BBQ, Fishballs, Kwek-Kwek Draw Large Crowds at Lisbon Street Fair
The crowd gathering to try the Filipino-style barbecue and other Filipino street foods at the Asian Food Festival. (Lisbon PE photo)
LISBON 29 May 2018 – Filipino-style pork and chicken barbecue, sisig, fish balls and kwek-kwek made their debut in Portugal at the 1st Asian Street Food Festival, held at the Museu Fundaçao Oriente in Lisbon last week.
Lines of eager “Lisboetas” kept the Philippine booth busy for five straight hours to get a taste of the local Filipino treats, according to the Philippine Embassy in Lisbon.
The Embassy said the Asian street food festival was part of the year-long activities in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Museum.
“We presented the concept of an Asian Street Food Festival to the Museum’s management with the aim of introducing in Lisbon the rich and varied street food fare from the Philippines and other parts of Asia,” Ambassador Celia Anna M. Feria said.
Ambassador Féria said Jaymalyn Galiza- Day, a Lisbon-based Filipino food entrepreneur specializing in Asian cuisine, was asked to prepare the Filipino fare.
Ambassador Féria said the Embassy used Filipino ingredients available in Lisbon, including Mama Sita barbeque, inasal and sisig mixes, to successfully blend both its cultural and economic diplomacy initiatives.
“The street food festival provided the avenue to introduce, and raise the awareness of, the Filipino food culture,” Ambassador Féria said.
“The Portuguese public gave positive reviews of the Filipino street food fare, citing the distinct aroma and flavor of the Filipino barbecue and the other street foods.”
“The Filipino community in Lisbon were very proud to know that Filipino street food fare is readily accepted by the Portuguese public,” Ambassador feria added.
She invited Filipino food manufacturers interested in promoting their products in Portugal to get in touch with the Embassy for joint promotional activities. END
For more information, visit www.lisbonpe.dfa.gov.ph.
Grilled pork barbecue skewers marinated with Mama Sita’s barbecue sauce at the Asian Food Festival. (Lisbon PE photo)