The 1st Saravia Culinary Contest was held on April 27 at the public plaza of E.B. Magalona in Negros Occidental showcased two of the town most famous products, blue crabs and the Canlusong coffee, and highlighted their culinary versatility.
The culinary contest forms part of the ongoing 35th Ugyonan Festival, the main fiesta of E. B. Magalona.
Mayor Marvin Malacon said the municipality of E. B. Magalona is very proud to show to the world the various cuisines that can be made using blue crabs, and drinks and desserts using Canlusong coffee – and what better venue to highlight these than through a culinary contest during Ugyonan Festival.
Blue swimming crabs are abundant in the waters off E. B. Magalona, earning the town the tourism tagline “The Blue Crab Capital of Negros Occidental.”
Meanwhile, Canlusong organic coffee, with four varieties— robusta, excelsa, arabica, and liberica – comes from the beans of coffee trees growing wild in the forest of Barangay Canlusong at an elevation of more than 1,600 feet above sea level.
The local farmers nurture these coffee trees, and the coffee beans are harvested and packed using sustainable and environment-friendly practices.
Both the blue crabs and the Canlusong coffee have international buyers.
The blue crabs and the Canlusong coffee were the main ingredients in the culinary contest.
Thirteen barangays that are situated either in the coastal side or in the town proper, participated in the Crab Category, with three participants each, with crabs as the main ingredient of their two required menus per barangay.
On the other hand, 10 barangays, situated either upland or far from the town proper, joined in the Coffee Category, with two participants each, and with coffee as the main ingredient of the two required entries: one hot or cold drink, and one dessert.
The Ugyonan Crab Curry and Ugyonan Tempura of Brgy 2 in the coastal crab category, with participants composed of John Russel Bausing, Andrei Lois Soberano, and Mark Lestin Villarin were declared the champion, while the Brgy. Cudangdang, represented by Banjansun Beronilla and Jethro Trocio, with their menus – Orange Canlusong Cold Brew Spritz and Canlusong Biscuit Crumb – bagged the first prize in the upland barangays coffee category.
The board of judges were composed of Chef Anthony Abad of Vikings Luxury Buffet; Chef Nico Millanes, owner of Gorda Pasteleria Artesania Terrasse; Rudolf Dennis Adecer, former operations manager of the Lampstone Hotel in Sydney, Australia; Ritzar Jeanjaquet, manager of Ciano’s Seafood Grill and Bar; and lifestyle and food vlogger Lexi Casalda, also known on social media as Senyora Lakwatsera.
The menu entries were judged according to taste, practicality and up-to-date presentation, correct cooking preparation and techniques, mise en place and hygiene.*
