Unilever Food Solutions Philippines Opens the Search for Certified Funlasang Pinoy Dishes Nationwide

There has been much debate among Filipinos over which local dish best represents the country. Is it adobo, a vinegar-based dish that is undoubtedly a table staple in every Filipino household and restaurant? Is it sinigang, the classic sour stew—a quintessential Filipino comfort food? Or is it perhaps sisig, the crispy pork dish which Anthony Bourdain once trumpeted as his favorite Filipino dish? One might even say lechon, kare-kare, or bulalo! The list goes on and, arriving at a consensus, is almost next to impossible.

In the Filipinos’ quest for that one “national” dish, Unilever Food Solutions (UFS) Philippines hopes to continuously recognize and celebrate the immense diversity of Philippine cuisine. On the 3rd year of the much-awaited Funlasang Pinoy, UFS Philippines reintroduces the culinary competition as Certified Funlasang Pinoy, a certification program in search for classic Filipino and Filipino-inspired dishes nationwide that continue to define the local cuisine.

“While there may not be a single dish that is representative of Philippine cuisine, we at UFS believe that the country is blessed with an abundance of inspiration. Filipino food is a complex, multi-faceted one, with its roots from Malay to Spanish cuisines. You can even say that the Philippine culinary world has been offering and championing ‘fusion cuisine’ long before it became a trend,” says James Benedict Carreon, Managing Director of UFS Philippines. “Whether it’s cooking a traditional Pinoy recipe or a remaking of a classic favorite with a twist, we want to recognize talented and dedicated chefs and cooks who continue to serve only the best of what this diverse Filipino cuisine can offer.”

The Nationwide Search is On

The certification is open to all chefs and cooks from dining establishments across the country. To qualify for submission, the existing dish from the establishment must either be a classic Filipino recipe or derived from Filipino cuisine and uses participating Knorr® or Lady’s Choice® products in the recipe. Interested participants may simply submit a detailed recipe of their dish entry, a photo of the establishment’s menu, and a write-up on the dish and about the chef or dish-creator. Submissions can be made at https://s.ufs.com/certifiedfunlasangpinoy until May 31, 2019.

Entries will be judged by an esteemed panel of judges including Aracama Filipino Cuisine Chef & Owner Fernando Aracama, Locavore Chef & Owner Kel Zaguirre, UFS Philippines Senior Sous Chef Pipo Aluning, Philippine Daily Inquirer Lifestyle Senior Reporter Vangie Baga-Reyes, and Foodie Influencers Mark and Bianca Tan of Eatsplorations. Dishes that will qualify based on its authenticity and the use of UFS products will automatically be Certified Funlasang Pinoy dishes and will receive a Certified Funlasang Pinoy pack that includes a certificate, plaque, and window decal.

All certified dishes will then be qualified for the online voting period for diners from June 1 to 30. The chefs and cooks of the top 25 Certified Funlasang Pinoy favorites from the voting will showcase their culinary talent at an on-ground cook-off in July 2019 where the top 5 winners will receive PHP 20,000 in cash and a trophy on top of free publicity features.

Submit your entries now or know more about Certified Funlasang Pinoy at https://s.ufs.com/certifiedfunlasangpinoy.