AJINOMOTO® Umami Culinary Challenge 2013 (UCC 2013)

 PRESS RELEASE:

The fourth year and fifth implementation of the AJINOMOTO® Umami Culinary Challenge welcomes thousands of visitors and 450 student-competitors at the SMX Convention Center last February 02, 2013. 43 universities and colleges in Metro Manila and nearby provinces showcased their mastery of achieving umami taste in their culinary creations to vie for the coveted Umami Bowl Award.

In each of the five (5) competition categories, HRM and Nutrition students were given an hour to prepare and cook their dishes. These dishes are then presented to an esteemed panel of judges, which includes, among others, professional chefs – Eugene Raymundo, Seiji Kamura, Rosebud Benitez, James Antolin, Sau del Rosario, food editors - Nana Ozaeta and Dolly Dy and other food experts. Judges decided based on intensity of umami taste, culinary technique and creativity, dish preparation and plate presentation. 

One of the major criteria of this competition is Eat Well, Live Well.® Cooking. This is judged by the UCC Nutrition Panel composed of Dr. Celeste Tanchoco, President of the Nutritionist-Dietitian Association of the Philippines and Dr. Josefa Eusebio, President of the Glutamate Association of the Philippines. This criterion refers to the integration of culinary skills and nutrition knowledge to create a delicious and nourishing umami dish. Chef Russell Bautista, Project Head of the event explains, “The AJINOMOTO® Umami Culinary Challenge has always been about providing opportunities for aspiring chefs to learn how to develop healthy and tasty dishes. We go beyond satisfying the taste buds. We want all of our participants to appreciate the importance of improving of the quality of life of the people that we serve.”

Apart from the culinary competitions, foodies and other guests enjoy exhibit booths from sponsors and witness the Caterers’ Forum hosted by Food Caterer’s Association of the Philippines (FCAP) and AJINOMOTO® CaterServe and a meat processing seminar facilitated by Mrs. Lourdes Rivera of Ultima Entrepinoy Center. Ms. Kathryn Bernardo, the new AJI-NO-MOTO® Umami Seasoning endorser and one of the hottest stars of the Kapamilya Network also made a special appearance to congratulate all the participants for a job well done.

The event finale is the awarding of winners, which names Arellano University – Jose Abad Santos as the Umami Bowl Champion for garnering the highest average score and excelling in competition categories including Umami Bento Meal, My Own Umami Creation and Umami Potter. The UCC 2013 gold medalists, as follows:

Category	School	Dish Name	Students
Umami Bento Meal	Colegio de San Lorenzo	Pouched Salmon with Shoyu Glazed with Rice Pilaf	·      Christine Torio ·      Lardette Mohammad ·      Fritz Prudencio
Healthy Asian Umami Dish	Central Luzon College of Science and Technology	Grilled Fish Fillet in Lemon and Chives	·      Krisna Mae Portin ·      Ma. Naomi Kimeco Fortunato ·      Vanessa Arimboanga
Best Filipino Umami Dish	Delos Santos STI College	Liver Rice Adobo and Chicken Coconut Pandan with Crunchy Kangkong	·      Patricia Anne San Agustin ·      Maricel Refusio ·      Patrick San Agustin
My Own Umami Creation	Arellano University – Jose Abad Santos	Gabi Roll in Bagoong Coconut Sauce	·      Anna Andrea Parilla ·      Christopher Rabino ·      Raymart Palacio
Umami Potter	Rogationist College	Hot and Sour Coco Clam Soup with Saluyot, Vermicelli and Shredded Coconut Meat Served in Fresh Buko Shells	·      Maximillian Cosca ·      Joyce Ann Gatpandan ·      Romnick Dela Cruz

Overall, the Umami Bowl Champion brings home a kitchen showcase on top of other prizes.  15 more schools receive medals, cash prizes, cooking equipment, gift certificates and culinary books courtesy of Ajinomoto Philippines Corporation and its sponsors.

Celebrity Chef Rosebud Benitez observes and rates each teams’ culinary technique and dish preparation

Chef Sau Del Rosario and Chef Colin McKay judge the Healthy Asian Umami Dish Competition Category

Towards the end of the long day, the student-competitors produce the finest spread of umami-tasting dishes

 Ms. Kathryn Bernardo congratulates all the UCC 2013 participants for a job well done

Arellano University – Jose Abad Santos wins the Umami Bowl Award for the Ajinomoto® Umami Culinary Challenge 2013

The AJINOMOTO® Umami Culinary Challenge 2013 is presented by Ajinomoto Philippines Corporation, in partnership with the Food Caterer’s Association of the Philippines and sponsored by La Germania, Solane, Whirlpool/Fujidenzo, Sweetlink, Masflex and Anvil Publishing.