The Philippine Consulate General in Dubai and the Northern Emirates is collaborating with The Filipino Times, the biggest Filipino media agency in the UAE, to bring the unique flavors of the Philippine cuisine through the Filipino Food Festival.
Filipino Food Festival is a three-day event taking place at the Rove Trade Centre Hotel, Dubai, UAE from April 4 to 6. The event will feature traditional Filipino dishes that have been given modern twist to perfectly suit the taste of expats and residents in the UAE.
H.E. Paul Raymund Cortes, Philippine Consul General, inviting all Filipinos, non-Filipinos, and food enthusiasts to attend the festival, said: "We call on all food enthusiasts to relish the taste that spans centuries of Malay, Spanish, Chinese, and American influence, one that would encapsulate what a purely Filipino flavor is all about."
Vince Ang, General Manager, The Filipino Times, said: "We are pleased to partner with the Philippine Consulate to organize such a historic event. The Filipino Times is always at the forefront in serving the Filipino community in the region and now, we are glad that, through this festival, we will be able to showcase the best of Filipino cuisine not only to the community but to more than 200 nationalities residing in the UAE."
Predicted as the next big thing by food critiques and celebrity chefs like Anthony Bourdain, Filipino cooking is slowly becoming mainstream as the new generation of Filipino chefs mix intricate Filipino flavors with other cuisines and present it in a modern way.
According to a report released by Bloomberg, the number of Google searches for the term "Filipino food" has doubled since 2012. Filipino restaurants and modern eateries are also booming in the UAE which can be attributed to the existing large Filipino community in the country and the increasing number of non-Filipinos who appreciate Filipino cooking.
To further introduce Filipino dishes to the UAE residents, the Filipino Food Festival will highlight Philippines' rich culinary background and will showcase a buffet of Filipino food.
Featured in the event is Manila-based Chef Michelle Adrillana who will be taking the guests to a new level of culinary experience as she will be bringing signature Filipino dishes with some twists, along with a live cooking demo.
Chef Michelle is a Filipino celebrity chef and a brand endorser who has decades of experience when it comes to introducing the Philippine cuisine to an international level. She has joined numerous international food festivals and promotions including the Wild Exhibit Europe in Dortmund, Germany and Filipino Food Promotions in Bahrain, Qatar, South Korea, Australia and China.
For an affordable price of AED79, foodies can enjoy a complete buffet and soft beverages. Filipino dishes that will be served include Chicken & Foie Gras Adobo Paella in Roasted Garlic Emulsion, Barbecued Lamb Adobo, Beef Sisig, Saffron Arroz Caldo, Lamb Kaldereta, Oxtail Kare Kare, and Ginataang Seafood.
Also starring at the festival are favorite Filipino desserts Turon Ala Mode – deconstructed plantain banana spring rolls served with ice cream, Pinoy Halo Halo – a shaved ice dessert consisting of sweetened beans, fruits, milk and ice cream, and Suman Sushi – a sweet combination of mango, jackfruit, strawberry, ube and the Filipino rice cake, suman.
Giving the event a casual yet comfortable scene which complements the big buffet of authentic Filipino food and Southeast Asian cuisine is Rove Hotels, Filipino Food Festival's hotel partner.
With almost a million Filipinos in the UAE together with millions more of the expats and local population, the Filipino Food Festival will be a sight to behold for food lovers no matter where you come from.
For reservations, contact restaurants@rovehotels.com or call +971 4 241 9300.
|