Filipino Chef Erwin “Wing” Villarias stole the show at the 2022 Embassy Chef Challenge (ECC) where he bagged the “People’s Choice Award” for his signature chicken inasal. Held at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the competition showcased dishes from around the globe, as presented by participating embassy chefs in Washington DC.
Chef Wing, who was invited by the Sentro Rizal of the Philippine Embassy in DC to represent the Philippines in this year’s ECC, is a rising Filipino chef who has been featured in the Washington Post, Arlington Magazine, and Washington City Paper. Armed with hard work and perseverance, Chef Wing flew from his hometown in Roxas, Palawan and entered the culinary scene in Washington DC, where he opened his Filipino pop-up restaurant called Balangay DC in the midst of the pandemic in 2021.
Today, he is the “People’s Choice Awardee” of this prestigious culinary competition with his creations – the Philippine chicken inasal and Majin Ube cocktail. His chicken inasal was marinated for 24 hours in a unique marinade made from lemongrass, coconut milk, garlic and ginger sauce, and served with toasted garlic rice, pickled papaya, fried enoki mushroom and chili. It is then paired with an ube (Native Philippine purple yam) and gin-based cocktail.
Chef Wing’s success marks the third win for the Philippines in this competition. Our very own Chef Claude Tayag’s Bringhe won the People’s Choice Award in 2016, while Chef Abigail Sincioco-Mateo’s Pork Sisig secured both Judges’ and People’s Choice Awards in 2018.
“The people have spoken. It is no exaggeration to say that Filipino cuisine is coming of age in America, and the Embassy happily greets the local community’s cultural curiosity about the Philippines and our cuisine. Because of the growing number of Filipino-Americans, the United States is learning more about our flavors and culture, and they love it.” Ambassador Jose Manuel G. Romualdez said in a statement.
He also told PeopleAsia that this win shows “how Filipino cuisine is definitely gaining popularity in DC” Asked if he himself enjoys a good “inasal,” the affable ambassador responded with a chuckle. “The inasal is a very tasty dish, so why not?”
In conjunction with the Filipino American History month in October, the Philippines was not only able to showcase Filipino cuisine at the ECC, but also highlighted Philippine culture and heritage through a dance medley by the Migrant Heritage Fil-Am Dance Ensemble. The crowd was entertained by their performance featuring dances that represented the three major islands of the Philippines: Basket Weavers Dance (Luzon), Pangalay Dance (Mindanao), and Tinikling Bamboo Dance (Visayas).
ECC is part of the 2022 Events DC International City Food Festival, DC’s annual culinary showdown wherein chefs from all over the world showcase the unique flavors of their own countries. During this global culinary experience, guests played an important role in determining the People’s Choice Award winner by casting votes for their favorite dishes. Alongside this, the Judge’s Choice Award was selected by a group of elite members from the field of diplomacy, culture and the culinary arts.
In addition to Chef Wing’s gastronomic menu, Mama Sita’s also provided guests with free samples of its Fiery Labuyo Barbeque marinade and Sinigang and Adobo mixes. The Philippine Embassy in DC’s participation at the 2022 ECC was made possible by the generous support of our major sponsor the Philippine Department of Agriculture, and with special thanks to Mama Sita’s, Balangay, and the US Philippines Society.
