What Anthony Bourdain will miss in Cebu

CEBU, Philippines – A 28-year veteran of gastronomic treats and well known for his voracious taste for all things pork, Anthony Bourdain unabashedly proclaimed the Cebu lechon as the “best pig ever.”

Speaking in the hit food and travel show “No Reservations” and in a blog entry he titled ‘Hierarchy of Pork,’ he declared his love for the Southern delicacy. “It can now be said that of all the whole roasted pigs I’ve had all over the world, the slow roasted lechon I had on Cebu was the best. This puts the standings in the Hierarchy of Pork as follows: #1. Philippines #2. Bali #3. Puerto Rico”.

However, because the gourmand had a total of two days in the country, he admits that there is a lot that missed out on.

If only Anthony Bourdain timed these two days in Cebu’s – and the South’s – biggest food exposition, then he would have seen that the Cebu lechon is but one of the remarkable dishes in an island where gastronomic perfection is an indisputable fact.

“The inun-unan, kanding caldereta, ginisal and other noted Cebuano dishes prove that aside from the island’s history and culture, food is something that the island can showcase and be proud of,” says  Joseph Ang , Founding Worldbex Services International Founding Chairman.

It is for this very reason that Worldbex Services International chose Cebu as the venue to hold the Cebu Food and Beverages Exposition (CEFBEX) 2009. CEFBEX is held at the Cebu International Convention Center from May 21 to 24. Considered as the most awaited food and beverage show in Visayas and Mindanao, CEFBEX showcases the biggest and latest variety of food, beverage and equipment ideas from all over the world.

“But we won’t just have them set up haphazardly set up booths,” quips Ang. “We’re proud to say that CEFBEX will also become a means to celebrate the artistry that goes behind every culinary creation.”

In line with this, local Cebu delicacies such as the otap, masareal, bibingka, salvaro, dried mangoes and rosquillos will be used in a series of competitions. These will include challenges in Cake Decorating, Artistic Bread, Market Basket and Table Set-Up. 

One of the highlights of this year’s CEFBEX is a flairtending competition set to be participated in by aspiring bartenders from the South. Also known as flair bartending, flairtending is the practice of entertaining the audience with the manipulation of bar tools (ie. cocktail shakers) and liquor bottles in tricky and dazzling ways. “ We’re very excited to see what local bartenders from Cebu and neighboring provinces such as Davao have to offer. And we’re pretty sure that they can rival those from Manila any day.”

So what will Anthony Bourdain miss in Cebu? “A lot” says Ang with a smile. “I believe he’ll not only be the one surprised to see that there’s more to Cebu and the Southern culinary experience than the world’s ‘best ever pig.’” And with CEFBEX 2009 shaping up to become a celebration of traditional cuisine and local artistry all elevated to international standing, Ang might just be proven right. 

For inquiries you can call WSI at telephone nos. (02) 534 3615, (032) 343 9620 or log on to www.worldbex.com. – THE FREEMAN