IFEX PHILIPPINES ASIA'S ETHNIC FOOD AND INGREDIENTS

They lined up for the yummy Japanese food offered for free taste

Marking the second quarter of this year, I have been into food exploration and gastronomy. Starting up with IFEX Philippines held last May 18, 2013 in SMEX , it was a remarkable event for all food lovers like me as I get to discover and unveil the many Asian countries interesting and delicious ethnic food and ingredients.  Japan is the first booth I hopped in because there was a lot of people falling in line to it. Curiously as ever, I found myself also struggling to find my way to the nearest part of the booth were a lot of people were piled up. Surprisingly, it was the Japanese sushi and some delicacies that catches every one's attention. Japanese food lover and sushi addict as I am, I rushed myself to get myself some of the Japanese food they offered there and soothingly enough, I was already full on my first booth journey.

Japan's pride- Sake or the Japanese rice wine
These were the combination of the Sake used for cooking and those used for drinking .

Japan's booth

Next booth was Brunei Darussalam, honestly I wasn't able to find any interesting food stuff from their booth. What I saw was several kinds of cookies and biscuit which looks so normal and usual. There has been some kind of seafood crackers that I also don't find it appealing. So I moved over to the next booth and there she was looking so excited and happy to bring India to the Philippines. Look at the tag line on her back.

The curry puff really tasted so great and the Yogurt shake too!!

I thought I would have enough of the Japanese sushi from the Japan booth I first landed to. But somebody please tell me how could I ever resist this fresh, pinky and extra ordinarily delicious sashimi from my homeland Philippines? Promise, the booth assistant was equally kind and accommodating. She allowed me to loiter a bit longer on their booth while consuming almost of the sashimi on their booth.

Sashimi from Saranggani

And surprisingly enough, this product is a product of Philippines. It came from Mindanao and the name of the distributor is Saranggani Bay. They also have several canned fish/sardines and sea products already available in the market. This product was like bringing the sea into your platter then to your mouth. How fresh that could be?

I have been looking around the exhibit hall and found a lot of interesting events like the seminars and training happening at the meeting hall. Simultaneously there was a cooking competition on the other side. There was cooking demo as well headed by some of the prestigious names in the Food Industry. I was lucky enough to see one of the food icon in the Philippines like Ms Editha Singian a Culinary Professional and Consultant and a regular Food Columnist in Cooks Magazine , renowned chefs like Michelle Adrellana owner of Flavors on Fire Catering and a whole lot more.

Ms Editha Singian  one of the speakers during the seminar and judge for the cooking competition 

Michelle Adrellana of Flavors on Fire as one of the judges too

Cooking demo

Cooking competition

Summarizing this whole event, it was fun filled, a great venue for learning more about good food from different region and equally fantastic arena for cooking competition. I look forward to the next event and expect the same fun and informative exhibit like this one. 

Me! looked so full with sushi and sashimi!!