UST-ITHM-HRM TRIUMPHS IN THE CHEFS TV-FOOD SHOWDOWN 2008 SEPTEMBER 17-19, 2008

Once again the HRM students’ seniors, juniors and a few sophomores gave glory to UST-ITHM by winning several categories in the recently held Chefs TV Food Showdown last September 17-18 2008 despite the cramming preparations (so what's new).

Call time for several categories was set at 3:00am at the World Trade Center (WTC) while the logistics and support group was 2:00am at the Quezon Drive, UST campus. Sleep? Zombie that's what it is ;}

The organizers of the competition have improved compared to last year’s event but the flow of time management and sudden changes in competition schedule necessitates more improvement.

Several participants have prepared well for the competition as early as July 15. While the majority crammed a week before and several a few days before the event. Clearly, solely coaching all the participants is overwhelming given their regimented schedule of lab and lec subjects, giving out recipes and coercing them to practice and the most concern of everyone-financial support...indeed makes you feel like hitting the high notes of Pavarotti!

Initially intimidated, our participants witnessed the well funded and well prepared competitors but I told them "not to worry because they are intimidated by our presence as well."

There was no faculty member to relieve me during the 3-day event which is nothing new considering that I saw to it that the entire support group got into the UST bus at 3:00am to go to WTC and left the venue back to UST at 7:00pm. Thanks to Asst. Professor Mhel Torres, HRM Chairperson who stayed with us during the first day of competition.. On the last day of the competition ITHM Director Cecilia Tio Cuison and Mhel Torres made a short visit by mid afternoon.

A few things to keep in mind when participating in rigid competitions such as these…
YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW

LIVE TO COOK
COOK TO COMPETE
COMPETE TO WIN!

WINNERS
17 Baby Cakes - GOLD
Kathlyn Tisha Ortaliz 2H5





Class 11 The Caffeine Fix Barista Challenge - SILVER
Kamila Fernandez 4H5

Class 18 Wedding Cakes - BRONZE
Ralph Aldover 4H4

Class 17 Baby Cakes - DIPLOMA
Bea Sales 3H4






















































Class 13-Cold Filipino Desserts - DILPOMA
Jennylyn Ang 2H5





















Jessa Cabauatan 3H3















Class 14 Petits Fours or Pralines - DIPLOMA
Olivia Chan 2H5





Kristian Kristoffer Roque 4H4
































Class 16 Philippine Creative Cake Decoration - DIPLOMA
Melissa Binuya 4H4
Maebelle Tadeo 4H4
Ralph Aldover 4H4

Lizet Ulangca 3H4
Angela Villamar 3H4
Dian Villegas 3H4



Class 20 Modern Filipino Table Setting- DIPLOMA
Anthony Tamayo 3H4
Izandra Fabrez 3H2





















Brand Competitions:
McCormick Flavor –Up Challenge 3RD PLACE
Raffy Calongi 4H4

Purefoods Corned Beef Blue Breakfast 3RD PLACE
Maggie Gersbach 3H4


LIST OF PARTICIPANTS
Class 1 Chef Wars Classical:European
Keight Catindig 3H3
Jo Anne Querubin 3H5
Ferdinand Azogue 3H1


Class 2 Chef Wars Classical Kulinarya: Filipino
Agui Aguinaldo 3H2
Ces Ignacio 3H2
Nina Belgica 3H2

Class 5-Gourmet Cold Buffet Challenge
Jan Claudine Rojas 3H3
Joan Pauline Lapid 3H3
Jeramie Jane Chua 3H3

Class 6 The Philippine Summer Picnic Basket
Kaykers Varilla 3H4
Lance Beraquit 3H4

Paolo Anotnio 3H2
Sara Mangalino 3H2

Class 7 Cuisine Rapide:Kusina Rapido
Maisie Victoriano 3H1
Kehnalin Balabbo 4H5

Class 10 Mocktail Mixing
John Ryan Maddatu 4H4




Class 11 The Caffeine Fix Barista Challenge
Jesse Yanzon 4H5















Class 12 Bar Chow Platter
George Ramos 3H1





















Marvin Soriano 4H5















Class 15 Philippine Pastry Showpiece
Alena Tejares 4H5
Steph Advincula 3H5


Brand Competitions:
Eden Cheesemelt
Neil Dennis Tiburcio 4H4

Goldilocks Cake Deco
Bhing Cardano 3H1
Jen Cantero 3H1

CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE! YOU MADE UST-HRM PROUD. YOU MADE ME PROUD!

Overall Coach and Photos
Cocinero
Chef Instructor-In-Charge/ Food Lab Coordinator

UST-ITHM-HRM CONQUERS DLSU GOURMET CHALLENGE II 2008 AS OVERALL CHAMPIONS!

Call time was set at 3:30am at the Quezon Drive of the UST grounds and departed for Dasmariñas at 4:00am.

UST-ITHM participants, logistics and support groups arrived at DLSU Dasmariñas before 5:00am together with Regina Carmeli of Malolos Bulacan.

Ingress and registration time was at 5:00am and to our astonishment, coming late had no bearing. The organizers necessitate a lot of improvement.

There were no ID badges printed for the participants. Only 2 badges were given to the coach later that day. The organizers informed us that this would do. What was ironic was that the furnishing of badges given to only the late participants. Student marshals were very passive and I had to remind them to cordon of the competition area since some of their compatriot school participants and coach were coaching their participants.

Certificates of participation ran out at 5:00pm

After learning the results at way past 9:00pm the UST participants all tired and hungry headed back to UST and arrived at past 10:00pm.

Recapping the whole event, DLSU never expected the turn out of the volume of the participating schools and last minute changes made were not

enough. Out of town competitions, such as these require early call times and imposition of sanctions for late comers is obligatory in fairness to the prompt participants.

My suggestions to improve future competitions:

§ All categories must start simultaneously at 6:00am sharp. By 12:00noon, the winners are declared and awarded their prizes and everyone is given a chance to rest and return to school so as to avoid oppressive attendance until 9:00pm.

§ The need for more competent student marshals and appropriate venue is indispensable.

§ Critically assess Judges Credentials is necessary not because they are close to the faculty of DLSU but to avoid controversies and biases. A comprehensive briefing of Judges before competition proper is crucial and deviation form the criteria completely discarded.

§ The scoring for the judges must be based on the International Computing System (ICS) based on international TESDA competitions where every criterion has a corresponding minimal and maximal point factor that leaves no room for judges to guess and the scores are not discrepantly in the extreme highs and lows.

§ Instantaneous briefings after the tally of scores implemented as needed.

§ The adherence to time management and o bjectively address concerns of participating schools is essential.

The Second Invitational Gourmet Challenge 2008 of DLSU has no acceptable excuse for the outcome and irregularities that occurred. The organizing committee should have learned from the previous competition held last year and anticipated the turn out of participants.

In spite of the scorching heat, thirst, hunger, lack of sleep and biased judging, the senior HRM students whipped their behinds and landed as the overall champion!

GOLD LIVE CAKE DECO

Maebelle Tadeo 4H4

Mel binuya 4H4

Ralph Aldover 4H4

BRONZE LIVE TABLE SETTING FOR TWO (Honeymoon Theme)

Kashmir Pabla 4H5

Myla Abeleda 4H5

Marvin Soriano 4H5

PARTICIPANTS:

LIVE TABLE SETTING FOR TWO

Jorlie Cruz 4H4

Shirley Unidad 4H4

Ronal Dimailing 4H4

LIVE TABLE SETTING WITH CENTERPIECE

Karez Dinamarca 4H5

Kamila Fernandez 4H5

Maureen Flores 4H5

Ashley Cooper 4H4

Darice Narvaez 4H4

Christine Perez 4H4

LIVE MARKET BASKET

Monica Salalila 4H5

Kehnalin Balabbo 4H5

Alby Nadres 4H1

LIVE PLATED DESSERT

Lea Juego 4H5

Carmela Garcia 4H5

LIVE NAPKIN FOLDING

Ava Miasis 4H4

MOCKTAILS FLAIRTENDING

Jesse Yanzon 4H4

John Maddatu 4H4

CULINARY QUIZ BEE

Ana Canceran 4H4

Christine Manaloto 4H4

Photos courtesy of Myla Abeleda and Mark Tangco

Overall coach Buhay Cocinero