Asian Culinary Exchange 2021 Poster
Cover Asian Culinary Exchange 2021 Poster

This September 30, rediscover your love for Filipino cuisine as the Asian Culinary Exchange celebrates our cuisine’s rich past, examines the present industry, and looks towards the hopeful future in store

Since 2018, the annual Asian Culinary Exchange (ACE) has featured some of Asia’s most decorated chefs, granting curious and aspiring on-lookers vital insights into the illustrious yet ever-testing realm of F&B. In the past, ACE hosted the likes of chefs Thitid “Ton” Tassanakajohn, Sun Kim, and our very own Bruce Ricketts to address hard-hitting industry topics at live panel discussions and showcase their mouthwatering culinary talents through a series of chef collaborations. 

See also: Why Is Filipino Cuisine One Of The Richest Food Cultures In The World

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Asian Culinary Exchange 2021 Teaser
Above Asian Culinary Exchange 2021 Teaser

As the pandemic rages on, ACE goes digital in 2021 and takes the opportunity to spotlight a momentous theme well-deserving of our attention: Filipino cuisine.

As a media partner, Tatler Dining shares the excitement about this year’s Homecoming theme, with the lauded food writer, cookbook author, and ACE founder Angelo Comsti. “This year we target solely on our own [food scene], from the lens of the past, the present and the future,” he enthuses.

ACE 2021 kicks off by honouring the titans who have long-championed Filipino food: Doreen Fernandez, Maria Orosa, and Nora Daza. Between Fernandez’ must-read written works, Orosa’s iconic culinary inventions, and Daza’s popular multimedia influence, these culinarians truly set the foundations for our thriving cuisine.

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Photo 1 of 3 Photo: Instagram / @hapag.mnl
Photo 2 of 3 Photo: Instagram / @lampara.pob
Photo 3 of 3 Photo: Instagram / @linamnam_mnl

The symposium then tackles the modern landscape, featuring Filipino chefs from around the world to reveal the challenges they’ve faced in promoting our cuisine abroad. Similarly, chefs Thirdy Dolarte and Kevin “Nav” Navoa of Hapag join Lampara’s RJ Ramos, Linamnam’s Don Baldosano, and Berbeza Bistro’s Don Colmenares to discuss the importance of modernising Filipino dishes.

See also: The Food Evangelists: Meet The People Promoting Filipino Cuisine Across The Globe

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Photo 1 of 3 Margarita Forés | Photo: Francisco "Paco" Guerrero
Photo 2 of 3 Jordy Navarra | Photo: Regine David
Photo 3 of 3 Claude Tayag | Photo: Francisco "Paco" Guerrero

Finally, Comsti closes the event with an all-star panel as celebrity chefs Margarita Forés, Jordy Navarra, Myke Tatung Sarthou, and Claude Tayag disclose their hopeful dreams for Filipino cuisine moving forward.

Tune into Asian Culinary Exchange 2021: Homecoming, airing via the Asia Society Philippines Youtube channel and Facebook page on Thursday, September 30 from 1:00pm to 5:30pm.

See also: Filipino Food—How Can We Go Further? Margarita Forés, Chele Gonzàlez, And More Speak Out


Asian Culinary exchange 2021: Homecoming is co-presented by Nespresso Philippines and McCormick Culinary Philippines, with media partners Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inquirer Mobile, FoodPh, Inquirer Lifestyle, Lifestyle.inq, inquirer.net, F&B Report, Tatler Dining Philippines, and the Asia Society Philippines.

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