Bigger, better Madrid Fusion in the works

ONWARD to Madrid Fusion 2016. Officials led by (left) Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez and Spain’s Secretary of State for Trade, Jaime Garcia-Legaz (2nd from left), sign the agreement.

In one shining moment called Madrid Fusion Manila last April, the world gustatory spotlight turned to the Philippines, a destination previously ignored.

Whereas culinary enthusiasts the world over used to think that Philippine cuisine had nothing more to offer than duck embryo and adobo, we are today another gastronomical destination to consider, if not to contend with.

This is in large part due to the marketing genius of Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr., the contagious enthusiasm of prime influencer Chef Margarita Fores, the recognition of the thriving Philippine culinary scene by ICEX España Exportacion e Inversiones (the public export promotion agency belonging to the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness of the Kingdom of Spain), and the faith of the Madrid Fusion organizers in having a food fair of this magnitude succeed in the Philippines.

“My most memorable event was opening day itself,” Sec. Jimenez recalled. “We kept describing it and describing it and people were looking at us and saying it was just another food festival. It was only on Day One that people realized that it was not your ordinary food festival. It was in fact a gastronomical milestone in this part of the world.”

And what a milestone it was, having Spain’s top chefs who are also some of the world’s best in the country, not only attending the Congress but visiting Philippine markets, tasting home-cooked Filipino food, and learning from our very own chefs.

Chef Andoni Aduriz of Mugaritz even went as far as Batangas with Vask’s Chef Chele Gonzalez and Chef Myrna Segismundo just to taste tawilis and bagoong.

Madrid Fusion 2016 promises to be bigger and better.

It’s a gargantuan and challenging task for the organizers who will have to top this year’s achievements.

According to the Spanish ambassador, quoting Spanish organizers, “It was remarkable the way that the event was organized. It was very professional. That’s one of the reasons why the event is taking place again [next] year.”

The lineup for 2016 is mind-blowing.

The following have been confirmed by the Department of Tourism as speaker or presenter for Madrid Fusion Manila 2016:

Joan Roca of El Celler de Can Roca in Catalonia. El Celler de Can Roca is currently No. 1 in the list of World’s 50 Best Restaurants;

Yoshihiro Narisawa of Les Creations de Narisawa in Tokyo. Narisawa is a culinary genius who was included in the World’s 50 Best list way before the majority of the jury took a notice of Asia. He has been a real trailblazer in culinary creativity. He was recognized as No. 1 chef in the first ever Asia’s 50 Best Restaurant Awards. He is currently ranked at No. 8 on the World’s 50 Best list;

David Thompson of Nahm in Bangkok. Thompson was recognized as No. 1 in Asia in 2014. He was in the Philippines a few years ago, hosted by Leisa Tyler of the World’s 50 Best Restaurant Awards to give a talk at the Nespresso Forum;

Virgilio Martinez of Central Restaurante in Lima, Peru. Martinez is among the chefs credited for boosting culinary tourism in Latin America and putting the world spotlight on dishes like ceviche. His restaurant holds the title of No. 1 in Latin America’s 50 Best list;

Enrique Olvera of Pujol in Mexico. This is currently ranked No. 16 in the world;

Jose Andres is a Spanish American chef honored with the Outstanding Chef accolade by the James Beard Foundation. He is also the personal chef of US president Barack Obama;

Paul Qui, a Filipino chef based in the United States, was also awarded Best Chef by the James Beard Foundation;

And Dani Garcia of Bibo Andalussian Brasserie in Malaga, a 2 Michelin star restaurant.

What a star-studded list!

Madrid Fusion Manila 2016 is all set with the Memorandum of Understanding signed Thursday by Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. for the Philippine Department of Tourism and Spanish Secretary of Commerce Jaime Garcia-Legaz for ICEX España Exportacion e Inversiones.

Like Sec. Jimenez said, “Nothing succeeds like success. [And Madrid Fusion Manila] was a delicious success we intend to have over and over!”

Madrid Fusion 2016 will be held April 24 to 26 with the theme “The Manila Galleon: East Meets West.” We can’t wait!