Burong Salmon Adlai by Chef Victor Barangan
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Elevating the Taste of Buro: Kampapangan Chef’s Remastered Dish Wins Big at this year’s Certified Funlasang Pinoy

The nationwide search culminates with a grand cook-off featuring winning Filipino dishes

Manila, Philippines – Twenty-two mouthwatering dishes, featuring the different flavors of the Philippines, took center stage for the most delectable Certified Funlasang Pinoy cook-off hosted by Unilever Food Solutions. Now on its third year, dishes like Batangas Lomi, Pork Sisig, to bold new recipes like Mexican Bulalo, and Crispy Sisig Shanghai.

FILIPINO CUISINE AT ITS FINEST. Unilever Food Solutions names Chef Victor Barangan (third from left) as the champion of the Certified Funlasang Pinoy. This year’s winner receives the P100,000 prize from the distinguished panel which includes (from left) UFS Philippines Senior Sous Chef Carlos Aluning, Aracama Filipino Cuisine Managing Partner and Executive Chef Fernando Aracama, Locavore Chef & Owner Kel Zaguirre, Eastplorations Blogger Mark Tan, Philippine Daily Inquirer Senior Reporter Vangie Baga-Reyes, and UFS Philippines Executive Chef Kenneth Cacho.
FILIPINO CUISINE AT ITS FINEST. Unilever Food Solutions names Chef Victor Barangan (third from left) as the champion of the Certified Funlasang Pinoy. This year’s winner receives the P100,000 prize from the distinguished panel which includes (from left) UFS Philippines Senior Sous Chef Carlos Aluning, Aracama Filipino Cuisine Managing Partner and Executive Chef Fernando Aracama, Locavore Chef & Owner Kel Zaguirre, Eastplorations Blogger Mark Tan, Philippine Daily Inquirer Senior Reporter Vangie Baga-Reyes, and UFS Philippines Executive Chef Kenneth Cacho.

Talented chefs from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao flocked to the Certified Funlasang Pinoy kitchen with recipes to beat, but it was the surprisingly, satisfying combination of Mindanaoan ingredient adlai and Kampapangan signature dish buro that earned Chef Victor Barangan’s Burong Salmon Adlai the highly-coveted P100,000 grand prize.

Managing Director of UFS Philippines James Benedict Carreon thanked the participants for helping Filipino cuisine evolve in this age. “We at UFS Philippines recognize that the secret ingredients to our favorite sisig, sinigang, or kare-kare are the passionate chefs and cooks behind these straight-from-the-heart Filipino dishes. That is why it is a pleasure for us to continue creating more platforms for chefs and cooks to take pride in their creations.”
Managing Director of UFS Philippines James Benedict Carreon thanked the participants for helping Filipino cuisine evolve in this age. “We at UFS Philippines recognize that the secret ingredients to our favorite sisig, sinigang, or kare-kare are the passionate chefs and cooks behind these straight-from-the-heart Filipino dishes. That is why it is a pleasure for us to continue creating more platforms for chefs and cooks to take pride in their creations.”

For his winning dish, Chef Barangan used adlai instead of rice and introduced salmon cured in Knorr® Rostip Chicken Seasoning Powder for a bowl of buro with richer, umami flavor. Pairing this with pork belly marinated in Knorr® Sinigang Sa Sampalok Mix and slices of fresh lettuce and tomatoes, chef served a harmonious plate of flavors that won the judges’ palate.

Certified Funlasang Pinoy Grand Winner Chef Victor Barangan
Certified Funlasang Pinoy Grand Winner Chef Victor Barangan

“I had to process and cure salmon to elevate the humble buro. The result was amazing,” said Chef Victor. Certified Funlasang Pinoy Panelists—Aracama Filipino Cuisine Managing Partner and Executive Chef Fernando Aracama, Locavore Chef & Owner Kel Zaguirre, Eastplorations Blogger Mark Tan, Philippine Daily Inquirer Senior Reporter Vangie Baga-Reyes, and UFS Philippines Senior Sous Chef Carlos Aluning—are all in agreement.

Sizzling Bangus Sisig by Chef Gerry Austria
Sizzling Bangus Sisig by Chef Gerry Austria

Chef Aracama explained, “it takes belief in one’s self and true knowledge of your ingredients to be able to turn and elevate classic dishes into something innovative and modern without disregarding our own traditions and culture.”

Burong Salmon Adlai by Chef Victor Barangan
Burong Salmon Adlai by Chef Victor Barangan

Eastwood Richmonde Hotel Executive Chef and Certified Funlasang Pinoy Champion Chef Victor Barangan unveils his winning creation—the Burong Salmon Adlai.

Taste the new flavors of Filipino cuisine

Aside from Chef Victor, four other chefs each won 20,000 pesos in cash for their superb take on Filipino cuisine. Chef Belinda Moldez-Evangelista with her Stuffed Kimchi Fried Rice in Roasted Chicken Inasal; Chef Gerry R. Austria with his Sizzling Bangus Sisig; Chef Striessand Casallo with his Ginataang Tortang Dariway; and Chef Wilson Adriano with his Beef Serkele completed this year’s top five.

Certified Funlasang Pinoy runners-up proudly showcase their delicious creations.
Certified Funlasang Pinoy runners-up proudly showcase their delicious creations.

The top five dishes were selected from the hundreds of recipes submitted by chefs and cooks at the beginning of the search. From there, diners selected a festive spread of 22 dishes, that captured the Filipino taste and interest. All 22 winning chefs received plaques and certificates from Unilever Food Solutions for their “Certified Funalsang Pinoy” entries.

Beef Serkele by Chef Wilson Adriano
Beef Serkele by Chef Wilson Adriano

Managing Director of UFS Philippines James Benedict Carreon thanked the participants for helping Filipino cuisine evolve in this age. “We at UFS Philippines recognize that the secret ingredients to our favorite sisig, sinigang, or kare-kare are the passionate chefs and cooks behind these straight-from-the-heart Filipino dishes. That is why it is a pleasure for us to continue creating more platforms for chefs and cooks to take pride in their creations.”

Stuffed Kimchi Fried Rice in Roasted Chicken Inasal by Chef Belinda Moldez-Evangelista
Stuffed Kimchi Fried Rice in Roasted Chicken Inasal by Chef Belinda Moldez-Evangelista

For more inspiring dishes and recipes from Certified Funalsang Pinoy, visit www.UFS.com.

Searching for best hotels and affordable flights? Check out our complete list of affordable hotels and resorts via Agoda or you may also see available Airbnb properties in the city.

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Written by Melo Villareal

Melo Villareal is the Online Publisher of Outoftownblog.com. He is an Accountant by profession who left the corporate world at the age of 23 to explore his beautiful country and the rest of the world. Today, Melo works as a part-time Social Media Manager for local and international clients. His full-time work focuses on discovering interesting culture, explore different cuisines and take memorable photos from local and international destinations he's visiting.

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