TABUK CITY, Kalinga – The Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials of Laya West led by Renzo Moldero launched the first cooking contest during the barangay’s festival anniversary held on January 25.
This event is aimed at promoting and preserving local products while showcasing the creativity and culinary skills of community members.
Renzy Mart Lonez, a 22-year-old culinary professional and graduate of Apicius Culinary Arts and Hotel Management Inc., with a diploma in professional cookery ( Level 3); Tyrel Mennao, educator and culinary enthusiast; and Samuel Tabunigao, a dance instructor in Tabuk City and an employee of the City Special Concerns and Coordinating Office (CSCCO) under the Youth and Sports Division of the City Government of Tabuk served as the judges.
Before the competition, the SK officials conducted a thorough inspection of the cooking area to ensure safety and cleanliness. Meanwhile, the judges evaluated the ingredients and tools to confirm compliance with the contest rules.
During the showdown, Purok 2 prepared a dish with langka as the main ingredient, while Purok 7 served a unique combination of eggplant and ‘sabunganay’. Purok 8 featured a varied array of ingredients, including utong, parya, beans, okra, pallang, and dilis, whilst Purok 11 highlighted beans, pallang, utong, and Kamote in their dish.
The judges extensively monitored the cooking process, evaluating the teams’ methods, adherence to the mechanics, and overall presentation. Each dish showed the abundance of Laya West’s agricultural produce.
At the end of the competition, Purok 8 won the best dish prize while Puroks 2 and 7 won first place, followed by Purok 11. This first cooking competition recognizes the talent and resourcefulness of the residents of Brgy. Laya West while promoting the value of local products. By Darwin S. Serion
