LINGAYEN, Pangasinan (PIA) — In celebration of tourism month, the SM Urdaneta Central, in partnership with the city government of Urdaneta, hosted the ‘Bestival Chef,’ a food festival and exhibition aimed at promoting the authentic flavors of local restaurants in the city on Sept. 21 at the mall’s events center.
“Ngayong taon, itinampok namin ang Bacon Buffalo and Beyond restaurant, isa sa aming tenant sa SM City Urdaneta Central, dahil nais naming mas makilala ang kanilang masasarap na pagkain sa buong Pilipinas,” said Abraham Malicdem, mall manager, recognizing the culinary skills of local chefs in Pangasinan.
(This year, we featured Bacon Buffalo and Beyond restaurant, one of our tenants at SM City Urdaneta Central, because we want their delicious food to be known all over the Philippines.)
The exhibit showcased a stunning 12-foot diameter grazing platter filled with delicacies from the said restaurant, all prepared by its six talented chefs and serving at least 300 plates to mall shoppers.
It featured a delectable combination of nachos, pasta, pizza, burger sliders, buffalo wings, barbeque, salad, and other restaurant delicacies, with most ingredients sourced locally from the city market, making each dish fresh and appetizing, which set it apart from others.
Randy Erandio, restaurant manager of Bacon Buffalo and Beyond, stated that the dishes presented are the usual best sellers that customers have been enjoying since the restaurant opened in 2019.
Melanie Eaton, a 52-year-old mall shopper from Urdaneta City, enjoyed tasting the restaurant’s dishes, especially the chicken wings, which are the top best sellers at Bacon Buffalo and Beyond.
“Itong chicken wings ang paborito ko, at talagang masarap ang pagkakaluto ng mga chef,” said Eaton, adding that the dish is undoubtedly a best seller.
(The chicken wings are my favorite, and the chefs cook it well.)
Jessilane Soriano, a 15-year-old mall shopper from Asingan town, also tried barbecue, pizza, and chicken wings, enjoying every bite.
“Masarap po yung mga luto ng Bacon Buffalo and Beyond at masaya po ako na natikman namin yung mga luto sa event na ito” said Soriano, expressing her gratitude for the SM food festival and exhibition.
(The food from Bacon Buffalo and Beyond was so delectable, and I am happy that I had the chance to taste their dishes at this event.)
Meanwhile, the Urdaneta City Tourism Office commended the culinary excellence of the city’s local chefs and their unique dishes.
In line with its mission to promote food as a key component of gastronomic tourism, the office also organized a special food festival on Sept. 23 at SM City Urdaneta Central’s event center, showcasing the city’s best tinapang manok (smoked chicken), celebrating its thriving tinapa industry and aiming to boost the city’s tourism.
Also, it has organized various activities to celebrate tourism month, themed “Tourism & Peace,” which emphasizes the city’s beauty and tranquility. Evelyn Delos Trino, tourism officer of Urdaneta City, expressed the office’s dedication to showcasing the city’s unique offerings, including its resorts and hotels, to ensure that both residents and visitors can fully appreciate everything Urdaneta has to offer.
“We adhere to all mandates from national, provincial, and city levels. We maintain our museums and parks and are actively promoting Urdaneta City as a key destination,” she stated, highlighting their efforts to attract visitors.
Among the activities conducted are the History and Cultural Appreciation Tour on Sept. 7, Zumba Turismo on Sept. 19, and painting and artworks exhibits in celebration of Philippine Creative Industries Month from Sept. 23-30. Each event is designed to engage the community and promote the city’s rich cultural heritage. (MJTAB/JCDR/KCC/PIA Pangasinan)
