Department of Tourism Region III Director Carolina T. Uy has lauded the Culinarya Pampanga for preserving Kapampangan culinary heritage through the first ever ‘Nyaman Kapampangan Heritage Recipe Cook-off’.
The two-day event held on November 9 to 10 at Vista Mall Pampanga, City of San Fernando gathered home-cooks and students with authentic recipes and stories.
“As the saying goes, ‘Food brings people closer’. But for me, I realized that the power of food does not stop there, it also evokes memories and can transport you to places. That’s where heritage cuisine enters the scene,” Uy said during the opening of the cook-off event.
Culinarya Pampanga head and celebrity chef Sau del Rosario said Nyaman is an advocacy to support and safeguard Pampanga family cooking traditions and recipes by providing home cooks and students a platform to showcase their family recipes and beautiful memoirs.
In attendance as panel of judges are Camille Villar, daughter of Senator Cynthia Villar, Elsa Jocson of My Lola Nor’s Meryendahan, food historian Atching Lilian Borromeo, ‘Adobo Queen’ Nancy Lumen, food writer Michaela Felix, and food blogger Spanky Enriquez.
The heritage cooking competition was hosted by another Kapampangan chef Vince Garcia and columnist cum tourism advocate Tetta Tirona.
Culinarya Pampanga established in 2006 is a network of chefs and restaurateurs in Pampanga who pledged to preserve and promote Kapampangan culinary traditions and recipes.