3rd Umami Culinary Challenge Winners

The 3rd Umami Culinary Challenge held last January 20, 2012 at the SMX Convention Center was successful.

It was my first time to attend a culinary activity for aspiring chefs but I was overwhelmed with the number of participants and the program itself even if it started so early in the morning. Yes, 6:00 a.m to be exact.

I met several culinary experts and gurus like Chef Boy Logro Chef Rodrigo Reloj and Chef Sandy Daza who’s also a columnist at Philippine Daily Inquirer and a cook book author.

Chef Boy Logro busy with autograph signing

                                      Chef Ogie Reloj, preparing for his demo

And now for the winners, 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.

The Umami Bowl Winner: Miriam College with presenters (from left to right) Ajinomoto Director Mr Takashi Sakurai, Ajinomoto President Mr Taro Fujie, 3rd UCC Head Chef Russell Bautista, 3rd UCC Competition Director Ms Nancy Reyes-Lumen, Judge and Cooking Demonstrator Chef Rosebud Benitez

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

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”.

Other big winners are Lyceum of the Philippines Manila as it topped the Umami Bento and Mystery Umami Ingredient categories.

Centro Escolar University got the first place in the Amazing AJI-GINISA Race and the Umami Buzz Jeopardy Challenge.

Trinity University of Asia came out first in the Prep, Shake and TakTakTak competition, De La Salle Araneta University won the Plate-My-Dish competition and Appetite Magazine’s Capture Umami Challenge (Food Photography Contest) while College of the Holy Spirit received the special award “Media’s Choice for Best Plated Umami Bento”.

I personally voted Medleydicious in the Media’s Choice Bento Category

Ms. Sarah Geronimo who endorses Ajinomoto products was also present during the awarding ceremony.

As a mother of two, I also love to cook though not as professional as these chefs do but like the pros, I wanted my food to taste delicious so my family would enjoy. Good thing, Ajinomoto helps me to achieve the taste my family loves.