With the theme “Towards a Sustainable Gastronomic Planet”, which explores on how to transform gastronomy while respecting environmental limits and enhancing cultural traditions, Madrid Fusion Manila holds its third International Gastronomy SMX Convention Center at the SM Mall of Asia from April 6 up to April 8, 2017.
This is in line with the Department of Tourism’s (DoT) ongoing goal to establish the Philippines as a center of gastronomy in Asia. And in partnership with SM, the event will be a platform for discussion by some of the world’s best chefs on the future of food and how to nourish appetites through sustained ways of cooking without exhausting sources of ingredients in a much more fragile world.
DOT Director and Officer-in-Charge for Marketing Development Group Verna Covar-Buensuceso enthused about how Madrid Fusion Manila has changed our culinary landscape during the press conference at S Maison at the Conrad Hotel in the MOA complex. “When we started our campaign three years ago, Philippine food was one of our best kept secret, and nobody actually knew.”, she said.
“At the start of 2017, however, many publications like New York Times and Bloomberg were talking about the biggest food trends that will happen this 2017, and of the biggest food trends will be Filipino cuisine. We’ve gone a long way during these three years.”, she added.
During the event, guests were given a taste of sustainable gastronomic experience from S Maison restaurants with Uma Uma’s Chef Satoshi Nakamura, Rossini’s Chef Davide Lombardi and XO 46 Heritage Bistro’s Head Chef Rustan Mateo.
Madrid Fusion Manila poises to once again draw the world’s top chefs and food. These include Spanish Chefs Paco Perez of the 2 Michelin Star restaurants Miramar and Enoteca; Jordi Roca and Alejandra Rivas of the 3 Michelin Star El Cellar de Can Roca, which was No.2 in the World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2016; Pedro Subijana of the 3 Michelin Star and 3 Repsol Star Sun restaurant Akelarre; Josean Alija of the 1 Michelin Star and 3 Repsol Sun restaurant Nerua; and Rodrigo de la Calle of the 1 Michelin Star El Invernadero, which was the 2011 Chef of the Year.
Other European chefs will also take center stage during the event: Gert de Mangeleer of the 3 Michelin Star restaurant Hertog Jan in Belgium; Simon Rogan of the 3 Michelin Star L’Enclume and 1 Michelin Star Fera at Claridge’s in the U.K.; Magnus Ek of the 2 Michelin Star restaurant Oaxen Krog & Slip and pioneer of New Nordic Cuisin in Sweden; and Tatiana & Katia Levha, who were included in Conde Nast’s list of 10 Young Chefs to watch in 2016, of the Le Servan restaurant in France.
Madrid Fusion Manila (MFM) is a global culinary exchange with Kamilla Seidler and Michaelangelo Cestari of the 1 Michelin Star restaurant Gustu in Bolivia; Julien Royer of the 2 Michelin Star restaurant Odette in Singapore; Vicky Lau of the 1 Michelin Star restaurant Tate Dining Room and Bar, 2015 Asia’s Best Female Chef in Hong Kong; Ray Adriansyah and Eelke Plasmeijer of Locavore Ubud, No. 49, Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2016 in Indonesia; and Tony Yoo of the Dooreyoo restaurant and pioneer of New Korean Cuisine in South Korea.
Filipino chefs will definitely give us much to be proud about: Sally Camacho Mueller, runner-up in the second season of Top Chef, Just Desserts in the U.S.; Jordy Navarra of Toyo Eatery; Robby Goco of Green Pastures & Cyma restaurants, a local pioneer in the slow food movement and sustainable dining experience; and Gene Gonzalez of Cafe Ysabel restaurant, the only Ten Outsanding Young Men (TOYM) awardee in culinary arts.
SM again plays host to this historic event and welcomes Madrid Fusion as it comes to Asia for the third time and puts Manila in the heart of culinary interest worldwide. It hosted a Welcome Night at the scenic SM by the Bay for the official delegates which highlighted the best of Philippine food, art, and culture, with lechon prepared in many unique ways yesterday, April 6.
As part of MFM, SM Supermalls and DOT has also brought the well-loved Flavors of the Philippines (FOTP) Festival, more than a week-long celebration of the country’s local flavors that started from April 1, 2017 up to April 8, 2017 in selected SM malls to promote a fun-filled, mall-bonding experience for foodies across the country to enjoy.
The FOTP activities are designed to bring the culinary festival of MFM to an SM mall closer to home. The gourmet fairs are held and to be held in at least 16 SM Malls, including SM North Edsa, Aura, Megamall, Mall of Asia, Clark, Cebu, Cavite, Tarlac, Cabanatuan, Iloilo, Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro and Davao.
More activities are set to delight mall goers and their families at these malls. There will be food symposiums and food tastings, as well as exhibitions of delectable global and local gourmet food products.
This year’s events underscores SM’s commitment to continue innovating and making the mall-going experience more fun and extraordinary for customer through keeping the spotlight focused on local culinary traditions that are gaining world acclaim. As MFM acknowledges the Philippines as a major culinary destination in Asia, SM Supermalls shares this purpose with the government to help build and solidify the country’s reputation in the global culinary scene.
Madrid Fusion Manila 2017 and Fusion Flavors is one of the many exciting events at the SM Supermalls. To learn more about Madrid Fusion Manila and Flavors of the Philippines, just visit http://www.supermalls.com.ph. To know more about their future events, just visit SM Supermalls website of follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Viber Public Chat, and Snapchat.
TET Events Tribune 