FOOD & CUISINE
2 nd Umami
Culinary
The
Challenge
If there ’ s one thing Filipinos love , it ’ s to eat . Adding an element of competition in the preparation of food only serves to heighten our interest , and nowhere did these divergent elements come together as well as in the 2nd Umami Culinary Challenge !
Ajinomoto Philippines Corporation ( APC ) in partnership with the Glutamate Association of the Philippines ( GAP ) presented the 2nd Umami Culinary Challenge : The Battle for the Umami Bowl at the A . Venue Events Hall in Makati . Eighteen schools were represented by student competitors who participated in both culinary and non-culinary competitions in a whole day event .
This inter-school , multi-category cooking competition put a special emphasis on umami , the 5th basic taste . Umami is the tasty , rich or savory taste that was first identified and isolated by Dr . Kikunae Ikeda of Tokyo Imperial University in 1908 . The Umami Culinary Challenge involved and engaged student competitors both in group and individual categories and highlighted the creativity , innovativeness and culinary skills of students in creating dishes that bring out the best umami taste .
Participants battled in group competition with the Umami Bento , Best Pinoy Ginisa Dish and Mystery Umami Ingredient categories . Contestants in the Best Pinoy Ginisa Dish category didn ’ t need to use onion and garlic
One of the judges Chef Darin Epp
because Ajinomoto Ginisa Flavor Seasoning Mix captures the essence of the meaty “ ginisa ” flavor without need of those two ingredients . Philippine Christian University emerged as winner for the Best Pinoy Ginisa Dish category thanks to their “ Ginisa Fiesta ,” University of Perpetual Help-Las Piñas won the Umami Bento category with their “ Sticky ginger chicken with vegetable spread and pandan rice ” and Mapua Institute of Technology ’ s “ Grilled chicken on a bed of pasta in Asia ” won the Mystery Umami Ingredient category .
The team with the highest accumulated points in all three categories , the University of Perpetual Help-Las Piñas , won the prestigious Umami Bowl as the overall champion of the 2nd Umami Culinary Challenge . For the individual category , Umami Master 2011 Showdown , Centro Escolar University-Manila ’ s Richmond Timbol received the judges ’ praise on his culinary masterpiece and was named this year ’ s Umami Master . Richmond prepared “ Macadamia nut-crusted salmon served with dill cream quenelle mushroom duff on a bed of saffron potatoes and petite salad in wasabi jelly and tomato bonito coulis ” and joins 2009 winner Dwight Dumale in a very exclusive club of Umami Masters .
“ We are thrilled to facilitate the discovery of the next great Filipino chefs while also promoting ‘ Eat Well , Live Well ’ through the various competitions , seminars and cooking demonstrations ,” Ajinomoto Public Relations department head Helen Lim shared . “ We wanted the UCC to be a venue to showcase delicious and nourishing dishes because we at Ajinomoto believe that eating delicious meals go hand in hand with well-being and healthy lifestyle .” •
Chef Nick Anderson judging
This year ’ s Umami Master winner : Richmond Timbol
Richmond Timbol ’ s masterdish
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