‘Flavors of the Philippines’ promises tastier menu this year

Flavors, which kicked off over the weekend and will run until April 30, is a component of the upcoming Madrid Fusion Manila, which is among the biggest gastronomic events in the world (Photo: Flavors of the Philippines/ Facebook)

MANILA–Longer, grander and more delicious. This was how Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo described this year’s run of the Flavors of the Philippines cultural and food festival.

Flavors, which kicked off over the weekend and will run until April 30, is a component of the upcoming Madrid Fusion Manila, which is among the biggest gastronomic events in the world

It will showcase the best Filipino food and drinks and more simultaneously in hundred venues located in the country’s 17 regions.

Among the activities are native cuisine cooking, local food festivals, gourmet fairs, dining with celebrity chefs, specialized menus, roving food trucks, food tastings, bar crawls, cook-off challenges, food bazaars and farmers’ market tours.

These events will be set in popular destinations with cultural immersion in or interaction with and empowerment of local communities.

Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo expressed excitement in what she described as an “enriching” celebration of Philippine history, arts, culture, tradition, literature, and music through the language of food.

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“Flavors of the Philippines aims to present our country to all food lovers in the world as a hub for different flavor profiles even those of foreign origins, while establishing our country as center of culinary excellence in Asia,” Teo said.

She also invited the public to join the series of events which are meant to make Filipino food “the next big thing on the global travel stage,”

DOT Market Development Group Director Verna Buensuceso, for her part, said that Flavors and Madrid Fusion Manila are both “instrumental” in promoting Philippine cuisines to foodies worldwide.

Buensuceso said that this is true because the New York Times and Conde Nest Traveler Magazine published that the Philippines is becoming a major food trend in the world.