Davao, recognized as the Cacao Capital of the Philippines was in the spotlight in a baking competition held at the Abreeza Mall Activity Center last August 14, 2019. Students from the Institute of International Culinary and Hospitality Entrepreneurship (ICHEF) competed in the Cacao Dessert Making Competition featuring Davao’s cacao and chocolate products. This event was held in partnership with ICHEF and Cacao City, and part of the Cacao Festival at the week-long Mindanao Trade Expo 2019, a trade show featuring new and emerging micro, small and medium enterprises in Davao City and Mindanao.
Cacao City Marketing Cooperative was one of the exhibitors of the trade show. The cooperative is a conglomerate of local farmers and processors who develop products to boost Davao City’s standing as the cacao capital of the Philippines. The competition was a way to market their products ranging from chocolate liquor, tableya, cacao nibs, cocoa butter, and other cacao by-products.
The event was exclusively participated in by ICHEF students from different programs, to come up with their own dessert creations. Each team was required to buy at least three different cacao ingredients from different suppliers of Cacao City. Judges were: Chef Pauline Benedicto, owner of Rekado Davao; Chef Choy Cerbo Llido III, co-owner of Good Food and Co.; Chef Anthony Joesph Ante III, Executive Chef of Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao, and Mr. Leo Brian D. Leuterio, Officer in Charge of the City Agriculturist Office.
The entry of Honey Belle Jamaica S. Cases and Gretchen H. Adean (Australian Grand Diploma 2nd Year) won the 1st Prize of Php 5,000.00 with their creation Malagos Flourless Chocolate Cake with Coffee Sauce.
Romeo Alcazaren, Jr. and Mae Margareth Gonzales – BS Culinary Management won 2nd Place of Php 4,500.00; Earl Renan Panes and Divine Jumalon – BSCM 3rd Prize of Php 3,500.00, and Jonald Cenon and Dan Posadas – BSCM got the Consolation Prize.
This event was made possible through the partnership of ICHEF, the Cacao City Council headed by Ms. Wit Holganza and the Davao City Agriculture Office.
