Culinary Delights at Philippine Food Festival in Tokyo
The Philippine Embassy in Tokyo together with the Department of Tourism recently held the Philippine Food Festival 2009 at the Hilton Tokyo in Shinjuku.
The 10-day food festival, which opened on 13 March 2009 with a sit-down buffet dinner attended by Filipino and Japanese VIPs, featured the culinary talents of Chef Myrna Segismundo. Chef Segismundo, who was invited by the DOT for the event, is the managing director of Restaurant 9501, the executive corporate dining restaurant of the ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation. She has had extensive experience both in the Philippines and overseas. She is also one of the participating chefs of Kulinarya: A Guide to Philippine Cooking, a book published by the Asia Society and the DOT to promote Philippine cuisine in connection with its Kulinarya Filipina program. Visitors to the Festival were treated to a wide array of Filipino food, including staples such as Lechon Kawali, Chicken Adobo, and Beef Pochero, and ingenious variations or creations like Seafood Kinilaw with Green Mango Vinaigrette and Adobo Pâté Canapés. Chef Segismundo said the Philippine Food Festival, which also received support from the ASEAN-Japan Centre, was one of the first events based on the Kulinarya book project. Also joining Chef Segismundo in impressing food fans in Tokyo were Chefs Gilda Sandique and Miguel Yadao.
In his speech at the opening ceremony at the Hilton’s Marble Lounge, Ambassador Domingo L. Siazon, Jr. said that one can learn a bit about Philippine history through Filipino cuisine, which is a mixture of Malay, Chinese, Spanish and American influences. The Festival would hopefully introduce many Japanese and other international visitors to the various and unique dishes enjoyed by Filipinos. In addition, the Ambassador expressed hope that the interest in Filipino food would translate into interest in other aspects of Filipino culture, including music and art, as well as promote culinary tourism to the country. He thanked the DOT Tokyo Office for being instrumental in organizing this year’s Food Festival, the last one of which was held in July 2006 during the 50th anniversary of Philippine-Japan diplomatic relations.
To further complement the Filipino ambience of the event, Japan-based Filipino music group Serenata serenaded the guests, which included Solicitor General Agnes Devanadera and DFA Undersecretary for Policy Enrique Manalo, with kundiman and other traditional Filipino songs.
The Food Festival, which moved to the Hilton’s Checkers Restaurant from the 14th of March, enjoyed an impressive turnout from the Japanese, Filipino and the wider international community in Tokyo until its closing on the 22nd.
Ambassador Domingo L. Siazon, Jr. delivers his speech during the Philippine Food Festival opening ceremony, with DFA Undersecretary for Policy Enrique Manalo, Solicitor General Agnes Devanadera, and Madame Kay Siazon looking on.
The Philippine Food Festival, held at the Hilton Tokyo, featured the culinary talents of Chef Myrna Segismundo, the managing director of Restaurant 9501 invited by the DOT.
Chef Segismundo with her team, Embassy officials and representatives from ABS-CBN Japan: (from left) Chef Miguel Yadao, Ms. Maria Barro, Mr. Jeff Remigio, Chef Gilda Sandique, Chef Segismundo, Tourism Attaché Val Cabansag, Consul Anna de Vera, and Ms. Lyra Cedeno.
The Festival was attended by Philippine officials, members of the diplomatic corps, and other VIPs from the government, business and other sectors in Japan.
Ambassador Siazon joins in the singing with Serenata, a Tokyo-based Filipino music group.
