09 October 2013 – Philippine Ambassador to Italy Virgilio A. Reyes, Jr. and Mrs. Maria Felisa Luarca-Reyes graced “Immagine e Sapori dalle Filippine,” an event organized by the Philippine Honorary Consul General in Reggio Calabria, at the prestigious new Regent Hotel in Catona on October 07.
The food festival started with congratulatory remarks from Mr. Domenico Siviglia, owner of Regent Hotel and the different officials of Reggio Calabria as well as members of the Consular Corps and the business community, who commended the Philippine effort to share its rich culture with Italy.
The Ambassador, in his remarks, emphasized that Filipino cuisine is a melting pot of different cuisines – Chinese, Hispanic, American and other Asian influences – adapted to indigenous ingredients and the local palate. He commended the newly-promoted Consul-General, a.h., Dr. Domenico Marciano and his wife, Delia, for their initiative.
He also mentioned that last year, during the celebration of the 114th Philippine Independence and the 65th Anniversary of Philippine-Italian Diplomatic Relations, the Philippine Embassy featured Chef Margarita Fores and her participation in the book, “Kulinarya: Images and Flavors from the Philippines,” to promote Filipino food in Italy. He said that the book, similar to the food festival, aimed to inform and enlighten Italians that while Filipino food may not be as famous as other Asian cuisines, Filipinos have some delicious dishes of their own.
The food festival showcased five (5) popular Filipino dishes: lumpia and kilawin for appetizers, pancit guisado for first dish, adobong baboy at manok and inihaw na bangus for second dish and finally, leche flan, suman and palitaw for dessert. All dishes were served with wine and were artfully presented by the hotel’s executive chef who lived in the Philippines for four (4) years.
Around 70 people, both Filipinos and Italians, attended the event. END
