The 3rd Umami Culinary Challenge Winners

Last Friday January 20, was the victorious 3rd Umami Culinary Challenge(UCC) held at SMX Mall of Asia, Pasay City. The much-awaited event was ended successfully and fulfilled its aim to show creativeness, innovativeness, culinary skill and mastery of estimated 300 aspiring Filipino chefs came from schools from Metro Manila and nearby provinces. The event welcomed thousands of people including students, supporters, culinary experts, judges, speakers and media to witnessed the cooking demonstrations of HRM and Nutrition students from competing schools that focused on 5th basic taste - UMAMI.

The director for 3 years of UCC Ms. Nancy Reyes-Lumen said "The Umami Culinary Challenge (UCC) continues to be the “first base” for HRA and culinary school students in the field of cooking competitions. The UCC gives them the confidence and added skills they need to be globally competitive. Thus, the trend continues for UCC to combine the elements of fun and competitiveness with education and knowledge in umami.  Win or lose, the participants walk away with a big smile and a healthy mind. All in all, the UCC was, is and will always be a big “malinamnam success!"

All students competed at their best starting six in the morning at the culinary area and the visitors learned different cooking dishes and techniques by different cooking demonstration by the renowned chefs at the stage area. All are gathered together at the stage area around five in the afternoon, to witnessed the students who finished the Amazing Aji-GINISA Race at the culinary area and took their finale race by singing the new UMAMI jingle.

The most exciting part of the day is the awarding ceremony which was hosted by Ms. Suzi Entrata-Abrera  that started around six in the evening.  The program opened by Ajinomoto Executives and gave special  recognition to Philippine Culinary Icon, Ms. Nora Daza, for her significant contributions in the Food Industry. The President of AJINOMOTO PHILIPPINES CORPORATION Taro Fujie, gave welcome remarks as he also congratulate all the participants and the people present on that event.

The Pop Princess and AJI-GINISA endorser Sarah Geronimo delivers an inspiring message during the 3^rd Umami Culinary Challenge Awarding Ceremony and sang the official jingle of Aji-GINISA. Afterwhich, she also gave privileged in awarding the winners with one by one came up on the stage. All winners recieved cash prizes, medals and implements from Ajinomoto and valued event sponsors namely Elba, Whirlpool/Fujidenso, PR Gaz, Meat and Livestock Australia, Masflex and Appetite Magazine. Other event partners are GMA 7, Philippine Daily Inquirer and PR Moms Network.

Miriam College bagged the Umami Bowl Award for garnering the highest average score in major competition categories including the Umami Feature Writing Contest: Dr. Ikeda Award. The school brought home an Elba Kitchen Showcase on top of other prizes courtesy of AJINOMOTO PHILIPPINES CORPORATION. Mr. John Paul Ventura of Jose Rizal University was awarded the Umami Master title after delighting the judges with his umami masterpiece which he named “Pan-Seared Salmon w/ Veggie Rolls and Micro Green Salad in Spicy Coconut Sauce”.

Lyceum of the Philippines Manila - topped the Umami Bento and Mystery Umami Ingredient categories. Centro Escolar University - 1st place in the Amazing AJI-GINISA Race and Umami Buzz Jeopardy Challenge. 

Trinity University of Asia - 1st first in the Prep, Shake and TakTakTak competition

De La Salle Araneta University - 1st Plate-My-Dish competition and Appetite Magazine’s Capture Umami Challenge (Food Photography Contest) 

College of the Holy Spirit - special award “Media’s Choice for Best Plated Umami Bento”. 

Global City Innovative College, American Hospitality Academy and MOST Institute Culinary School -top three (3) culinary schools that competed for the 5-Ingredient-Umami-Healthy Dish competition.

For more details and information about the event and competition please like Umami Culinary Challenge Facebook Fan Page.  Congratulations to the winners, keep on cooking :)). See more photos HERE.