The Emborg Cheesarap Cook-off Challenge recently turned the Glorietta Activity Center in Makati City into a lively fiesta. Filipino home cooks showcased their talent, creating Emborg-infused dishes live on stage, while thousands of mall-goers joined in on the fun.
The event had a true fiesta vibe, with many spectators watching the cooks in action, taking selfies with the judges, sampling Emborg’s food items, and participating in exciting games like a memory challenge and life-size Jenga to win amazing prizes.
Emborg, a leading brand for chilled cheese in the country, hosted the event to celebrate local culinary talent and highlight its high-quality European dairy products that transform everyday Filipino meals into festive feasts.
“The Philippines has a rich culinary history, and many of our home cooks have created wonderful versions of beloved classics. We hope that through the Emborg Cheesarap Cook-off Challenge, we can inspire everyone to ignite their passion for cooking and fall in love with it all over again,” said Gerson Garcia, Emborg’s country manager.
Filipino home cooks were challenged to showcase their unique culinary creations on social media using Emborg Shredded Cheeses. Thirty winners were selected weekly in June, receiving cash prizes, with the best cooks competing live at the event.
Twelve passionate cooks from various regions, including Batangas, Bulacan, Rizal, Sorsogon, Laguna, Marikina, and Parañaque, competed in three teams, each guided by renowned mentors: Jujumao, Abi Marquez, and Foodie Fred. These teams demonstrated their creativity and skills by crafting everyday Filipino dishes, enhanced with Emborg’s diverse dairy products.
The competition consisted of three rounds: appetizers, main courses, and desserts. Esteemed judges, including Erwan Heussaff, Nik Michael Imran, and Hans Madlos, evaluated the dishes based on taste, originality, presentation, and teamwork. The Mystery Box challenge added an extra layer of excitement, requiring teams to create delicious dishes from surprise ingredients and Emborg products.
In the appetizer round, teams prepared baked tahong and Pinoy nachos using a variety of Emborg Shredded Cheeses, adding unique flavors and textures to the dishes. The main course saw teams presenting versions of caldereta lasagna, baked spaghetti, and penne, with Emborg’s dairy products creating a rich and creamy texture.
For dessert, teams made traditional mango refrigerated cakes using Emborg Cream Cheese, Whipping Cream, and Mascarpone, resulting in a delightful and flavorful treat.
The competition concluded with Team Jujumao winning the grand prize, followed by Team Abi as the first runner-up and Team Fred as the second runner-up. Foodie Fred also received the Best Mentor award. Winners received coffee machines, air fryers, and bundles of Emborg products.
Beyond the cooking competition, attendees enjoyed interactive activities, sampling various cheeses, and exploring new flavors. The Emborg Cheesarap Cook-off Challenge highlighted Emborg’s commitment to quality European dairy products and its mission to inspire Filipinos to transform their everyday dishes into culinary masterpieces, celebrating the rich culinary heritage of the Philippines.
