Lutong Garbo: Negros Oriental’s culinary showdown

By: Jennifer Catan-Tilos

(Dumaguete City, October 4, 2010)   A total of 19 menus from each municipality and city of Negros Oriental have been submitted as entry for the 5th Lutong Garbo cook fest competition on October 16, 2010.

Cooks, chefs, culinary enthusiasts and have passion for cooking local dish in the province will be gathered to participate in a culinary competition.

This year’s Lutong Garbo cook match is one of the highlights of Buglasan Festival which will be held at the Provincial Agriculture Office, this city. The cook fest   banners the theme, “Discovering, Developing and Promoting Negros oriental Culinary Heritage.”

The 5th Lutong Garbo 2010 is a culinary contest showcasing the best specialties of each local government units (LGU).

The event is designed to discover, develop and promote Negros Oriental’s rich and unique culinary heritage and traditions, creative use of indigenous ingredients available locally.

Food preparation will be judged according to the following criteria: palatability, 40 percent; 40 percent for originality; 10 percent for texture and 10 percent for dish presentation for a total of 100 percent.

Committee Chair of Lutong Garbo Sylvia Uy said “it is a blessing that we have these culinary cuisines that could feed everyone with sumptuous yet reasonable priced indigenous ingredients found in our very own cities and municipalities.”

The cook match also aims to add luster to tourism activities in the province and opportunity to generate livelihood and economic growth, Uy said.

More than P70,000 is up for grab for the local culinary talents of which 1st prize winner will receive P10,000;  P7,000 for 2nd prize placer  P7,000 and the 3rd placer P5,000 plus a trophy each .  For non-winners, consolation prize of P2,5000 cash and certificates of appreciation will be awarded by the Lutong Garbo Competition committee.

The Lutong Garbo is open to all Negrense but duly endorsed by the local executives.  The contestant is required to cook a recipe good for 15 persons during the day of the competition. (PIA/JCT)