Diamond Hotel bags 2nd Philippine Culinary Cup

MANILA, Philippines - Diamond Hotel Philippines once again bagged winning medals at the 2nd Philippine Culinary Cup, touted to be the local industry’s biggest and most prestigious culinary competition, with 16 professional events officiated by a world-renowned panel of chefs from Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Thailand.

Diamond Hotel took home the highest gold medal in the Filipino Cuisine Challenge, which is the highlight of the recent four-day event held at the SMX Convention Center.

The winning team is composed of chefs Linda Junio, Decker Gokioco, Danilo Silverio, Mon Quilon, Raymond Balota, and Denis Mora, and is accompanied by Diamond Hotel executive sous chef Mel Taylo as the team coach. They also competed in the Australian Lamb, US Beef, Local Fish or Seafood (chef Raymond Balota, silver awardee), and Pasta Categories (chef Linda Junio, Bronze awardee).

The team prepared chicken binakol soup scented with kaffir lime and lemon grass, topped with dried young coconut; boneless kare-kareng pata stuffed with pechay and string beans with shrimp paste puree; deconstructed okoy with caramelized sweet and sour pinakurat sauce; steamed coconut pandan brown rice scented with ginger, which got the highest score of 94 for the Filipino Cuisine Category.

Chef Linda Junio and chef Danilo Silverio plate one of their winning dishes — boneless kare-kareng pata.

The Philippine Culinary Cup is a collaboration of the Les Toques Blanches Philippines, the Pastry Alliance of the Philippines and Premier Events Plus Group, Inc. This successful partnership has clearly established new standards in Philippine culinary competitions.

Diamond Hotel Philippines is at Roxas Boulevard corner Dr. J. Quintos St., Manila. For inquiries, call Corniche at 528-3000 local 1121, or visit www.diamondhotel.com.