United Arab Emirates food groups and experts promoted Filipino food innovators at the recently wrapped up First Filipino Food Industry Conference (Filfood 2019) held in Abu Dhabi.
According to Gulf Today, the conference gathered top Philippine food industry players in a bid to encourage Filipino food and beverage innovators in improving their presence in the global market.
The conference was graced by 15 UAE-grown food stores and eight globally-approved restaurants and fast food chains. Industry partners that provide logistics systems and other forms of support also attended the event.
Filipino food industry experts acknowledged the fact that delicacies from the Philippines have yet to be globally appreciated. On the other hand, they are optimistic about the support nations such as the UAE show for Filipino food.
"Diversity is tolerance. Many still do not know what Filipino cuisine is all about. It is normally us (who go for and welcome our own)," Philippine Ambassador Hjayceelin M. Quintana said. She added that Filipino communities in the Emirates are the third largest expatriates in the UAE and this could open doors for Philippine food to enhance its global presence.
Quintana noted that "the leaders of the UAE have expressed their encouragement for the Filipino community in the country" to exhibit attributes that differentiate the Filipino people from other communities. These qualities include culture, talent, and food.
Executive Director of Filfood 2019 Jose Ma. Jerome Tuano stressed that while the UAE continues to show support for Filipino cuisine, it is important that chefs from the country develop food innovation skills and recipes that will improve the Philippines' competitiveness in the industry.
Late in February, a Filipino restaurant made waves in the British food industry when it made an entry in London. According to Business Mirror, Kinilaw & Buko added a modern and unique twist to the booming Filipino food movement in the U.K. that aims to reinvent the business sector for the better.
The London restaurant seeks to promote Filipino cuisine further in the British market as Philippine chefs continue to prove their fearlessness in reinventing their country's traditional dishes.
Meanwhile, Filipino culinary experts have been invited to take part in the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival (MFWF) that kicked off on March 8 and will end on March 24. The event is being hosted by Victoria, a southeastern state in Australia.
According to the Manila Bulletin, the food festival will help raise awareness on Philippine cuisine that deserve to be acknowledged globally. Other Asian countries are also expected to attend the event that celebrates the Asian food industry as a whole.
