THE Department of Tourism (DOT) in partnership with Ayala Malls brought another hybrid staging of the ‘Kain Na! Food and Travel Festival’ at the Ayala Serin Mall in Tagaytay City, Cavite as part of its continuing efforts to revive the country’s local food tourism scene.
This edition of Kain Na! was dubbed “Travelling Flavors,” which was a nod to the quincentennial celebrations in the Philippines, particularly toward the Galleon Trade which facilitated the meeting and melding of eastern and western flavors, ingredients, and cooking techniques that have left an indelible mark on the Filipino culinary landscape.
Berna Romulo-Puyat, DOT secretary, said in her message, “Centuries later, various parts of the world have also come to know Filipino cuisine through the palates and creativity of the Filipino diaspora, who have introduced our unique flavor profiles, regional cuisines, and ingredients in a myriad of innovative and interesting ways.”
While inbound tourism remains restricted at the moment, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, “the presence of continuing discussions on Filipino flavors and food tourism experiences remain among the best ways to keep the Philippines in the hearts and minds of tourists and travelers, whom we shall welcome with a burst of fun flavors once the situation safely allows,” Puyat added.
A total of 11 physical booths were mounted for the activity, each promoting a unique product and service of food and farm tourism stakeholders across the country.
This year’s KAIN NA featured the following exhibitors: Muntinlupa City Women Producers Cooperative and My Little Oven By Simplicity from the National Capital Region (National Capital Region); Provincial Government of Ilocos Sur (Ilocos Region) Duran Farm and Myriad Farm (Central Luzon); Farmshare Agri Tourism Park and Uma Verde Econature Farm Inc. (Calabarzon); Caramay Coffee Planters and Merls Native Delicacies (Mimaropa); Mediodia’s Delicacies and Nanay Patring Recipe & Asia Pacific Aqua Marine, Inc. (Western Visayas); Lamac Multi-Purpose Cooperative (Central Visayas); Jane’s Food Products (Zamboanga Peninsula); and Alameda Farm (Caraga).
This run of the Kain Na! also brought back its signature food webinars, namely Global Prospectives, Food Tourism Exchange, and Food Tourism 101, as well as three virtual symposia, which tackled cultural influences in the food and gastronomy of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
Among the speakers were award winning chefs and restaurateurs Jessica Gonzales of Bobi Filipino Food based in Paris, France, Chele Gonzalez of Gallery by Chele, 2019 James Beard Awardee for Best Chef (Mid-Atlantic) Tom Cunanan, Carlo Lamagna, chef-owner of modern Filipino restaurant — Magna, in Portland, Oregon and Christina Sunae, chef-owner of Cocina Sunae, Sunae Asian Cantina in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Alfie Escabarte and Carmelita Escabarte, Co-Founders of Thrilla in Manila.
Kain Na! business-to-business meetings also linked up Food Tourism Consortium members and Calabarzon stakeholders.
Woodrow Maquiling Jr., DOT undersecretary, said that Kain Na! has played a pivotal role in their work in the DOT in promoting the Philippines through its diverse culinary culture and traditions.
Through Kain Na!, the DOT puts the spotlight on the Philippines as a gastronomic destination, a culinary capital, for both local and foreign travelers alike, promoting food, farm and farmers alike, he also said. It has also started a discourse on culinary tourism, farm tourism and sustainable tourism.
“In an archipelago of 7,641 islands, there is so much more to Filipino food that awaits us to taste and discover in our travels,” he noted, beyond the time-cherished adobo, pancit and sinigang.
“Expect only the most delectable and sumptuous local feasts from the gastronomic artisans featured in this fair; sink your teeth into some of epicurean treasures of Calabarzon and its nearby environs featuring only the freshest farm-to-table and locally-grown produce from our farmers,” Maquiling stressed.
Tina De Asis, Ayala Malls Serin general manager, said for her part, “It is our honor that after three years since its launch in Ayala Malls Abreeza, Kain Na! has finally reached Tagaytay and we are able to host this in our mall.”
“We look forward to more opportunities in providing our patrons access to regional specialties as well as become an avenue for MSMEs for their businesses and introduce their products to a wider market,” De Asis added.
