Chefs on Parade 2013: Healthy Lifestyle 3-course set menu entry of St Therese MTC College Iloilo City
A week before the actual competition, I got a message from Chef Miner del Mundo inviting me for a culminating activity at the showroom of St Therese MTC College at La Fiesta Hotel. It turns out to be another food tasting session as they were preparing for a big national competition (that took place just this weekend). It was for Chefs on Parade 2013 - the biggest culinary competition and the longest running in Asia, held at SMX Convention Centre at the SM Mall of Asia.
As for this set - Healthy Lifestyle Menu, the appetizer Chef Miner made was steamed roulade of free range chicken stuffed with roasted pepper and mushrooms. It had some herb smear, cauliflower - tartufata veloute, rosemary-tomato on the sides.
It also had a pear-celery-pine nuts and micro-greens salad to whet the appetite even more. Indeed the pear and celery combination gave the appetizer some refreshing hints.
The main course consists of Norwegian Salmon and pan grilled Arctic scallops. Most conspicuous was the carrot and orange broth which also made into a foam for added presentation. Adding level to the presentation was the potato and corn napoleon on tortilla tuille with orange-onion chutney and srping vegetables on the sides. It looked like a gastronomic garden waiting to be devoured. And the salmon was perfect!
Dessert was a trio - cinnamon banana brulee pudding, glutinous rice skewer on palm sugar caramel sauce and marinated fruits.
The glutinous rice skewer is like fried ibos with a caramel sauce dip - so Pinoy yet ith sophistication. As this is the Healthy Lifestyle Set, palm sugar was used.
The marinated fruits cup was an ice breaker so to speak in the dessert. As Chef Miner explains, this is to bring out the sweetness of the main dessert at the same time provide a refreshing texture and flavour to the dessert trio.
Finally the cinnamon banana brulee pudding was my favorite. No other words but delectable. I think I finished this serving - the marinated fruits gave me the right appetite for this one.