Over 300 aspiring chefs from 52 schools and universities competed in the 2017 Ajinomoto® Umami Culinary Challenge (UCC) at the Philippine Trade and Training Center (Manila). This event was the culmination of the national roadshow that began last August 2016 in Cagayan de Oro and October 2016 at Cebu City.
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| UCC Judges composed of Culinary and Nutrition experts scrutinize entries |
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| St. Dominic College of Asia is the Umami Bowl Champion of the 2017 Ajinomoto® Umami Culinary Challenge. |
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| Liza Soberano and Enrique Gil graced the stage of the 2017 Ajinomoto Umami Culinary Challenge |
Liza Soberano and Enrique Gil, who are both Ajinomoto endorsers, also graced the event to provide encouragement for all the student-competitors and kicked-off the event’s highly anticipated awarding ceremony.
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| The National Cooking Showdown Champion for Best Filipino Umami Dish is University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines |
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Best Filipino Umami Dish – National entry: Grilled Vegetables and Boneless Bangus Stuffed with Sweet Potato
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| The National Cooking Showdown Champion for My Own Umami Creation is University of St. La Salle-Bacolod |
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| My Own Umami Creation – National entry: Pan Seared Salmon with Spicy Carrot Puree and Grilled Tomato |
The Grand Prize winners for the Ajinomoto® UCC’s National Culinary Showdown came from VIZMIN: University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines from Cagayan de Oro for the Best Filipino Umami Dish Category and University of St. La Salle – Bacolod for the My Own Umami Creation Category.
Each school received PhP 15,000.00 in cash, medals and certificates. For the Luzon culinary competitions the big winners were Perpetual Help College –Manila, Chiang Kai Shek College and Polytechnic University of the Philippines. The Umami Bowl Award and PhP 50,000-worth of kitchen appliances were bagged by St. Dominic College of Asia for receiving the highest accumulated score in major categories.
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| Luzon’s first place winner for Best Filipino Umami Dish is Perpetual Help College -Manila |
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Best Filipino Umami Dish – Luzon entry: Bringhe Piyanera Chicken Roulade
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| Luzon’s first place winner for My Own Umami Creation is Chiang Kai Shek College |
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| My Own Umami Creation – Luzon entry: Zucchini Noodles in Coconut Water |
The Ajinomoto® UCC is an annual inter-school culinary competition that started in the year 2009. This event provides a training ground for future chefs and nutrition professionals to enhance their cooking skills and nutrition awareness. It is part of Ajinomoto’s “Eat Well, Live Well.®” advocacy to promote the benefit of umami taste in preparing deliciously nourishing recipes.
The panel of judges is composed of Food and Nutrition luminaries invited to offer valuable insights to student-competitors on how to apply culinary skills and nutrition knowledge in the creation of nourishing umami dishes. This event is presented by AJINOMOTO PHILIPPINES CORPORATION in partnership with La Germania, Solane, Masflex, Fujidenzo and Anvil Publishing, Inc.
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| Luzon’s first place winner for Umami Master 2017 is Polytechnic University of the Philippines |
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| Umami Master 2017 – Luzon’s winning entry: Tempeh Triangles with Yogurt Sauce on Lemongrass Risotto |
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| A spread of umami or delicious food |
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Ajinomoto Philippines Corporation (APC), established in 1958, is an affiliate of Tokyo-based Ajinomoto Co., Inc. APC lives by its promise to provide consumers products that will always give the delicious taste to healthy and nutritious meals as embodied in APC’s slogan Ajinomoto® “Eat Well, Live Well.®” APC’s complete line of quality food and seasoning products are produced by international affiliates and local factories using Ajinomoto’s license, quality standards and technological expertise. APC’s products include AJINO-MOTO® Umami Seasoning, Ajinomoto® Brand Ginisa Flavor Seasoning Mix, Ajinomoto® Brand Chicken Powder, PORKSAVOR® All-in-One Seasoning Mix, CRISPY FRY® Breading Mix, CRISPY FRY® Seasoned Crumbs, TASTY BOY® All Purpose Breading Mix, AJI-SHIO® Seasoning Mix, Ajinomoto® Brand Sinigang Cube SARSAYA™ Oyster and Sweet and Sour Sauce and “amino FRES-C” Instant Juice Drink.