Baguio Pasta Festival to Highlight 7th Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Weekend

Baguio Pasta Festival September 2 to 4

"A Gastronomical Adventure in the Cordilleras" awaits the city residents, participants, guests and visitors for the seventh staging of the Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism (HRT) weekend from September 2 to 4.

Hotel and Restaurant Associations of Baguio (HRAB) President and Baguio Country Club General Manager Anthony De Leon announced that the 7th HRT weekend aims to promote the city as a culinary adventure destination aside from its great tourism destination potentials.

Hosted by the HRAB, in partnership with various sponsors and in coordination with the Department of Tourism (DOT-CAR) and the City Government of Baguio, the HRT weekend we will focus on culinary competitions.

We have invited different schools and professionals all the way from North and South of Luzon. There will also be showcase and expo of Cordillera Culture and Regional Cuisines,' De Leon said. Baguio Tourism chair

Highlighting the 7th HRT weekend is the Baguio Pasta Festival,' De Leon, who is also the Chairman of the Baguio Tourism Council, announced.

In collaboration with the different hotels and restaurants in the city, such as BCC, Chef Inc, The Manor, Cottage GIs, Greenwich Pizza, Hill Station and Marios, they plan to showcase a 23 feet in diameter pasta, which will also showcase various variety of sauces.

The huge serving of pasta will be unveiled at the SM City Baguio Atrium at about 3 pm in the afternoon of September 3.

We expect to feed about 12,000 people, to sample and taste this huge serving of pasta and its various sauces,' De Leon said.

He bared that every year, they try to come out with innovations, and different ideas to highlight the Baguio Pasta Festival. 'Last year we have the longest longanisa and the largest pizza which measures 23 inches in diameter, which was consumed in just five minutes by the hundreds of people who viewed the event', he added.

For the culinary competitions, there will be a Cold Display, Live Cooking, Dessert, Artistic, Service and Skills competitions, to be held at various venues which includes the BCC, CAP Convention Center, The Atrium SM City Baguio and the Baguio Convention Center.

According to De Leon, the culinary competitions will be a very good venue for students and schools in learning culinary trade and skills experiences, as well as to gain a competitive edge.

For professionals, this will also be a very good venue for them to present themselves, to showcase their skills and what their establishments is capable of.

De Leon also pointed out that the HRT weekend has a tie-up with the national Food Showdown, so the winners in the culinary competitions will have a chance to compete with the other region's best, a chance to showcase their culinary skills at the national level.

Other planned activities for the 2010 HRT weekend include an HRT Quiz Bee, Mr. and Ms. HRAB 2010 pageant, Junior Toque Competition (for elementary and High School Students only), Table Setting competition (High School level), HRAB Got Talent Too! (for HRAB members only), Flower arrangement challenge for High School, Job Fair, Trade Fair and Seminars. (PIA/Lito Dar)