PH to defend title in 2017 Embassy Chef Challenge

Chef Red Garcia will represent the Philippines at the Embassy Chef Challenge in Washington, DC. CONTRIBUTED

WASHINGTON, DC – Chef Red Garcia of Kalye DC will carry the Philippine flag and represent the Philippine Embassy in Washington’s leading culinary event, the 2017 Embassy Chef Challenge to be held at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center on May 24.

For the second year in a row, the Philippine Embassy will be competing with more than 30 other embassies at the Chef Challenge.

Garcia’s dish will be paired with a cocktail prepared by DC-based bartender/mixologist Jojo Valenzuela.

Defending its crown as the 2016 People’s Choice, the Philippine Embassy is proud to unfold binalot, a uniquely Filipino food tradition.

Before the modern lunch box, meals-to-go in rural Philippines were packed in banana leaves, whose aroma and distinct flavor were infused into the dish. Filipinos call it binalot, meaning “wrapped.” Inside the package are steamed rice, meat or fish, egg and tomato.

This unique Filipino tradition has been preserved over the years, and today from its farm origin, binalot is being enjoyed by modern urban dwellers in the Philippines. Many classic Filipino dishes such as bistek (Filipino beef steak), pork or chicken adobo, beef tapa and longganisa, are available in binalot.

“Culinary diplomacy or gastro-diplomacy is one way to advance a nation’s culture and promote its identity to other people,” said Philippine Embassy Chargé d’Affaires ad interim Minister Patrick A. Chuasoto.

“International spotlight has been shining on Philippine cuisine in recent years and we want to maintain this momentum. There remains a lot in our cuisine that we want to share with the world and the Embassy Chef Challenge is an outstanding platform for that,” Chef Garcia stated.

The Philippine Embassy’s participation in the Embassy Chef Challenge is made possible through the support of the US-Philippines Society, Seafood City Supermarket, and Tito Al’s Choice 2A Marketing Center.

For more information, you may visit the 2017 Embassy Chef Challenge website at https://www.eventsdcembassychefchallenge.com/. Interested media outlets may also apply to attend and cover the event by clicking the media link at the upper right corner of the said website.