The Department of Tourism (DOT) satisfied holiday cravings for Filipino cuisine with its fourth installment of the KAIN NA! Food and Travel Festival which was held from December 17 to 20, 2020.
“The past few months have been rough on the Filipino food community, but it has also pushed us to our limits to achieve greater things. For its first three legs held between September and November, KAIN NA! 2020 took the virtual space by storm in its celebration of Filipino food culture. As the holiday season approaches, with the year almost to a close, the DOT once again invites foodies to KAIN NA! Christmas Cravings, an exciting hybrid edition of the Food and Travel Festival,” said Department of Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat.
For four consecutive days, KAIN NA! Christmas Cravings featured a series of virtual talks, tours, and demos through the Food Tourism Exchange and Food Tourism 101 sessions, while a physical Food Tourism Christmas Market was mounted at Ayala Malls Solenad in Nuvali from December 18 to 20, featuring selling booths of proudly local food products from different regions of the country and a food truck featuring food creations of some of Central Luzon’s most talented chefs.
To ensure safety of participants and visitors of the KAIN NA! on-site culinary exhibition, Secretary Puyat said that the Ayala Malls and DOT undertook steps to ensure that health and safety protocols were enforced throughout the festival duration, such as limiting the number of selling booths and venue capacity, installation of social distancing floor markers, and designation of entry and exit points to direct one-way foot traffic. These measures were also being undertaken through Ayala Malls’ coordination with the concerned local government unit.
“I am very elated to see our on-site KAIN NA! exhibition finally return since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. As with all of the DOT’s initiatives in the slow but sure revival of the Philippine tourism industry, health and safety come first. We shall see to it that minimum health standards are maintained during the event. Likewise, we are soliciting the cooperation of all which will be vital for the activity’s success,” said the tourism chief.
Visitors of the KAIN NA! exhibition were treated to a variety of quality and delectable food products of participating sellers including Alavar, Amira’s Buco Tart Tagaytay, Cafe
Amadeo, Calabarzon Farm Association, House of Negros + Creative Definitions, Magic Melt, Malagos Chocolate, My Little Oven by Simplicity, M&E Catering Services, Pasciolco Agri Ventures, Pink Ladies, QueenB Apiaries, QuePATTA, Suman Munti, and Sweets for Ferann.
KAIN NA’s Food Tourism Exchange virtual symposium featured different resource speakers from all over the country to share Filipino holiday traditions and food pairings that are unique to their area:
• Chef Sau del Rosario of Culinarya Pampanga, DOT Culture and Arts, City of Manila Tourism Officer Jose Maria Belmonte, Laguna 3rd District Representative Cong. Marisol Aragones Sampelo, Chef Ann Alcantara of Casa San Pablo, and Bicol-based Chef Rica Buenaflor with Ms. Bernadette de los Santos of Bidibidi Enterprise
for Luzon;
• Chef Mia Gonzaga of Slow Food Negros, Guimaras Cong. Ma. Lucille Ledesma- Nava (special holiday dishes using Guimaras mangoes), Dumaguete-based Chef Edison Monte de Ramos Manuel, and Mayor Richard Gomez (humba cooking demo) and DOT Regional Director Karen Tiopes for Visayas; and
• Dakak Resort CEO Svetlana Jaloslos De Leon (Christmas staycation feast), Davao- based Chef Paolo Garcia of Balik Bukid Farm and Kitchen, and DOT Region 13 Director King Arina (feature on Siargao) for Mindanao
The Food Tourism 101 virtual talks continued with timely topics on the culinary tourism industry including “Food tourism packages for the yuletide season” with Philippine Tour Operators Association (PHILTOA) President Cesar Cruz and Enchanted Kingdom Chief Operations Officer Ms. Cynthia Mamon on December 17, and “Christmas Staycations and Foodie ADVENTures in the Philippines” which were presented by Hotel Sales and Marketing Association (HSMA) President Christine Ann Ibarreta and Hotel and Restaurant Association of the Philippines (HRAP) Board of Directors Member Chef Robby Goco on December 18.
In the virtual session held on December 19, Guide to the Philippines General Manager Mr. Rabbi Vincent Ang shared his tips on how to promote packages and experiences such as food tourism online, while LTB Philippines Chefs Association-Davao Chapter President Chef Salome San Jose shall focus on “The Christmas Spirit Through Holiday Food & Experiences” during the Food Tourism 101 and KAIN NA! wrap-up on December 20.
The Kain Na Trading Post, the project’s online store will continue to be online
at www.kainnastore.com featuring various iconic food items and local delicacies.
