By Cielito M. Reganit
MANILA, March 4 (PNA) — The Department of Agriculture (DA) is presently in the thick of preparations for Spain’s most important gastronomy congress—the Madrid Fusión—to be held at the Mall of Asia’ SMX Convention Center in Pasay City on April 24−26, 2015.
Organized annually since 2003, Madrid Fusión brings together the most prestigious and innovative chefs from all over the world, bridging cultures through good food, and enabling the world “to see the future of food.”
DA Undersecretary for Special Concerns Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said that for the event, the agency is preparing to showcase top Philippine agriculture products and dishes.
“DA will put up a booth where the country’s top agricultural exports will be exhibited. Among these products are coconut and its by-products such as coco sugar and coconut oil, heirloom rice, coffee, cacao, mango, pineapple, banana, dalandan, kalamansi, chocolates, cheeses, wines, nuts, preserves, and tuna,” Puyat said.
She said that the DA will also showcase products that are only found in the Philippines such as batuan, sua, kamias and adlai, among others.
Madrid Fusión Manila, through the DA, will also feature regional lunches that will focus on local dishes such as lechon, kinilaw and other local staples cooked with each island region’s finest fish, meat, vegetable and spice products.
“For the regional lunches, we will be showcasing all the top dishes from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao using our top export products,” the agriculture official said.
Meanwhile, DA Secretary Proceso Alcala said that they are looking forward to the event as it will serve as another opportunity to further mainstream top-quality agricultural products of the country in the international gastronomic arena.
“This could link producers of high-quality agricultural products – especially artisanal and organic – to potential markets within and outside the country,” Alcala said.
Artisanal products pertains to high-quality or distinctive products that are made in small quantities, usually by hand or using traditional methods.
Madrid Fusión Manila is a joint partnership project of the Philippines’ Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), along with Madrid Fusión organizers Foro de Debate and Arum Estrategias de Internacionalización.
It would be the first time that the event will be held in Asia and will be the biggest culinary gathering yet in the Philippines.
Madrid Fusión Manila is part of the “Visit the Philippines Year 2015” campaign of the DOT. (PNA)