Chef Claude Tayag's Bringhe Won People's Choice for Embassy Chef Challenge 2016

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Congratulations to Chef Claude Tayag, famous chef of the Philippines' Bale Dutung, for winning the People's Choice award at the Embassy Chef Challenge pon May 25, 2016 held at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, Washington DC.

The Embassy Chef Challenge is an annual competition brings hundreds together hundreds for an evening of music, arts, culture, and of course, amazing cuisine! It is an evening of international culinary skills from the best chefs in the world!

“This is the first time that the Philippines will join the Embassy Chef Challenge. It is a significant step for our culinary diplomacy as cultural and economic objectives drive our participation. We want to celebrate our cuisine, bridge cultural differences and foster international understanding, and promote Philippine ingredients and products,” Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose L. Cuisia Jr. said.

Chef Claude Tayag is the Philippines' representative for this year's Embassy Chef Challenge where chefs competed for our vote to win the People's Choice Award and the Judge's Choice Award. 17 countries were in the competition and it is the best of luck that our very own was voted as the People's Choice. Countries include Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ghana, Guatemala, Haiti, Indonesia, Jamaica, Nepal, Panama, Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Uzbekistan & Venezuela (countries subject to change).

Bringhe using black glutinous rice

Chef Claude Tayag's bringhe made with three heirloom Cordillera rice varieties, taba ng talangka, dried mango, inasal na bangus, and glazed pili nuts was the winning dish. (Eight Wonder Mountain violet sticky rice, Ulikan Red and Tinawon white,) topped with the national fish bangus (milkfish) from Sarangani Bay, and sprinkled with the unique Bicol’s pili nuts, Cebu’s dried mangoes, Datu Puti patis (fish sauce) and calamansi extract. Tayag’s secret ingredient is his own Claude’s Taba ng talangka (crab fat).

"The Embassy Chef Challenge is a wonderful opportunity to showcase not just the unique flavors of Philippine cuisine but also the accessibility of our food. Food culture is a reflection of a nation’s soul, and so I intend our offering to be a culinary demonstration of our people’s inherent openness and generosity. After all, Filipino cuisine is meant to be shared." says Chef Claude Tayag in an interview.

Mary Ann Quioc Tayag with Chef Claude Tayag

Chef Claude Tayag with the pineapple-shaped trophy

Congratulations to us all. Salamuch to all those who supported and voted for the Philippine booth.

Thank you for making the Philippines win! You made us proud to be Filipino!

For more information, please visit: http://www.embassychefchallenge.org

*Photos from Mary Ann Quioc TaYag's Facebook account