2_Agnes Jamora - photo by Andrew Werner
Photo by Andrew Werner

The Philippine American Chamber of Commerce and the Philippine Department of Tourism presented the third annual “Inuman at Pulutan” at The Altman Building recently.

With over 300 attendees, the food festival brought unique tastes from the 7,107 islands of the Philippines to New York City.

The organizer of the event, Agnes Jamora, Vice President of the Chamber commented; “My hope is that this event officially launches Filipino food as the next culinary trend in New York City and beyond.”

Chefs from 12 restaurants including Kuma Inn, Maharlika, Marea, Nobu, Spotted Pig and The Elm presented exceptional interpretations of traditional Filipino dishes including Pork belly Abobo Tacos, Calamansi and Ube (Purple Yam) Cheesecakes and Braised Brisket with Truffle Garlic Rice, and competed to win the prize of Best Overall Dish.

Anita Lo of Annisa placed third runner-up, while Edie Ugot of The Spotted Pig came second, with the overall winner decided as Neil Syham of Lumpia Shack Snackbar for his ambitious, but delicious soup dumplings.

Midway through the event Mike Nierva, President of the Philippine American Chamber of Commerce and Butch Meily, Executive Director of the Philippine Disaster Recovery Foundation, took to microphone to thank guests for attending, and explain that the event was not all about the food, but that the proceeds will go towards developing a program to build a community kitchen and vegetable garden for the displaced survivors that still live in tent cities in the areas affected by Typhoon Haiyan in 2013.

Pictured: Agnes Jamora