PH Embassy Commemorates 30 Years of Diplomatic Relations with Series of Culinary-Centric Events in Croatia
Ambassador Evangelina Lourdes A. Bernas delivering her remarks during the 30th Anniversary of Philippines-Croatia Diplomatic Relations Reception (photo from Vienna PE)
ZAGREB 17 October 2023 - In commemoration of the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Croatia, the Philippine Embassy in Vienna showcased the diversity and richness of Filipino cuisine in a series of gastronomic events in Zagreb on 12-14 October 2023. Renowned Filipina Chef Margarita Fores, together with her six-man team, flew in from Manila to prepare the food in all three Embassy-organized events.
The Philippine embassy hosted a diplomatic reception on 13 October 2023 at the Sheraton Zagreb Hotel for Croatian government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, private sector representatives, and Filipino community leaders in Croatia. In her remarks, Ambassador to Croatia Evangelina Lourdes A. Bernas briefly touched on the highlights of the Philippines’ bilateral relations with Croatia over the last 30 years, including recent high-level interactions between Philippine and Croatian officials. The Ambassador expressed her appreciation for the warm welcome and general fair treatment of Filipino workers in Croatia, whose population has grown to 5,137 individuals as of 30 June 2023. In his response, Director General for Political Affairs Petar Mihatov of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Croatia acknowledged the growing importance of the Philippines and the Asia-Pacific region in world affairs and shared that his country is watching developments in the region closely. Ambassador Bernas and DG Mihatov expressed their confidence in the future of Philippines-Croatia bilateral relations and reiterated their continued commitment in strengthening cooperation between both countries.
The reception gave prominence to Chef Fores’ innovative take on traditional Filipino cuisine and ingredients, with guests feasting on chicharon curls with garlic mousse and adobo flakes or taba ng talangka, barquillos cylinders with chive mousse duet and Capiz bihod, lumpia sotanghon crystal with bangus tinapa and Ilokos vinegar and pulot dipping sauce, seafood laing on pandesal, and boneless inasal inasluman soup shot with batwan and cherry tomatoes. Vienna-based husband and wife musical duo Mr. and Mrs. Alexis Bathan serenaded guests with a medley of Original Pilipino Music (OPM).
The series of Filipino cuisine-centered events opened with a dinner for the public at the Tomassino Restaurant of the Sheraton Zagreb Hotel on 12 October 2023. The dinner featured a Filipino-Italian collaboration menu prepared by Chef Fores and Tomassino’s Chef Ivica Štruml of Tommasino Restaurant. The five-course menu included tuna sinuglaw, adlai cracker with pork inihaw and gorgonzola; seabass sinanglay with coconut cream, pink guava, ginger, fennel, tomato, and fried onions; braised and grilled short rib adobo with balsamic adobo jus, adlai lugaw risotto with Sagada boletus and local porcini duet and smoked chard. The sumptuous dinner offering was capped off with a dessert of cashew-crusted hojaldres with kesong puti spuma, tomato minatamis, and pulot coconut glaze. As part of its trade promotions, the Embassy organized a display of unique Filipino culinary products at the restaurant, such as asin tibuok (sea salt filtered through roasted coconut husk) and etag (smoked black pig). Dinner guests were also serenaded with OPM by Mr. and Mrs. Alexis Bathan.
About 100 members of the Filipino community in Croatia enjoyed a traditional Filipino breakfast (Pinoy Almusal: Isang Handog ng Pasuguan para sa mga Kababayan sa Croatia) prepared by Chef Fores and her team on 14 October 2023 in the same venue as the reception. The Filipino community happily feasted on beef tapa, pork tocino, Cabanatuan batutay longganisa, Ilonggo chorizo, Vigan longganisa, silag, fried biti, and an assortment of homemade fruit jams and side dishes, most of which were brought from the Philippines by Chef Fores and her team. Ambassador Bernas informed those present at the breakfast of the work done by the Philippine Government to ensure that their rights continue to be protected and promoted in Croatia and reassured them of the Embassy’s readiness to assist should they encounter issues in the country.
The events in Zagreb were organized by the Embassy in close cooperation with Philippine Honorary Consul General to Zagreb Davor Štern. END.
Chef Margarita Fores explaining the dish to Presidential Advisor for Foreign and European Policy Neven Pelicarić at the dinner at Tomassino Restaurant on 12 October 2023. (photo from Vienna PE)
Croatian Director General for Political Affairs Petar Mihatov delivers a message during the program (photo from Vienna PE)
Guests during the reception to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of the establishment of Philippines-Croatia Diplomatic Relations on 13 October 2023. (photo from Vienna PE)
For more information, visit https://www.viennape.dfa.gov.ph, https://www.philippine-embassy.at or https://www.facebook.com/PHinAustria/, https://www.twitter.com/PHLinAustria or https://www.instagram.com/phinaustria/