Contest to highlight Chinese New Year food festival
Iloilo Hotels Restaurant and Resorts Association (IHRRA) president Robert Ferrer is inviting all Chinese restaurants including non-IHRRA member restaurants to participate in the competition for best authentic Chinese food relative to the upcoming Chinese New Year celebration.
Ferrer said the contest for best served Chinese cuisine and best kiosk is open to all restaurants in Iloilo City. Interested parties should make inquiries on how to join the competition. The winner for the best served Chinese dish will receive P10,000 and the winner for the best kiosk will also receive P10,000.
The Iloilo Chinese-Filipino Cultural Association headed by Dr. Roland Uy tapped the IHRRA in the food festival related activities.
Ferrer said the food festival would be held on February 8 along the stretch of the old Calle Real or what is known as the Chinatown of Iloilo City. The entire China town would be filled with Chinese trimmings and trinkets during the celebration. The food festival is set on February 8 instead of February 7, which is Chinese New Year.
Chinese traditionally serve dishes during the Spring Festival or New Year that are symbolic of something positive and hopeful. They prefer to serve whole chicken and fish as it symbolizes happiness and prosperity and noodles for longevity. And dishes made with oranges as it represent wealth and good fortune.
This year's celebration is set for five days instead of just one day. The Chinese New Year related activities starts on February 6 and ends on February 10. The celebration would focus on rich Chinese cultural traditions through dances and songs. Ilonggos can also take a glimpse of the Beijing Olympics during the Chinese New Year activity.