Filipino sisig, as prepared by Chef Abie Sincioco-Mateo, won first place in the Judge’s Choice and People’s Choice categories at the 2018 Embassy Chef Challenge at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington DC—a giant step in the efforts to bring Filipino food to the global gastronomic consciousness.
The beloved chopped pork dish was served with calamansi and chilis, as well as original beer cocktails of San Miguel Pale Pilsen and Cerveza Negra by Ivan Gonzales. Chef Abie, the Philippine embassy’s resident chef, and her team worked tirelessly throughout the competition with the help of award-winning chef and one of PeopleAsia’s 2017 ‘Women of Style and Substance’ awardees Jessie Sincioco.
Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez was the one who suggested sisig as the Filipino entry in the Embassy Chef Challenge. The Philippine Embassy in Washington DC described sisig as the “the great pork dish from the Philippines.” Bistro 1521, Tito Al’s Choice, US-Philippine Society and Datu Puti also lent their support during the competition.
“At first, I found it really challenging because sisig is too ordinary, but not until it’s made with the gourmet touch!” says Chef Abie, niece of Chef Jessie. “Instead of simply sauteeing an all-pork dish, I made a demi-glace from beef bones and I added chicken liver adobo. Imagine the combination of flavors plus the crunch from the crispy chicharon that made it really a great dish! My exposure to gourmet food obviously helped a lot.”
“Tonight’s outcome shows that Philippine cuisine is certainly being recognized in the American mainstream, and the ECC provided us a good platform to further showcase our unique cuisine that testifies to our country’s beautiful and diverse cultural heritage. Chef Abie’s double win is a great way to celebrate National Heritage Month,” says Ambassador Romualdez.
The Embassy of Ghana won silver in the Judge’s Choice award with its lamb jollof (a one-pot dish of rice cooked in a tomato stew), while the Embassy of Haiti took home bronze with kabrit kreyol (braised mutton served with creole sauce and black garlic mofongo). The Embassy of Barbados, on the other hand, emerged victorious in the Best Beverage category thanks to its drunken Bajan lemonade.
