BACOLOD City – The “Kaon Na Ta!” Food & Travel Festival of the Department of Tourism (DOT) culminated with a “star-studded” Christmas edition-Ilonggo style from Dec. 19- to 1 at the Ayala Malls Capitol Central here.
“The finale event in Bacolod City, aptly titled ‘Kaon Na Ta!’ Food & Travel Festival, is envisioned to capture the joyous spirit of Christmas in the Philippines with noche buena delights as its traditional centerpiece,” says DOT secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat.
This week’s event will be the seventh edition of the food-travel fest series in partnership with the Ayala Malls Group that was launched simultaneously in Legazpi City, Albay and Cebu City last October, followed by events in Cagayan de Oro City in November; and in Sta. Rosa City, Laguna and Davao City early this month.
“The Bacolod cookfest, which will feature international culinary luminaries like Margarita Fores, is a fitting culmination to our efforts to promote awareness about the Philippines’ rich and diverse gastronomy and establish the country as a world-class food hub,” Puyat pointed out.
Puyat said the event, which will be participated in by the local government units and various tourism stakeholders, will also celebrate the triumph of newly-crowned Miss Universe Catriona Gray. Going into the pageant, the beauty queen has gone out of her way to champion Philippine tourism.
In addition to Margarita Fores, other prominent chefs who will serve their special recipes for degustation include Nico Millanes, Don Colmenares, Joeri Arro, Patrick Go, Niño Laus, Kalel Demetrio and JP Anglo.
Native delicacies, bamboo products, handcraft items, fresh fruits and vegetables will also be on display Wednesday through Friday.
The series represents DOT’s version of the Kain Na! food fair pet project organized by Sec. Puyat during her tenure as undersecretary at the Department of Agriculture (DA). The DOT chief has also held its own version of Philippine Harvest, an agro-industrial fair where farm produce were showcased.
To help boost food tourism, the Ayala Malls Group agreed to make available its branches in the key cities to serve as “Kain Na!” venue for the three-day events, free-of-charge./PN
