LINGAYEN, PANGASINAN – Abong ni Tio Berto’s complete combo food entry topped this year’s Ponsia: Pangasinan Culinary Challenge today at the Pangasinan Training and Development Center (PTDC) here.
Tio Berto’s “Apoy at Yelo: Lasa’t Likha mula sa Dagat at Lupa” course of three was top on the list of a three-person panel of judges to went home the winner.
The winning food combo starts with pinidpid a pakpak ni Berto (stuffed chicken wings) as appetizer, followed by its main course of Al (berto) silog consisting of alimango, sea grapes, marinated egg yolks; and, for dessert, mangga’t asin of creamy mangoes and salt with candied calamansi peel presented on a block of clear ice.
Jem’s Cuisine and D’Saints Grill and Resto Bar presented versions of ‘Kinamatisang Dalag ed Pias tan Pantol’ and ‘Pilipinas’ bangus belly, bagoong, coconut milk as some of its main ingredients, respectively, bagged first and second runner-up.
Consolation prizes went to three other chef tandems—Amo’s Unli Wings; B&T Seafoods Restaurant; and Bani Hidden Paradise.
Ponsia, a Pangasinan term for ‘feast,’ was launched by the provincial government through the Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office (PTCAO) under Ma. Luisa A. Elduayan in 2023, in celebration of the Filipino food month that year.
Ponsia aims to create heirloom dishes that will highlight the identity and culture of Pangasinan.
It is one of the highlights of the annual Pista’y Dayat (Sea Festival) celebration to recognize the culinary skills of local chefs.
Gov. Ramon V. Guico III has earlier vowed to support all tourism and cultural programs highlighting the distinct products of each locality to include the province’s renowned 3B’s—Bangus, Bagoong and Bucayo.
This year’s event was attended by GMA Sparkle Artist and Chef Jose Sarasola and Kapuso actress Vaness Del Moral who both stunned the audience with their individual cooking expertise.
Judges for the culinary contest were chefs Miko Badillo, Miguel Valdez, and Francis Joseph G. Buhay.
The winners received their prizes from provincial consultant Atty. Maan Ferrer Villegas, who represented the governor in the awarding ceremony. (Ruby F. Rayat/ Carlo de Cruz-PIMRO)
