Ajinomoto® Umami Culinary Challenge Winning Teams and Recipes

Every year since 2009, the Ajinomoto® Umami Culinary Challenge (UCC) gathers the Philippines’ most creative and innovative culinarians. The event is now one of the country's biggest intercollegiate culinary competitions. This year, Ajinomoto® UCC attracted thousands of visitors and hundreds of HRM and Nutrition students from 51 Universities and Colleges, not just coming from Metro Manila and nearby provinces, but as far back as Ilocos, CAR and Visayas.

Distinguished judges during the event included culinary experts Chef Bruce Lim, Chef Dino Datu, Chef Sau del Rosario, Chef Rosebud Benitez and nutrition experts Dr. Veritas Luna, Dr. Zenaida Narciso and Ms. Joan Sumpio to name a few. There were four (4) competition categories that included the Best Filipino Umami Dish, Umami Bento Meal, My Eat Well, Live Well® Plate and My Own Umami Creation.

Best Filipino Umami Dish

For the first time this year, Ajinomoto® UCC introduced a National Cooking Showdown, where the winning team from Visayas competed with the best team from Luzon for the Best Filipino Umami Dish competition category. This category recognizes the significant presence of umami taste in Filipino cuisine. The Visayas contingent came from Hercor College – Capiz, they won in the Ajinomoto® UCC Iloilo and Cebu events. But it was La Consolacion College – Manila who came on top after winning in both the Luzon and national rounds for the Best Filipino Umami Dish. The winning entries of La Consolacion are a Capampangan delicacy called Sale Ebun Utik (Duck Egg's Nest), and  an Ilokano specialty called Dinengdeng Boquet with Crisp.

Umami Bento Meal

To highlight the discovery of umami in Japan, Ajinomoto® UCC created the Umami Bento Meal competition category. The task for the competitors is to come up with a Japanese-Filipino “fusion” bento meal that boasts of authentic umami taste and outstanding nutritional value. The 3^rd place winner is De La Salle University – Dasmariñas with their dish Sinigang Rice Burger w/ Rellenong Bangus Maki, Ginger Calamansi Sauce and Fruit Tartlet. Colegio de San Lorenzo bagged the 2^nd place with their Wayō Bento creation. The top team for said category is Rogationist College from Silang Cavite, their winning dish is called Bento Seafoods Galore.

My Eat Well, Live Well® Plate

In line with the EAT WELL, LIVE WELL® advocacy of Ajinomoto, a new competition category called My Eat Well, Live Well® Plate was launched. This category aims to promote balance nutrition by preparing healthy and delicious set of meals. Competitors came up with their own application of said plating method. Among the requirements are for each entry to have at least 5 colors of healthful food choices, use variety of cooking methods made more delicious with Ajinomoto products and be served in proper proportions. The winning team at 3^rd place is University of Perpetual Help System Dalta - Calamba with their Mussels in Yellow Coconut Sauce entry. At second place is University of Perpetual Help System- Biñan Laguna for their Poached Fish with Fresh Fern Salad. The first place winner is Manila Tytana Colleges; their winning dish is entitled Flavors of Wellness.

My Own Umami Creation

The challenge for the My Own Umami Creation competition category is to exhibit the school team’s ability to cook a signature umami dish. This signature dish must boast of intense umami taste and good nutritional value. The three (3) winners for this category are: 3^rd Place - Facilities Management College for dish entry “Crispy Kare”, 2^nd Place - University of Santo Tomas for dish entry “Chicken Ballotine w/ Raspberry Jus, Lemongrass Shrimp, Caramelized Chestnuts, Young Vegetables and Mushroom Rissoto” and 1^st Place - Saint Michael's College of Laguna for dish entry “Carp Fish in Black Rice with Alfalfa Salad”

The University of Santo Tomas was hailed the Umami Bowl Champion. They brought home a trophy and a kitchen classroom showcase. First place winners for each category received gold medals and PhP 10,000 in cash. Second place winners won silver medals and PhP 8,000 pesos. And third place winners received bronze medals and PhP 5,000 pesos. The Ajinomoto® Umami Culinary Challenge is presented by AJINOMOTO PHILIPPINES CORPORATION and sponsored by La Germania, Solane, Masflex KitchenPro, Nature’s Spring and Business Mirror.

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Ajinomoto Philippines Corporation (APC) is an affiliate of Tokyo-based Ajinomoto Co., Inc. Established in 1958, APC is committed to the unification of deliciousness and well-being as a corporate brand value. Its food brand slogan “Eat Well, Live Well” communicates the company’s competitive edge of offering food products that are both flavorful and nutritious. Likewise, APC advocates culinary nutrition, which is all about cooking with culinary skills and nutrition knowledge to create delectable and nourishing meals. APC’s brands include AJI-NO-MOTO® Umami Seasoning, Ajinomoto® brand Ginisa Flavor Seasoning Mix, CRISPY FRY® Breading Mix, CRISPY FRY®  Seasoned Crumbs  All-in-One Coating Mix, TASTY BOY® All-purpose Breading Mix, The Ajinomoto® brand Sinigang, AJI-SHIO® Seasoning Mix, FRES-C® Concentrated Powdered Drink Mix and  Ajinomoto® brand Chicken Powder.

 

UST and La Consolacion, big winners at the Ajinomoto® Umami Culinary Challenge!

Year after year since 2009, the Ajinomoto® Umami Culinary Challenge (UCC) gathers the Philippines’ most creative and innovative culinarians. The event is now one of the country's biggest intercollegiate culinary competitions. This year, Ajinomoto® UCC attracted thousands of visitors and hundreds of HRM and Nutrition students from 51 Universities and Colleges, not just coming from Metro Manila and nearby provinces, but as far back as Ilocos, CAR and Visayas. Distinguished judges during the event included culinary experts Chef Bruce Lim, Chef Dino Datu, Chef Sau del Rosario, Chef Rosebud Benitez and nutrition experts Dr. Veritas Luna, Dr. Zenaida Narciso and Ms. Joan Sumpio to name a few.         

Ms. Kathryn Bernardo, teen sensation and AJI-NO-MOTO® Umami Seasoning Endorser kicked off the event’s most anticipated Awarding Ceremony. The University of Santo Tomas (UST) bagged the coveted Umami Bowl Award and a kitchen classroom showcase after receiving the highest overall score in major competition categories including Best Filipino Umami Dish-Luzon, My Eat Well, Live Well® Plate and My Own Umami Creation.

La Consolacion College – Manila shared the spotlight and received double recognition after winning first place in Luzon for the Best Filipino Umami Dish competition category and outdoing Hercor College from Capiz in the National Cooking Showdown for the same category. Other winning teams came from the University of Perpetual Help System- Biñan and Calamba, Manila Tytana College, Rogationist College, De La Salle University – Dasmariñas, Saint Michael's College of Laguna and Colegio de San Lorenzo.

The National Cooking Showdown Champion for Best Filipino Umami Dish is La Consolacion College – Manila.

The University of Santo Tomas is the Umami Bowl Champion of the Ajinomoto® Umami Culinary Challenge.

Judges from left to right: TV personality Tonipet Gaba, together with Chef Rosebud Benitez and Chef Bruce Lim.

 AJI-NO-MOTO® Endorser Ms. Kathryn Bernardo

First place winners for each of the four (4) categories received gold medals and PhP 10,000 in cash, second place winners won silver medals and PhP 8,000 pesos and third place winners received bronze medals and PhP 5,000 pesos. The Ajinomoto® Umami Culinary Challenge is presented by AJINOMOTO PHILIPPINES CORPORATION and sponsored by La Germania, Solane, Masflex KitchenPro, Nature’s Spring and Business Mirror.

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Ajinomoto Philippines Corporation (APC) is an affiliate of Tokyo-based Ajinomoto Co., Inc. Established in 1958, APC is committed to the unification of deliciousness and well-being as a corporate brand value. Its food brand slogan “Eat Well, Live Well” communicates the company’s competitive edge of offering food products that are both flavorful and nutritious. Likewise, APC advocates culinary nutrition, which is all about cooking with culinary skills and nutrition knowledge to create delectable and nourishing meals. APC’s brands include AJI-NO-MOTO® Umami Seasoning, Ajinomoto® brand Ginisa Flavor Seasoning Mix, CRISPY FRY® Breading Mix, CRISPY FRY®  Seasoned Crumbs  All-in-One Coating Mix, TASTY BOY® All-purpose Breading Mix, The Ajinomoto® brand Sinigang, AJI-SHIO® Seasoning Mix, FRES-C® Concentrated Powdered Drink Mix and  Ajinomoto® brand Chicken Powder.

3rd Electric Vehicle Summit now more relevant in the wake of Yolanda and climate change effects

 

Manila, Philippines - It is all systems go for the 3^rd Electric Vehicle Summit at the Multipurpose Hall of Meralco, Pasig City on February 27-28, 2014. The summit was originally scheduled on November 28-29, 2013 but was reset due to the devastation then brought by Typhoon Yolanda in the Visayas that necessitated the urgent attention of government agencies on relief operations.

Rommel Juan, president of the Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (eVAP), one of the organizers, said that the EV Summit has now become more relevant in the light of the recent effects of Typhoon Yolanda. “Now, people are more conscious of the negative effects that can be brought upon by our neglect in preserving the environment thus resulting in global warming and climate change. Thus this year, even major auto shows abroad have prominently featured electric vehicles and other forms of alternative fuel vehicles”, he adds.

eVAP now boasts of 56 active members, 27 of whom are corporate members. It is part of the lead organizing group Electric Vehicle Alliance consisting of Meralco and various like-minded NGOs such as Partnership for Clean Air (PCA), Clean Air initiative Asia and the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC). 

In a press statement, eVAP said that the EV Summit aims to strengthen government and private sector cooperation towards mainstreaming the EV ecosystem. “This is expected to attract over 500 participants that include major EV players from Asia and the Philippines. We brought them together so that major issues and concerns hampering the growth of the EV industry can be discussed and in the process, partnerships could be developed. Also in attendance will be EV parts manufacturers and assemblers, key officials of government agencies, heads of LGUs and academic institutions and even NGO partners for clean air”.

Juan adds that the EV Summit has also been successful in bringing together EV industry players from the region into the Philippines. “Our local EV players were able to forge relations with foreign EV companies from Taiwan, Japan and Korea. Their collaborations have made it easier for these partnerships to participate in high-ticket projects like the DOE-ADB Electric Tricycle Program. Thanks in no small measure to eVAP”.

The EV Summit will feature a trade fair where foreign and local EV parts manufacturers will display their latest products. TECO of Taiwan, partner of local EV pioneer PhUV Inc., will unveil their locally-assembled electric tricycle. Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation will launch their electric version of the Outlander.

“The Philippines will be at the center of the world EV stage in February as we plan what we hope will be the biggest and most meaningful Electric Vehicle Summit in the Philippines. And we hope that the Summit will catapult the fledgling industry into the mainstream sooner than later”, Juan says.

“The Philippines is now on the verge of an EV tipping point where all the pieces of the puzzle are falling into place. Once they all come together, the Philippines may finally be the EV manufacturing hub of the region. But first, we need to put the right business environment in place. This we hope to iron out during the forthcoming EV Summit”, he concludes.

Photo taken during the 2^nd Electric Vehicle Summit. Photo of MVP and Chairman Tolentino, inside the pleneray hall during the 1st day of Summit.

Photo of Electric Vehicle on display at the Exhibit area (E-Quad) during the 2^nd Electric Vehicle Summit.

51 na Eskwelahan sa Luzon ang kasali sa Ajinomoto® Umami Culinary Challenge

Magpapamalas muli ng kanilang talento sa pagluluto ang daan-daang mga estudyante sa nalalapit na Ajinomoto® Umami Culinary Challenge (UCC). Ito din ay isang magandang pagkakataon upang makaharap nila ang pinakamagagaling sa industriya ng pagluluto at food service. Ang UCC ay magtatanghal sa Hall 2, SMX Convention Center in SM Mall of Asia mula 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM sa darating na January 28, 2014.

Ayon kay Chef Russell Bautista, UCC Competition Head at Resident Chef of AJINOMOTO PHILIPPINES CORPORATION, “Mayroon tayong pambihirang pagkakataong makita ang kakayanan ng ating mga future chef. Layunin ng Ajinomoto na makatulong sa mga kabataang ito na madiskubre at mapalago ang kanilang galing sa pagluluto.”

Patuloy ang matagumpay na pagdaos ng UCC na lumalaki at lumalawak sa bawat taon. 51 na eskwelahan sa Luzon o higit na 400 na estudyante ang lalahok sa patimpalak ngayong taon. Ang mga eskwelahang ito ay mula sa Ilocos, CALABARZON, NCR at CARAGA. Kamakailan, dinala din ang UCC sa Iloilo at Cebu para makasali ang mga estudyante sa Visayas and Mindanao.

Mayroong anim na kategorya ang UCC, isa dito ay ang national cooking showdown. Ang Hercor College mula Capiz ay darating sa Maynila upang  labanan ang eskwelahang mananalo sa Best Filipino Umami Dish-Luzon. Sa kabilang banda, ang eskwelahan dito sa Luzon na may pinakamataas na marka ay tatanghaling Umami Bowl Champion at maguuwi ng kitchen classroom showcase. Ilan sa mga tatayong hurado ay mga culinary at nutrition expert tulad nila Chef Sau del Rosario, Chef Eugene Raymundo, Chef Seiji Kamura, Chef James Antolin, Dr. Zenaida Narciso at Ms. Joan Sumpio.

Kaabang-abang din ang mga bago at kakaibang patimpalak, ang Eat Well, Live Well.® Cooking Class na pangungunahan ng mga kilalang chef at ang Umami at MSG Safety Presentation mula kay Dr. Nemencio Nicodemus. Ang UCC ay handog ng AJINOMOTO PHILIPPINES CORPORATION sa tulong ng La Germania, Solane, at Masflex KitchenPro.

 Ang eskuwelahang mananalo sa Umami Bowl Award ay maguuwi rin ng kitchen classroom showcase.

Mapupuno ng ma-umami o masasarap at malinamnam na mga pagkain ang competition area ng Ajinomoto® Umami Culinary Challenge. 

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Ajinomoto Philippines Corporation (APC) is an affiliate of Tokyo-based Ajinomoto Co., Inc. Established in 1958, APC is committed to the unification of deliciousness and well-being as a corporate brand value. Its food brand slogan “Eat Well, Live Well” communicates the company’s competitive edge of offering food products that are both flavorful and nutritious. Likewise, APC advocates culinary nutrition, which is all about cooking with culinary skills and nutrition knowledge to create delectable and nourishing meals. APC’s brands include AJI-NO-MOTO® Umami Seasoning, Ajinomoto® brand Ginisa Flavor Seasoning Mix, CRISPY FRY® Breading Mix, CRISPY FRY®  Seasoned Crumbs  All-in-One Coating Mix, TASTY BOY® All-purpose Breading Mix, The Ajinomoto® brand Sinigang, AJI-SHIO® Seasoning Mix, FRES-C® Concentrated Powdered Drink Mix and  Ajinomoto® brand Chicken Powder.