Who reigned supreme in the 3rd UCC: Battle for the Umami Bowl?

Last January 20,  thousands of cooking enthusiasts flocked to the SMX Convention Center to witness the foremost culinary competition for aspiring Filipino chefs – The Ajinomoto 3rd Umami Culinary Challenge:  Battle for the Umami Bowl.

Over 300 student-competitors from universities, colleges, and culinary schools in Metro Manila and nearby provinces showcased their skills and shared the limelight with renowned culinary greats who graced the event as judges, speakers and cooking demonstrators.

Ms. Nancy Reyes-Lumen, who has served as the UCC Competition Director for three years, says that, “All in all, the UCC was, is and will always be a big “malinamnam success!”  Mainly because all participants go home with more knowledge in umami,  more confidence and added skills needed for global competitiveness.

The whole-day culinary event was capped by an Awarding Ceremony hosted by Suzi Entrata-Abrera.  Ms. Nora Daza, a Philippine Culinary Icon, was given special recognition by Ajinomoto Executives for her significant contributions in the Food Industry.  The President of Ajinomoto Philippines Corporation, Mr. Taro Fujie, also congratulated all the participants. 

Miriam College bagged the Umami Bowl Award for garnering the highest average score in major competition categories including the Umami Feature Writing Contest: Dr. Ikeda Award. The school brought home an Elba Kitchen Showcase on top of other prizes courtesy of AJINOMOTO PHILIPPINES CORPORATION.

Mr. John Paul Ventura of Jose Rizal University was awarded the Umami Master title after delighting the judges with his umami masterpiece which he named “Pan-Seared Salmon w/ Veggie Rolls and Micro Green Salad in Spicy Coconut Sauce”.

Other big winners are Lyceum of the Philippines Manila who topped the Umami Bento and Mystery Umami Ingredient categories. Centro Escolar University got the first place in the Amazing AJI-GINISA Race and the Umami Buzz Jeopardy Challenge. Trinity University of Asia came out first in the Prep, Shake and TakTakTak competition, De La Salle Araneta University won the Plate-My-Dish competition and Appetite Magazine’s Capture Umami Challenge (Food Photography Contest) while College of the Holy Spirit received the special award “Media’s Choice for Best Plated Umami Bento”. The top three (3) culinary schools that competed for the 5-Ingredient-Umami-Healthy Dish competition are: Global City Innovative College, American Hospitality Academy and MOST Institute Culinary School.

All winners in the Ajinomoto 3rd Umami Culinary Challenge received cash prizes, medals and various cooking implements from Ajinomoto and valued event sponsors namely Elba, Whirlpool/Fujidenso, PR Gaz, Meat and Livestock Australia, Masflex and Appetite Magazine. Other event partners are GMA 7, Philippine Daily Inquirer and PR Moms Network.

The winning participants may have bagged awards and brought home prizes, but I must say, even the spectators were winners in their own right as they were able to enrich their culinary knowledge.