Filipino Cuisine Takes Center Stage at Food Festival in Doha
Foodies in Doha don’t have to travel thousands of miles to embark on a Philippine culinary journey.
On Sunday, the week-long Philippine Food Festival was launched at The Westin Doha Hotel & Spa offering a wide range of authentic Filipino cuisine cooked by well-known Pinay Chef Michelle Adrillana.
The food fest features popular street food such as kwek kwek, fish balls, dinamita, and pares alongside Filipino specialties like adobo, sinigang, and ginataan.
Iconic symbols that represent Philippine culture and tradition were on display at the Seasonal Tastes Restaurant, adding to the festive ambiance. Philippine Ambassador to Qatar Alan L. Timbayan also highlighted the rich culture of the Philippines reflected through its cuisine.
“Tonight , we wish to share with you the rich history, arts, culture, tradition and music of the Philippines through our cuisine. It is a celebration of the vibrant life of the Filipinos and showcases the connectivity of our country’s history to the rest of the world through the infusion of Malay, Chinese, Japanese, Spanish and American flavours in our food,” Timbayan said.
He also underscored how food plays a crucial role in celebrations and festivals across the Philippines.
“Filipinos celebrate the important events and milestones in life through our culinary expressions as well as colourful festivals celebrated in the different regions of the country. Through this project, we hope to share with you bits and pieces of our country through the expression of our food,” he said.
Ambassador Timbayan and Chef Michelle Adrillana along with hotel manager Ammar Samad of The Westin Doha Hotel & Spa opened the food festival. Officials of other diplomatic missions from countries like Thailand, Vietnam, and Brunei were also present as guests and participated in the festivities.
The food festival, presented in cooperation with the Philippine Embassy in Doha, will run until May 5.
via The Peninsula / Raynald C. Rivera
