Approachable Talk on Indian Cuisine by Chef Vikram Singh

Chef Vikram Singh was the resource speaker at the last day of the Cavite Food and Culinary Expo 2019.  Despite having an overcast skies, there were lot of attendees at the Isla Event place in Imus, Cavite province.

Chef Vikram Singh

He is co- founder of Tikka Tales Food Services, Mau’s Grills, Gravies and Goodies. He is also the PRO of Global Academy Alumni Association.

He had been living in the country for 9 years and gained a lot of friends and consider the country as his second home.

crowd

The talks started at about 4:00 pm after the talk of Chef Gene Gutierrez of Big Ben’s Kitchen and famous Imus longganisa.

Senior Leader of Global Academy, Chair Person and President of Global Academy Alumni Association were at the venue to show support.

He shared some information of Indian cuisine, misconception  about the cuisine and the similarities of some dishes to Filipino cuisine.

It was well attended talks and the participants asked a lot of questions on Indian cuisines.  There was a short question and answer portion after the brief talk.  Chef Vikram Singh had some let the participants taste some of the well-loved Indian dessert.

Chef Gene Gutierrez’s Imus Longganisa and Kangkong pasta

Chef Gene Gutierrez was among the resource speakers at the recent Cavite Food and Culinary Expo 2019 and one of the proprietor of Big Ben’s Imus longganisa and kitchen.

Chef Gene Gutierrez of Big Ben’s kitchen and Imus longganisa

He was the speaker during the last day of the event held last July 28 Sunday. His fusili pasta ( 100 grams) which use Big Ben’s longganisa ( 1 longganisa per 100 grams of fusili pasta), kangkong ( water spinach ), chopped onion, chopped garlic, ground pepper corns ,ham bits, cooking oil and tomato sauce or spaghetti sauce ( depending on one’s preference)

Ingredients

kangkong / kangkung/ water spinach / water morning glory/ swamp cabbage

He believe that adding kangkong ( Ipomea aquatica) can add some nutritional value and fiber to the pasta. It is also not hard to find kangkong  which is common in market.

The fusili pasta was pre-cooked ahead of time. He then heated the oil in the pan then sauteed the chopped onions, minced garlic, ham bits, Big Ben’s longganisa, spaghetti sauce and kankong mixing with fusili pasta.

It just took few minutes and everyone at the convention center had tasted this yummy pasta at the Isla Event Center in Imus, Cavite province.

Chef Orvin Sayos version of Pad Thai at the Cavite Food and Culinary Expo 2019

Chef Orvin Sayos of Lime and Basil Thai Restaurant and Atlas Culinary Institute shows how Pad Thai is made at the recent Cavite Food and Culinary Expo 2019 last July 28 at the Isla Event Center in Imus, Cavite province.

Chef Orvin Sayos

Pad Thai is well known Thai noodle dish which can be made in under 30 minutes. It starts with fresh ingredients including rice noodles, chicken, shrimp, tofu, cilantro, bean sprouts, peanuts and scrambled eggs tossed in a delicious homemade pad thai sauce that is so good it tastes like it came from your favorite Thai restaurant.

Pad Thai ala Chef Orvin Sayos

We love on how he shared his skills in cooking. We like the taste of the noodles. I have tasted different kinds of Pad Thai from different Thai restaurants in Metro Manila. Although some of the participants prefer a little bit spicy.

certificate of recognition

He was one of the guest speakers during the exposition.

Aling Norma’s Suman and Sweet Delicacies of Kawit

Aling Norma’s Suman and Sweet Delicacies is one of the pride of Toclong, Kawit, Cavite province.

Toclong or Lupang Kawit had several large tracts of rice fields, which explained that the area produce some of the best rice base delicacies of the town and the entire province.

Suman Lihia

I have tasted several suman before when we visited the town of Kawit, but have no idea that those came from Toclong, Kawit.  The rice is wrapped in banana leaves ( which infuse some flavors), then cooked in large tin cans slowly cooked over firewood.

Heirloom Recipe

Suman ( steam glutinous rice ) wrapped in banana leaves is the special pride of Aling Norma. The recipe had been part of their family and was handed down for several generations. The grandchildren said that it was a local favorite and some families in Kawit would order in advance. Their suman had reached many places like Las Piñas, Parañaque, Taguig, Valenzuela, Manila and even abroad.

A friend who hails from Antipolo also told us that some of the suman sold in their place were also sourced from Kawit.

Suman Moron ( malagkit na bigas chocolate with mani ) glutinous rice with chocolate and peanuts. One of their best selling suman

Aling Norma’s suman can last for at least a day without spoiling. The secret is the use of pure glutinous or sticky rice in their suman. They would stick on the traditional recipe and would not scrimp on the ingredients.  Other suman makers would use the non-sticky rice varieties mix with glutinous rice in order to lower the cost. Hence one reason “why” it easily get spoiled.

suman sa balinghoy with langka

Aling Norma specializes on antala (suman malagkit sa gata), suman sa balinghoy with langka ( cassava) or kamoteng kahoy, suman sa lihia, suman moron ( which is a combination of glutinous rice, chocolate with mani ( the most popular) malagkit with pinipig, pichi-pichi are just some of their well-loved delicacies.

pichi -pichi

The best way to eat their suman is serve hot with shredded coconut, traditional brown sugar called “paldo” or coconut jam. This is also best paired with hot chocolate or coffee from Amadeo.

antala

One of the grandchildren have asked me if i am from the town of Imus or Kawit, since they have a suki ( regular customer) which looked similar. I hailed from Metro Manila.

Bought several suman before we left the Cavite Food and Culinary Expo 2019 site at Isla Events Place in Imus, Cavite province. After almost 8 hours of event and travel from Cavite, Aling Norma’s suman is still fresh and almost immediately eaten by immediate family members and relatives who would swear that it was one of the best suman they have tasted.

Note: Aling Norma’s Suman and Sweet Delicacies accepts bulk order, but must be ordered in advance.

Aling Norma’s Suman and Sweet Delicacies

Address; Toclong , Kawit, Cavite

Contact Person: Ms. Gerlie (0935-4939544)

Opening Highlights of Cavite Food and Culinary Expo 2019

Cavite Food and Culinary Expo 2019 open with a big bang at the Isla Events place in Imus, Cavite province.

Isla Event Place in Imus

The event is well attended by students, industry practitioners, bloggers, media, local and foreign tourists who flock in droves at the event center.

Cavite Food and Culinary Expo Exhibitors

Cavite Food and Culinary Expo 2019 had about 25 stalls selling different kind of regional food, process foods, dry fish, honey , services, real estate companies, logistics and big name food companies like Mama Sita’s, Food Panda, Fantastic Sausages, Big Ben among others.

Big Ben Imus Longganisa and Heirloom Dishes stall

Big Ben Imus Longganisa and heirloom dishes is one of the must visit restaurant when you are within Imus, Cavite. Their family heirloom longganisa, tocino and adobo, sukang sasa are also exported abroad.

Mama Sita’s booth

Mama Sita is well known culinary icon in the country. Her home made recipes, spice mixture and recipe books are also distributed in many parts of the world.

Cafe Amadeo with their world re-known coffee and jacobina biscuits

native kakanins of Cavite

dried galunggong, dried salinas and dried tuyo for sale

The province is well known for her dried fish and a lot of these found their way to Metro Manila and some are brought by Filipino OFW’s abroad.

Delfa’s Food Products

Food Panda stall

Glorious Blend

Glorious Blend is slowly becoming well-known in market . Their 7 in 1 choco mix, 7 in 1 coffee blend, maxtrim and stevia sweetener are becoming staple in the market.

Fantastic sausages by Windmill gourmet

Address: Molino 4, Bacoor, Cavite province 

Contact persons: Ms. Aiza 09159031301 or Mr. Rozel Salazar 0956-3856184

The other stall includes Sweet and Fit Stevia, Cafe Amadeo,Glorious Blend, Delfa’s Food Products and among others.

Brookfield College culinary and hrm students

bangus tocino, bangus sisig, bangus siomai, bangus embotido and bangus kilawin

The event is endorsed by the local government of Imus, Cavite province, Department of Tourism and others.

There are also FREE seminars, talks , cooking demonstration, book launching, food tasting, product sampling within the three day event.

The food expo also aims to promote local food business, services and hospitality industry of the province.

Unlike other food expo, this is open for FREE to the general public until July 28 SUNDAY.