A sunny bright Saturday afternoon greeted the Century Corned Tuna Bloggers Cook Off event. CW was at the Royce Gracie seminar in Sucat, while I was at the Stock Market at the Fort. Attending Royce Gracie’s clinic was really appealing but I couldn’t have traded that afternoon’s experience to see a former UFC champ again. Delicious Century Corned Tuna recipes, Stock Market dinner spread, and a cook-off competition –I had quite a FUN-tastic time!
Image Source: Ajay of www.annalyn.net
Former officemates can attest to how I was addicted to a Century Tuna diet, trying to lose the 30lbs I gained in Japan in 2006. It wasn’t much of a struggle since I love Century Tuna. It’s really good news that they have introduced a new product to what they do best –Century Corned Tuna.
Celebrity host JM Rodriguez and QTV Quickfire’s Rosebud Benitez opened the event and explained the cook-off guideline similar to the show Iron Chef.
The guest bloggers were divided into two teams. Each team had to create one appetizer and one pasta dish highlighting the “secret ingredient.” Of course, we all know what the secret ingredient is –corned tuna. The teams were given one hour to complete the dishes, using only the ingredients available on the table.
Criteria for Judging:
Plating/Presentation (20%)
Originality (20%)
Taste (25%)
Innovative Use of Century Corned Tuna (35%)
Team A was composed of bright culinary minds of Melo, Fran, Alex, Sire, Karla and Paul.
Image Source: Ryan Resurreccion c/o Chris Santos
Image Source: Ajay of www.annalyn.net
Team B
Ajay –our esteemed “apron-ed” leader who was the tasteful brain behind the Quesadilla appetizer –assembled the Quesadilla and prepared the pear salsa –being preggers helped on the luck too (I will stroke that tummy again Ajay when I see you!!!)
Omar –sous chef who prepared the basics for all the ingredients –chopping, mincing, dicing
Erlyn –preparation alongside Omar, perfectly toasted the Quesadilla using the pan, and assisted AJ in the pasta dish
AJ –almost single-handedly cooked the pasta dish with bite-size instruction from the alluring Chef Donna
Arpee –sliced the pear delicately and sliced the toasted Quesadilla swiftly like he was the master of the knives
Jane –cheered and cheered on the team during judging time!!! And on the side, did the plating and presentation at the table while the whole group was under the kitchen heat!
After an hour of fun competition between two teams, the dishes were presented for judging.
Team A
Appetizer: Century Tuna Canape with Tomato Slice and Asparagus
Image Source: Ryan Resurreccion c/o Chris Santos
Pasta: Fusilli in Olive Oil with Corned Tuna, Tomatoes and Parmesan
Image Source: Ryan Resurreccion c/o Chris Santos
Team B
Appetizer: Century Corned Tuna and Pear Quesadilla with Tomato Pear Paprika Salsa
Pasta: Century Corned Tuna Tagliatelle Pasta with Asparagus, Spinach and Miso topped with Almonds
Image Source: Ryan Resurreccion c/o Chris Santos
The Century Corned Tuna Quesadilla was basically your cheese quesadilla with corned tuna as the center taste with a refreshing twist of thin pear slices that added quite the crunch in the dish aside from the toasted pita. Pear and cheese go well together and the tad bit acidity and sweetness from the pear gave the quesadilla a different dimension.
Image Source: Ryan Resurreccion c/o Chris Santos
The Tagliatelle pasta was also a hit among the tasters with the taste being similar to Yellow Cab’s Charlie Chan pasta -very Asian and the toasted sliced almonds added a varying texture to the pasta.
Guest Judges: Advertising exec Ariel Comia (Mr. Bearbricklove) and Doc Gelo
I was really thrilled by the event –I guess my competitive spirit was fueled a bit and any natural adrenaline high is always embraced in my book. Finally after much deliberation, JM and Rosebud announced the winner… Team B won!!! As usual, I did what I do best –SCREAM 🙂 and soak in that happy vibe.
Both teams congratulated each other for a “good game!” Team B did a remarkable job! Everyone kept coming back for their dishes.
Image Source: Ajay of www.annalyn.net
Image Source: Ryan Resurreccion c/o Chris Santos
Image Source: Ryan Resurreccion c/o Chris Santos
At the end of it, we were so surprised to find out that there’s PHP 10,000 cash prize to the winning team. We split it 6 ways and congratulated each other for a “job well done!” More than anything, it was the team spirit that highlighted the whole competition for me. Win or lose, the team energy was amazing -it already made me feel like a winner prior to judging.
Related Post
Ajay’s Bloggers Cook-off We Won
Doc Gelo’s Eating Tuna Has Never Been Better
Pinoy Craving’s Century Tuna Cook Off
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