A Celebration for Cheese Lovers

by Noelle D. Lejano
July 29, 2024

Emborg showcased all the cheesy goodness one can dream of at the Cheesarap Cook-off Challenge: A Culinary Celebration with some of the country’s best home cooks

The Emborg Cheesarap Cook-off Challenge, held at the Glorietta Activity Center in Makati City on July 13th, was more than just a cooking competition. It was a celebration of Filipino culinary ingenuity, offering parents inspiration for new and exciting dish ideas to try at home. This event, organized by Emborg, the number one brand for chilled cheese in the Philippines, showcased not only the talents of Filipino home cooks but also the versatility and quality of Emborg’s cheese products.

Gerson Garcia, Country Manager Emborg Philippines, highlighted Emborg’s commitment to encouraging Filipino home cooks to ignite their passion, get inspired, and fall in love with cooking all over again during his closing remarks.

A Platform for Filipino Culinary Talent

The Emborg Cheesarap Cook-off Challenge highlighted Emborg’s dedication to supporting local culinary talent and promoting high-quality dairy products from Europe. This event just goes to show Emborg’s commitment to transforming everyday Filipino meals into joyful celebrations of flavor and togetherness.

Gerson Garcia, Emborg’s country manager in the Philippines, expressed the brand’s vision, sharing, “The Philippines has a rich culinary history, and many of our home cooks have created wonderful versions of beloved classics. We hope that through the Emborg Cheesarap Cook-off Challenge, we can encourage everyone to ignite their passion, get inspired, and fall in love with cooking all over again.”

A Cook-off to Inspire Home Cooks

Throughout June, Emborg invited Filipino home cooks to showcase their most unique and original Filipino culinary creations on social media using Emborg Shredded Cheeses. From these entries, thirty winners were chosen each week, and the best home cooks were selected to compete live at the Emborg Cheesarap Cook-off Challenge.

The event featured twelve passionate cooks from diverse regions across the Philippines, who were divided into three teams. Each of them were guided by one of three distinguished mentor: renowned food creators Jujumao, Abi Marquez, and Foodie Fred.

The competition had three rounds, each focusing on a specific course: appetizers, main course, and dessert. The esteemed panel of judges included Erwan Heussaff, a renowned food content creator and creative director of FEATR; Nik Michael Imran, a Malaysian-Australian culinary icon known from MasterChef Malaysia; and Hans Madlos, a Filipino food scientist and culinary innovator with over a decade of industry experience.

The Emborg Cheesarap Cook-off Challenge showcases Emborg’s commitment to providing quality European dairy products to Filipinos.
In photo, from left: Emborg Head of Marketing, Asia & Oceania Julia Rybalchenko; Malaysian-Australian Culinary Icon Michael Imran; Creative Director of FEATR Erwan Heussaff; Filipino Food Scientist and Culinary Innovator Hans Madlos; and Country Manager Emborg Philippines Gerson Garcia

Culinary Creativity with Emborg Cheese

This event did not only highlight skill, but culinary creativity in each participant. Each round of the competition featured a Mystery Box challenge, requiring teams to use surprise ingredients along with Emborg products to craft delicious dishes. The use of Emborg Shredded Cheeses, including Mozzarella, Parmesan, Cheddar, Monterey Jack, and 3 Cheese Bake, played a pivotal role in enhancing the flavor and texture of the dishes.

In the appetizer round, teams prepared baked tahong and Pinoy nachos, interestingly incorporating Emborg cheeses to elevate these classic dishes. The main course featured unique versions of caldereta, with dishes such as Baked Lasagna, Baked Spaghetti, and Penne, all enriched with Emborg’s shredded cheeses, cooking cream, milk, and butter. The dessert round saw the creation of traditional mango refrigerated cakes, where Emborg Cream Cheese, Whipping Cream, and Mascarpone added richness and stability to the sweet treat.

A Celebration of Home Cooking

The Emborg Cheesarap Cook-off Challenge culminated with Team Jujumao being crowned the grand champion. Team Abi and Team Fred secured the first and second runner-up positions, respectively, with Foodie Fred also being awarded the Best Mentor title.

The winning teams received valuable prizes, including coffee machines, air fryers, and bundles of Emborg products, further encouraging their culinary pursuits.

Emborg Cheesarap Cook-off Challenge contestants posed proudly together with brand mentors and representatives. In the center back: Creative Director of FEATR Erwan Heussaff; on his right is Malaysian-Australian Culinary Icon Michael Imran; and to his left is Filipino Food Scientist and Culinary Innovator Hans Madlos

Bringing Joy to Filipino Kitchens

The Emborg Cheesarap Cook-off Challenge was not simply a competition, but also an amazing culinary culmination for families to enjoy. Parents watching the cook-off could gather new ideas for incorporating Emborg’s high-quality dairy products into their home-cooked meals. The event also featured interactive activities and free samples of various cheeses, allowing the audience to explore and enjoy the diverse flavors Emborg offers.

By emphasizing the joy and creativity of home cooking, the Emborg Cheesarap Cook-off Challenge reaffirmed Emborg’s mission to inspire Filipinos to transform everyday dishes into mouth watering creations for family and friends. This event encouraged all-around creativity, innovation, and excellence for parents, homemakers, families, and curious cooks alike. Moreover, it is a reminder of the endless possibilities that high-quality ingredients can bring to any kitchen.