Megatrade Halls - SM Megamall
Ortigas, Mandaluyong City
06 March 2009
The day after my cousin and I took a day trip to Baguio City, I went to the cemetery with my Aunt Julie to visit daddy's grave as it was his 2nd death anniversary. Afterwards, we went to Aunt Lorie's house where we ate lunch. We were there pretty much the whole day, and because I wasn't able to roam around to take pictures, I'd move on to this event instead.
I got home around 6am of 06 March, and around 7am, I received a message from an ex-boyfriend saying he and his father were in Metro Manila because his father attended a doctor's seminar. He said that he has free time around lunch and asked if I could meet up with him. Realizing that there was an event in SM Megamall where we will meet, I decided to go and meet up with him. Afterall, I was able to sleep in the bus while traveling. We ate lunch, and since his father needed him to the seminar, he had to leave early. It was okay, because sister came over to meet up with me.
This food expo came to life through The Philippine Food Processors and Exporters Organization (Philfoodex), the country’s biggest food organization. This expo was sort of a melting pot of different things related to food. There were seminars, kiosks, and the best part was that people can sample different kinds of foods from different parts of the country.
Pictures I took that day:
The expo featured different kiosks showcasing different food products, and one that got me really interested was this one. Aside from their very unique Avocado Cake, they also have different avocado by-products. An affirmation that Filipinos are indeed inovative people.
Looks delicious, right? As yummy as this one looks, no one can actually eat it because it's made of silicon. :)
Aside from seminars, they also had a stage where cooking demonstrations were held. Here, a group of students were teaching people how to cook certain dishes.
Late in the afternoon, celebrity chef Nino Logarta took the stage. He had a new program, so in line with that, he cooked two dishes:
I forgot the name of the dish, but it's actually chopped squids formed into balls on a bed of shredded and seasoned young papaya. There was a game, and the woman sitting behind us won this plate of food, and she was kind enough to let us sample it. The squid balls were okay, but I loved the papaya more.
Another forgotten dish, this is grilled chicken with tomato-coconut milk sauce. A very interesting combination, it's like Thai inspired and I liked it.
My sister and I saw people walking around with coffee cups in their hands, and intrigued where they got it, we found out that there was a coffee stall that pours coffee into these ceramic cups, which people can take home. Who are we to pass up free cups, we got ourselves a cup of coffee each. :)
It was already 7pm when we decided to leave the expo, but amid the free food samples from different stalls, our tummies still crave for a decent dinner, and seeing that there was a stall that sells cooked foods, we decided to eat dinner there. Yum yummy!
The food expo ran for three days, but we were only able to attend this day, which was Day 2. The experience was really great, and I am very optimistic that in the years to come, Filipino foods will make its mark on the map.
*** Jenn ***
