Let the exciting countdown to Madrid Fusion Manila (MFM) 2018 begin as the famed Asian edition of the international gastronomy congress is slated to happen on April 19 to 21 at the SMX Convention Center, Pasay City.
Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Wanda Tulfo-Teo together with DOT Undersecretary Benito Bengzon Jr., Lourdes Plana of Foro de Debate, Iñigo Iribarnegaray of Vocento officially signed the Agreement for MFM 2018 during the MFM 2017 Appreciation Gathering held last week at the Manila Peninsula in Makati City.
MFM 2018 aims to highlight traditional cooking techniques and native ingredients under the theme “Innovating Tradition.”
“The chefs of today’s world are now going back to their roots looking into their pantries and discovering what is available in their own locales – produce ingredients, forgotten or age-old techniques, making them new and responsive to our time,” Teo said.
Known to feature the world’s “most acclaimed avant-garde chefs,” MFM 2018 will be headlined by Michelin Star-Chefs Curtis Duffy, Hajime Yoneda, Aitor Jerónimo Orive, Lg Han, Mingoo Kang, Diego Gallegos, Pepe Solla, and Roberto Ruiz.
Joining them are Asia’s 50 Best Restaurant 2017 awardee Matt Abergel, Top Chef Season 9 Winner Paul Qui, Iñigo Lavado, and Javier Estevez.
According to DOT, the fourth edition of MFM will continue to position Philippines as a culinary destination.
DOT Director and MFM project director Verna Buensuceso shared, “For our first two years, we were establishing the Philippines as a center of gastronomy but now that the awareness is building, we need to come up with the tour packages already to further promote the country as a culinary destination.
“We want to have more buyers and tour operators abroad coming for the promotion of Philippine culinary and farm tourism next year.”
Attended by event partners, guest chefs, sponsors, media partners, and others, Teo enjoined the supporters of MFM and said,“We at the DOT and our travel industry partners hope to develop and promote culinary tourism and spur tourism arrivals.”
