Gourmet Bites' sweet success

 

“Gourmet Bites’ sweet success”

Sun.Star Davao, July 18, 2015

It was indeed a sweet success for Gourmet Bites and Pastry Arts Academy, Philippines as they reaped a cornucopia of awards at the recent Mindanao Culinary Festival held at the SM Lanang Premier.

           

Run by sisters Chiara Samson-Sacdalan and Simone Samson-De Vera with husband Jay De Vera and their sister-in-law Architect Elisha Agdamag-Samson, Gourmet Bites is the culinary arts extension of St. Dominic Savio Business and Technical College, Inc. (SDSBTC). On the other hand, Pastry Arts Academy, Philippines (P.A.A.P.), the 1st pastry school in Mindanao, is the pastry arts department of SDSBTC.

Bagging a total of 3 gold medals, 2 silvers, and 3 bronzes during the three-day event, the Gourmet Bites and Pastry Arts Academy, Philippines family could not be any prouder of their representatives. Their instructors and students all competed in the professional level in the various categories going against challengers from the hotel industry; food catering and restaurants; as well as other schools in Culinary Arts and Hotel and Restaurant Management.

In the Wedding Cake Category, Gourmet Bites’ Pastry Arts instructors Chefs Pia Angela Dalisay Tecson and Christopher Vincent Borja won back-to-back gold while Certificate in Culinary Arts (CCA) Batch 4 student Jennifer Viola Villegas ranked 3rd highest silver in the Pasta Category (Live).

           

Meanwhile, Certificate in Baking and Pastry Arts (CBPA) Batch 7 student Kirsten Kaye Canillo won the 2nd highest bronze medal in the Plated Desserts Category, besting all the other student entries. Another Batch 8 student, Kate Laus, received the bronze medal in the same category.

It was no easy feat as CCA Batch 3 student Jesa Gomez clinched the only gold medal in the Local Seafood Category (Live) and in all of the cooking categories, earning 91 points out of a possible 100.

In addition, the Quick Fire Salad (Live) Category bronze medal went to CCA Batch 2 student Lady Bird Viola.

Gourmet Bites’ Chefs Remelina Cuenca, Janice Faith Ibañez and Gail Rodriguez were awarded the highest silver in the Filipino Cuisine Category (there were no gold medal awardees in this category) which earned all three to an all-expense paid trip to the Philippine Culinary Cup Manila in August 2015.

"With hard work, dedication and commitment to the craft and entrusting everything to the will of God, the participants practiced for days on end, working on their own and with their understudies and coaches to make their original concepts the best they could offer. And we thank each and everyone for proudly and bravely competing in the name of Gourmet Bites and Pastry Arts Academy, Philippines!”, Gourmet Bites’ Chiara Samson-Sacdalan enthuses.

E-mail the author at mom.about.town.dvo@gmail.com. Visit www.momabouttowndavao.blogspot.com.