Phnom Penh — Seven Filipino children in Cambodia were on a sugar-rush in a cook-off battle for the tastiest and most creative-looking “turon” (banana fritters) on August 24, 2019 at the Philippine Embassy in Phnom Penh.
Organized by the Embassy’s Sentro Rizal Phnom Penh (SRPP), the cooking demonstration and competition were part of the Embassy’s celebration of Buwan ng Wika.
In her opening remarks, Embassy Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. Myca Fischer said that food, like language, is a means to express and communicate oneself. She then proceeded to teach the Pinoy kids, many of whom were students of the Filipino language class in SRPP, some Filipino words related to “turon”, such as “masarap (delicious)”, “malutong (crispy)”, and “pambalot (wrapper)”.
Turon is made of banana, enhanced with slices of jackfruit, in a “lumpia” wrapper and coated with sugar. The contestants were encouraged to exercise their creativity by putting chocolate syrup, candy sprinkles, condensed milk, ground cinnamon, and sesame seeds in addition to the main ingredients.
Before the cook-off, cooking enthusiast Ethel G. Verano demonstrated to the children the basic procedures in making this favorite Filipino snack.
Third Secretary and Vice Consul Frances Cleofas and Ms. Verano judged the seven entries based on taste, presentation, creativity, and cleanliness.
Thirteen-year-old Vaughn Pasay emerged the winner, earning for himself a cookbook on Philippine bread and pastries, and a cash prize.
For more information, visit https://www.phnompenhpe.dfa.gov.ph, https://www.facebook.com/PHLinCambodia/.
