Tuesday, May 09, 2017

World Street Food Congress returns in Manila

The fourth installation World Street Food Congress (WSFC), an event by Singapore-based Makansutra, returns to the Philippines from 31 May to 4 June. This year’s location  catering to a larger audience will be a riot of flavors when the food jamboree gets into full swing at Sunset Avenue Corner Asian Drive, SM Mall of Asia Concert Grounds, Pasay City. Once again supported by Tourism Promotions Board Philippines (TPB), WSFC17 is set to be bigger, bolder and better than 2016 with a fresh theme this year: “Re-Imagine Possibilities”.




Riding on the enthusiasm of a strategic partner like the TBP among other key partners, WSFC17 is again set to be this year’s largest congregation of heritage food advocates, industry think tankers, international delegates, hawkers and street food fans convening on one platform to discuss, debate, advance initiatives and devour unpretentious street eats with gusto. As many as 75,000 hungry food fans showed up last year.

For 2017, the organizers have gone further – beyond the shores of Asia (Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore) to China, Germany, USA and even Mexico, in search of hidden heritage gems – and deeper into heritage cuisine by delving into the Filipino provincial melting pot. Team WSFC, led by KF Seetoh, recently went on a food spotting and exploration trip deeper into the Philippine region, uncovering gems like Lamb Monggo in Davao (a lamb and green bean stew devoured with rice) and created Sisig Paella, a new twist on the local icon Sisig  from Pampanga, all to be offered at the WSF Jamboree. Lamb Monggo is known to be a favorite of the current H.E. Philippine president Rodrigo who hails from Davao.

World Street Food Congress 17 Team Captain:

For the first time team captain will be Chef Sau del Rosario for the host nation. He will shepherd the Philippine contingent and mentor local cooks in the street food industry. The owner of CafĂ© Fleur and 25 Seeds will also be one of this year’s dialogue speakers. Following his WSFC debut in 2016, chef Sau represented the Philippines at Mexico City’s Foro Mundial Gastronomia Food Festival last year. Given the stronger Filipino food representation at this year’s WSFC17, French-trained chef Sau del Rosario, whose progressive take on traditional dishes has catapulted him onto the international stage is set to showcase Pinoy food to the world. He is also working with Makansutra on the world’s first mobile and unmanned heritage automatic deli in Singapore.


WORLD STREET FOOD DIALOGUE

Topics aligned to the theme of Re-Imagine Possibilities

This year’s dialogue boasts eminent industry speakers from USA, Indonesia, Singapore, UK and home-grown talents in the Philippines, among others. The keynote speaker is Greg Drescher, VP, strategic studies and industry leadership, California Institute of America (CIA), Michelin-star chefs Malcolm Lee (Singapore) and Andy Yang (Thailand). Thought-provoking topics revolving around the theme of “Re-Imagine Possibilities” will address matters related to the future of the street food industry. KF Seetoh, Creator and Curator, World Street Food Congress and Founder of Makansutra and Chef Sau del Rosario, World Street Food Captain for the
Philippine contingent are co-moderators. 

Anthony Bourdain
SPICY HOT NEWS: Celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain , one of this year’s dialogue speaker will provide the latest update on the highly anticipated Bourdain Market in New York. 

“JUST IMAGINE”

 … says KF Seetoh, founder of the WSFC:
Food for Thought
. How far can a One–Dish entrepreneur go?
. What are the new street food trends around the world?
. Who or what is in charge of this movement, if any?
. What culinary gems are hidden in the 7107 islands and 13 regions of Philippines?
. What lies ahead, now that Michelin Stars have been awarded to hawkers …



COOKING DEMONSTRATIONS – Interspersing the dialogue will be stage demos of iconic heritage and street food dishes by various presenters like Claude Tayag and Malcolm Lee and Peter Lloyd of Sweet Mango Restaurant in London.

PITCH BOX HACKATHON is a 90-minute segment, likened to an ideation maximus, a refreshing and raw concept, where delegates step up onto the stage, pitch their ideas, visions, concepts and goals to the media, government, industry, entrepreneurs and the younger generation. This segment is largely unplanned, raw and filled with refreshing ideas.


WORLD STREET FOOD JAMBOREE

Over 30 master hawkers and pop ups this year from 13 countries this year. Bigger and better than 2016. Street food demos by top chefs: limited seats + recipe + first-come-first samplings via online registration.

With 5 days of feasting on more than 40 different street food gems from 13 countries with many new food items, a new record attendance of 100,000 is anticipated this year to surpass last year’s total visitorship of 75,000. 

This year’s Filipino specialties will feature six cities and regions from Davao city, Bicol, Pampanga, Iloilo, Ilocos and Bacolod. They are all personally curated and checked by WSFC founder KF Seetoh and it includes traditional favorites like Piaya from Bacolod and a funky Sisig Paella from Pampanga. Old favorites like Bali barbecue ribs will be back. New items stealing the limelight include the Singapore’s Marmite chicken burger, Mexican tacos, Malaysia’s Claypot Apom Manis among others. Here are the 13 countries represented at this year’s WSF Jamboree:
Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, India, Japan, China, Taiwan, Mexico, USA, Germany and The Philippines

For an updated list of hawkers, times and ticket prices, please go to: www.wsfcongress.com.
Dates: 31 May – 4 June Prices of Food: From PHP 150 onwards Entry fee: PHP 150 redeemable at food & beverage stalls Opening Hours: Wed to Fri, 31 May – 2 June: 4:00pm to 11:00pm Sat, 3 June: 1:00pm to 11:00pm Sun, 4 June: 1:00pm to 9:00pm 

Monday, March 27, 2017

How to make an elegant Paella in six steps

Today is National Paella Day and I decided to celebrate it with a large pan of seafood paella. Paella is a versatile dish that contains seafood (shrimp and mussels), chicken and rice; they are all mixed with a cooking base which looks like a thicker soup broth with vegetables and spices added. Paella has saffron; as it is already included in the Aneto Seafood Paella base, I didn't need to add any more.

Here are the six easy steps to make an elegant paella with very few ingredients. 

You will need:

1 cup Matiz Paella Rice
1 container of  Aneto Seafood Paella base
2 bell peppers (or vegetables of your choice cut in small pieces)
1 pound of shrimp
1-2 tbsp olive oil
salt and pepper (if you wish)

Step 1
Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a paella pan and let it cook for 3 minutes

Step 2
Add the Aneto base, let it come to a boil

Step 3
Add the rice and let it boil for a few minutes, then turn it down to medium heat

Step 4
Add the shrimp and peppers. Let them cook in medium heat for 20 minutes 

Step 5.
Let it cool for 10 minutes. 

Step 6
Serve in plates and enjoy!