17 May 2016 - The Philippine Consulate General in Xiamen successfully held the Philippine Food Festival at the Green Yard Buffet Restaurant of C&D Hotel from April 23 to May 03 as part of the 5th Nanyang Culture Festival.
A formal opening of the Food Festival was held on April 23 and was attended by 80 special guests including official contacts, members of the Filipino community, the Consulate General’s officers and staff. Aside from the invited participants, there were about 100 other Chinese patrons of the hotel who partook of the Filipino culinary delights as part of the restaurant’s buffet offering.
To capture the authentic flavors of Filipino cuisine, the Consulate General tapped the services of the culinary team of Chef Ramon A. Antonio of XO46 Heritage Bistro and sous chef Tanya Augusta T. Dizon. C&D Hotel provided excellent promotional and logistical support. The “Pagkain Exhibit” was also displayed at the entrance and other areas of the Green Yard Buffet Restaurant.
In his remarks, Consul General Julius Caesar A. Flores highlighted the rich and diverse cultural heritage of the Philippines which is reflected in contemporary Philippine cuisine. He specifically mentioned that Fujian cuisine also influenced the Philippines inasmuch as a majority of overseas Filipino-Chinese in the Philippines originate in Fujian Province. This was amply demonstrated during the ceremonial launching of the food festival with the mixing of ingredients of “Tokwa’t Baboy” by Consul General Flores, Bureau of Tourism Deputy Director General Mr. Zhang Guoliang, C&D Hotel General Manager Ms. Xiaorong Xu and Chef Ramon Antonio.
The Nightingales and violinist Mr. Joya entertained guests of the food festival from April 23 to 26.
The Food Festival at C&D Hotel ran for two weeks and was open to the general dining public. The other ASEAN countries also organized their own food festivals in selected hotels in Xiamen. END
