaris, General Manager of Electrolux Philippines Inc.; and Chef Bruce Lim, an International Chef.

The teams were made to cook two recipes: one using the wok and the other by baking. The teams were judged by taste, presentation, uniqueness of the recipe and the preparation of the recipe. They were given an hour to finish all their cooking.

For an hour, the crowd waited with growling tummies as the teams prepared their food. The smell of the food was intoxicating. It was hard not to drool, especially when the food was too good.

Team Regatta cooked up a delicious Squid with Oyster Sauce ala Regatta and Baked Meaty Spaghetti. The judges commented on the good combination of spice and saltiness of their squid. Team Regatta created a winner in their Baked Spaghetti.

Team Sandok made a scrumptious Sandok Lamb Rib Special and Baked Potatoes. The judges thought their technique was very good, considering that lamb was very hard to cook. But the potatoes disappointed the judges, as they were not evenly cooked.

Team Mar-Lyn, the crowd favorite, made tasty Chicken Cordon Bleu and Baked Tangigue Steak. The judges mentioned being taken back to their childhood as they tasted the team’s creations. They were great comfort food and many people would surely find satisfaction in their yummy dishes.

The media also got to choose their favorite team by tasting their food creations. As the crowd favorite, Team Mar-Lyn got the Media’s Choice Award.

After the judges deliberated, Team Regatta emerged as the Electrolux Kitchen Masters, winning an Electrolux Gas Range each and gift prizes worth P30,000. Team Mar-Lyn came second and Team Sandok third.

The event was a huge success. And like all good times, it was hard to shake off the party spirit when it was time to go. It was even harder to get over how delicious the food was.