On October 25, World Pasta Day, the 2024 Pasta Championship Asia Final, organized by Barilla, took place at the De La Salle College of Saint Benilde School of Hotel Restaurant.
Featuring chefs from China, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, South Korea, India, Japan and Singapore, the championship brings together Asia’s finest talent. Each chef crafted a distinctive dish that celebrates pasta as the star ingredient, showcasing its role as a beloved staple in various culinary traditions.
The judging panel consisted of Barilla Global Food Service Director, Andrea Alfieri; Barilla Executive Chef Asia Pacific, Chef Andrea Tranchero; Chairperson of Culinary Arts Program of Benilde’s School of Restaurant, and Institution Management (SHRIM); and renowned Food Journalist, Masakatsu Ikeda.
Throughout the busy morning, the chefs worked tirelessly alongside faculty helpers from DLS-CSB to present their best pasta dishes to an eager panel of judges. As the last dish was presented, the judges closed the doors and faced the challenge of deliberating a very difficult decision.
Then came the moment everyone has been waiting for: the awarding ceremony. It started with a heartfelt appreciation for all those who made the event possible, including De La Salle College of Saint Benilde, Werdenberg International Corp.—the Barilla Group’s food service partner in the Philippines, Executive Chef Meik Brammer of Marriott Manila, and Sergio Boero, President of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines. As the audience eagerly anticipated the announcement of the winners, the panel of judges finally took the stage to reveal the results of the 2024 Pasta Championship Asia Final.
The bronze winner was the first to be revealed, awarded to Chef Jimmy Loi, who represented Malaysia. Next was Chef Terence Chuah from Singapore, who took home the silver award. Last but certainly not least was the Asia Final Champion, Chef Seigo Fuchigami, representing Japan. But the excitement was far from over, as an unexpected twist was yet to be revealed!
After announcing the three winners, Andrea Alfieri, Global Food Service Director of the Barilla Group, surprised everyone in the room with an unexpected twist: all eight chef finalists, not just the winners, would be going on a trip to Italy. The Italy itinerary includes a visit to Barilla’s headquarters, the Parmigiano Reggiano and Balsamic Vinegar factories, and, as Stefano Adami, Director for Food Service & E-commerce - APAC at Barilla Group, put it, “the cherry on top”—an exclusive tour of the Ferrari Museum.
At the end of the day, everyone was a winner united by their passion for culinary arts.
Written by: Nathalia Rivera, ICCPI Intern, October 30, 2024
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