Philippine Culinary Excellence at Tokyo’s First Bon Appetit Cheftival
Chef Loida Ozaki, a proud ambassador of Filipino cuisine in Japan, was the Philippines’ representative at the first ever Bon Appetit Cheftival held on 21-22 September 2024 in Tokyo. (Photo credit to PDOT-Tokyo)
26 September 2024 – Chef Loida Ozaki represented the Philippines at the inaugural Bon Appetit Cheftival held on 21-22 September 2024 at Sumida Park, Tokyo, Japan. On the second day of the event, she conducted a live cooking demonstration of adobo, a quintessential Filipino dish known for its complex flavors and cultural significance.
In her presentation, Chef Loida emphasized the importance of adobo in Filipino cuisine, stating, “It is our soul food. Every Filipino home has its own unique way of preparing adobo. It is simple and easy to make, allowing us to encourage our Japanese audience to try cooking it in their own homes.”
As the first female sous chef at the New Sanno Hotel in Tokyo, Chef Loida serves as a proud ambassador of Filipino culinary traditions. She was recommended by the Philippine Embassy to represent the country at this international food event, which also featured chefs from Cuba, Georgia, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, and Peru.
The Philippine participation at the Bon Appetit Cheftival is part of the Embassy’s ongoing efforts to raise awareness and appreciation of Filipino cuisine in Japan. The Philippine Department of Tourism-Tokyo (PDOT-Tokyo) provided support for this initiative.
Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene J. Garcia-Albano congratulated Chef Loida on the successful demonstration and underscored the Embassy’s commitment to continue fostering cultural engagement and collaboration between the Philippines and Japan.
The Ambassador remarked, “Through the universal language of food, we are able to transcend our cultural differences and embrace the diversity that makes for more durable connections and more enriching experiences.”
