Emborg, the leading chilled cheese brand in the Philippines, held the Emborg Cheesarap Cook-Off Challenge, a celebration of Filipino home cooks' talent. The event, held on July 13th at Glorietta Activity Center in Makati City,showcased Emborg's commitment to both local culinary heroes and enhancing Filipino meals with high-quality European dairy products.
Embracing Filipino Culinary Passion
"The Philippines boasts a rich culinary tradition, with home cooks creating amazing variations of beloved classics," shared Gerson Garcia, Emborg's Philippine Country Manager. "The Emborg Cheesarap Cook-Off Challenge aims to ignite everyone's passion for cooking, inspiring them to get creative and rediscover the joy of cooking."
Emborg invited Filipino home cooks to showcase their unique dishes featuring Emborg Shredded Cheeses on social media. Throughout June, thirty weekly winners were chosen, with the top three from each week competing live at the cook-off.
A Culinary Showdown
Twelve passionate cooks from various regions like Batangas, Bulacan, Rizal, Sorsogon, Laguna, Marikina, and Parañaque, formed three teams mentored by renowned chefs: Jujumao, Abi Marquez, and Foodie Fred. The teams created diverse Filipino dishes using Emborg's cheeses, creams, butter, milk, and fresh frozen fruits and vegetables.
The competition had three rounds: appetizers, main course, and dessert. Esteemed judges Erwan Heussaff, Nik Michael Imran, and Hans Madlos evaluated each round. The element of surprise came with Mystery Boxes containing unexpected ingredients and Emborg products, testing the teams' creativity and skills.
A Showcase of Culinary Delights
The appetizer round saw teams prepare innovative dishes like baked tahong and Pinoy nachos, featuring Emborg Shredded Cheeses like Mozzarella, Parmesan, Cheddar, Monterey Jack, and 3 Cheese Bake. A unique twist was adding Emborg Black Lumpia Fish Caviar to the baked tahong.
The main course round featured creative takes on caldereta, with dishes like Baked Lasagna, Baked Spaghetti, and Penne. Emborg's shredded cheeses, cooking cream, milk, and butter were used to create a rich, creamy texture and balanced flavors.
For dessert, traditional mango refrigerated cakes were made with Emborg Cream Cheese, Whipping Cream, and Mascarpone, adding volume, stability, and richness.
Celebrating the Champions
Team Jujumao emerged victorious, with Team Abi and Team Fred as first and second runners-up, respectively. Foodie Fred was also awarded Best Mentor. Team Jujumao received coffee machines and Emborg products, while Teams Abi and Fred received air fryers and Emborg products.
Inspiring a Love for Home Cooking
The Emborg Cheesarap Cook-Off Challenge was a celebration of the joy and creativity of home cooking. The audience enjoyed interactive activities and free cheese samples, discovering a variety of cheeses beyond the usual Cheddar,Mozzarella, and Parmesan.
The event solidified Emborg's dedication to offering high-quality European dairy products and inspiring Filipinos to elevate everyday dishes into extraordinary culinary creations, all while celebrating the rich heritage of Filipino cuisine.
For more information, please visit Emborg Philippines.