The Philippine Heritage Kitchen in Partnership With CCA Manila Presents Kanduli: The Grand Halal Food Festival At New World Makati Hotel

When a passionate advocate for traditional Zambasulta cuisine and Michelin Bib Gourmand chef gets together with a family from Zamboanga whose name remains an enduring part of the southern city's culinary tapestry, you just know this will be a day like no other. Prepare to feast with the real flavors of the south...The sixth edition in a continuing culinary series, the Philippine Heritage Kitchen led by a staunch advocate for preserving Filipino traditions Chef Reggie Aspiras in cooperation with the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos-Public Information (NCMF) and the Bureau of Muslim Economic Affairs (BMEA) in partnership with CCA Manila, presents Kanduli: Grand Halal Food Festival at The Glasshouse of New World Makati Hotel revealing yet another colorful layer in the rich and diverse weave of Filipino cuisine. Driven with the aim of showcasing Filipino cuisine, one region and province at a time, the Philippine Heritage Kitchen adds one more flavorful chapter in a journey defining the Filipino dining table with its latest edition on Mindanaoan cuisine. Read on for a tasty and vibrant peek at the indulgent flavors from deep, down south...Dining at the table is a communal experience meant to strengthen bonds and should remain inclusive. Chef Reggie Aspiras of Philippine Heritage Kitchen is a passionate champion of Filipino culinary tradition, an advocacy that's taken her high up north to down south in a personal journey of the Filipino flavor experience. From the first edition to its latest chapter, the Philippine Heritage Kitchen traced the regional flavors that make up the colorful diversity of Filipino cuisine starting with the cuisine of the north (see more on The Filipino Story On A Plate: Acclaimed Chef Reggie Aspiras And CCA Manila Brings Traditional Local Flavors To BGC At The Launch Of The Philippine Heritage Kitchen from early April this year), the origins of the now iconic sisig of Pampanga (more on my post, From Salad To Sizzling: Retracing The Origins Of Pampanga's Sisig And Its Place In The Filipino Culinary Experience At The Sisig Festival By The Philippine Heritage Kitchen And CCA Manila from June this year), the vibrant flavors of Malabon (see my post, Once Upon A Time In Malabon: The Philippine Heritage Kitchen And CCA Manila Unveil The Flavors Of Malabon At The Glasshouse Of New World Makati Hotel from July this year), the mystical allure and flavors of Sagada (more on my post, A Foraged Feast: Philippine Heritage Kitchen And CCA Manila Presents A Forest Table Of Sagada At The Glasshouse Of New World Makati Hotel from July this year), and the wide variety of rice cake delicacies from around the vast archipelago (see my post, Learn. Shop. And Indulge. At The Kakanin Kain! A Rice Cake Festival From North To South By Chef Reggie Aspiras Of The Philippine Heritage Kitchen And CCA Manila from last August). Now, the Philippine Heritage Kitchen takes you to the deep south long shrouded in a mysterious veil with the Grand Halal Food Festival at The Glasshouse in New World Makati Hotel...Like all previous editions, the Philippine Heritage Kitchen leads a multi-sectoral coalition from local government, culinary icons and the academe to mount the Kanduli: The Grand Halal Food Festival at The Glasshouse of New World Makati Hotel. Both the scale and scope of the festival are impressive, with the Philippine Heritage Kitchen harnessing the talents and creativity of the south's finest for another chapter in its on-going story of the Filipino table. Joining Chef Reggie Aspiras for the Kanduli: The Grand Halal Food Festival are Michelin Bib Gourmand recipient Chef Miguel "Miggy" Cabel Moreno of Palm Grill and Cabel known for its authentic renditions of Southern Mindanaoan cuisine and Chef Jose Mari Miguel Alavar Alfaro, third generation owner of Zamboanga's enduring Alavar Restaurant. Headlining the stellar and sumptuous cast of savory dishes from the south are the famous Alavar Curacha con Salsa de Alavar with succulent deep sea spanner crabs simmered in indulgently rich and spicy coconut cream and crab fat paste synonymous with Zamboanga's Alavar Restaurant...This is the dish that catapulted Alavar Restaurant to the very top of Zamboanga's restaurant scene for decades forever becoming one of the many symbols of the region's culinary diversity and richness. Draped and simmered in the now legendary sauce, the delicate briny sweetness of the spanner crabs are perfectly complemented by the deep, bold and savory notes of the Alavar Sauce. Alavar Restaurant also showcased their other signature specialties like the Slipper Tail Lobster with Blanca Sauce with plump local "pitik" in lusciously smooth and creamy white sauce. Defined by geography and a bountiful coastline, fresh seafood plays a significant role in Zamboanga's culinary traditions beautifully captured and interpreted on a plate by Alavar Restaurant. Fresh flavors in the form of Mangga Con Huevos Salad with sweet and tart mangoes, tomatoes, red onions, and salted egg cleansed the palate preparing you for another round of Southern Mindanaoan flavors at the Kanduli: The Grand Halal Food Festival at The Glasshouse of New World Makati Hotel. Then, Alavar Restaurant treated guests with the decadent savory richness of Locon with Curry Sauce with large, fresh local prawns cooked in a rich and thick sauce perfect with a side of steamed white rice. Established way back in 1978 anchored on their cherished heirloom recipe for the now famous Alavar Sauce with its rich blend of coconut milk, crab fat and local spices transforming the local curacha or spanner crab into an iconic dish representing Zamboanga's fresh and vibrant flavors, Alavar Restaurant continues to be the top dining destination in the "City of Flowers." Chef Miguel "Miggy" Cabel Moreno shared his renditions of Zambasulta cuisine with two of his popular dishes from the Michelin Bib Gourmand Palm Grill and Cabel led by the Pianggang Manok with tender and juicy chicken braised and grilled in a rich paste of charred coconut and spices......and the Beef Kurma, a southern Mindanaoan style beef curry slow-cooked coconut milk and spices. These are the flavors of Chef Miggy's childhood, recreating cherished family recipes at his restaurants, Palm Grill and Cabel (for more on Palm Grill, see my posts Green Chicken And Good Vibes: Discover Mindanaoan Flavors At Palm Grill from 2017 and High Five: Celebrating Five Years Of Zambasulta Cuisine From The Deep South At Palm Grill from 2022). For Chef Miggy, it's been a remarkable journey capped by the Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition for both Palm Grill and Cabel early this year, but the story doesn't end just yet. Chef Miggy is committed to showcase the flavors of his roots in the competitive and cluttered culinary landscape of the metro and you can expect to hear more from the passionate and driven chef. Chef Miggy also served his popular Knickerbocker, a rich and indulgent version of halo-halo from Zamboanga with fresh fruits, jelly and ice cream......alongside a tempting array of local delicacies like Biaki or steamed corn rice cakes wrapped in corn husk, Putli Mandi or steamed glutinous rice balls sprinkled with freshly grated coconut, and Lokot-Lokot or the crisp and sweet lace-like treat made from glutinous rice flour deep-fried to golden brown perfection. As with previous editions by the Philippine Heritage Kitchen, a market component featuring local produce and products from Mindanao brings even more flavors to the Grand Halal Food Festival at New World Makati......including Alavar Restaurant's signature sauces and products. And the Philippine Heritage Kitchen brings the flavors from down south to Manila with another successful edition in a continuing series showcasing Filipino flavors, one region and dish at a time. Another much-anticipated component in the culinary series by the Philippine Heritage Kitchen are the cooking demos led by Alavar Restaurant and CCA Manila. Jose Mari Miguel Alavar Alfaro and his culinary team from Alavar Restaurant even hand-carried the fresh seafood from Zamboanga for the sumptuous buffet spread and cooking demo. That afternoon, Chef Jose Mari Miguel Alavar Alfaro prepared some of Alavar Restaurant's popular seafood dishes......like the Alavar Arroz de la Mar with the day's fresh catch simmered in Alavar Restaurant's signature seafood oil on rice. The rice absorbs all the flavors from the various seafood made even richer by the seafood oil for a hearty and sumptuous bowl of comforting goodness from down south. The clean briny sweetness of the fresh seafood delivers all the the flavors, complemented by the secret ingredient. The specialty seafood oil made from grilled cod drippings and special spice blend ties everything together in a masterful and flavorful weave.The Chavacano Paella Negra with fresh seafood and Alavar Restaurant's special squid ink oil is another seafood feast in a bowl with its deep, briny, nutty and umami-packed notes. Then, Chef Jose Mari Miguel Alavar Alfaro prepared the final batch of seafood dishes......complemented by the seafood oil to complete the flavors. When you have the freshest seafood, plus the secret ingredient like the seafood oil of Alavar Restaurant, preparing memorable dishes is easy as demonstrated by Chef Jose Mari Miguel Alavar Alfaro and his team. And soon, you don't have to fly down south to Zamboanga to enjoy these seafood delicacies. Alavar Restaurant will be opening a restaurant in the metro by March 2027, so keep an eye out for that. CCA Manila also announced its new certificate courses on Halal cuisine as part of its continuing commitment to culinary education......with a cooking demonstration led by Certified Halal Chef Hannah Yasmin E. Usman-Yang with simple everyday dishes made Halal......like the Sinigang na Ulang with large river prawns......along with other Filipino staples like Chicken Adobo with Liver, Beef Chorizo and Beef Cocido to round out the day's cooking demos. Congratulations to the Philippine Heritage Kitchen and CCA Manila for lifting the veil once more on the rich tapestry of Filipino flavors with another successful edition in a continuing culinary series. They say it takes a village to mount a comprehensive program as ambitious as the culinary series by the Philippine Heritage Kitchen. And we'll see even more collaborative and multi-sectoral efforts soon in the on-going campaign championing Filipino cuisine in all its richness and diversity. Everyone's welcome at the table, now where will the Philippine Heritage Kitchen and CCA Manila take you next? Cebu's heritage cuisine is up next on the pipeline...For more on the Philippine Heritage Kitchen, you can view their IG Feed at https://www.instagram.com/phheritagekitchen/ for more information and updates. For more on CCA Manila, you can visit their FB Page and IG Feed for more updates on course offerings at https://www.facebook.com/ccamanila/ and https://www.instagram.com/ccamanila/ The Glasshouse is located at New World Makati Hotel, Esperanza Street corner Makati Avenue, Ayala Center, Makati City, Metro Manila. Dude for Food is now on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube, check out these social media accounts for regular updates on good eats. 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