Palates salivated with excitement as the World Food Expo (WOFEX) opened its doors to trade investors, franchisers, culinary students, foodies, bloggers, media practitioners, would-be and celebrity chefs, and businessmen at the SMX Convention Center and World Trade Center in Pasay City recently.
Organized by PEP Group Events, hundreds of exhibitors from the fast-moving consumer goods, hospitality, electronics, and kitchen technology industries, along with several government institutions and universities, were invited to promote their products and services to potential franchisers, retailers, and other end-users. Walk-ins were also treated to sample gourmet food and delicacies from Europe, Australia, and Asia.
PCAARRD joined the throng of exhibitors at the SMX to showcase dairy and jackfruit treats from the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) based at the University of the Philippines Los Baños and Visayas State University (VSU), respectively.
Together with the Magdalena Dairy Raisers Association, PCC brought the San Pablo, Laguna-local treat Baryo Froyo, a Pinoy frozen yoghurt.
Developed from buffalo's milk, the product outranks cow's, sheep's, and goat's milk in terms of higher calcium and nutrient content and lower cholesterol levels.
Serving as PCC's marketing arm, Baryo Froyo aims to steer the already commercialized frozen yoghurt industry back to the conventional yoghurt, free of sugar and artificial flavors.
From down south, VSU brought back to Manila its Baybay Delights, a line of healthy preserved jackfruit snacks in portable, mess-free packaging.
Baybay Delights' dehydrated and vacuum-packed jackfruit, created for transport with a longer shelf life minus the bulk and extra weight, proved to be a hit among WOFEX's food-loving crowd.
Incidentally, the event also featured a series of lectures and training.
Topics ranged from the latest food trends and restaurant concepts to provide healthy cuisine and to share the best practices in the catering business.
Demonstrations on the preparation of specialty food such as seafood dishes, desserts, and food art were conducted as well.
Also boosting this year’s WOFEX was the 2013 Philippine Culinary Cup, the most prestigious culinary competition in the country, which was also held at the SMX.