The Department of Tourism in Region 10 launches a three-day food and travel festival dubbed “Kaon-Ta” to showcase a wide array of local cuisine including exotic Northern Mindanao recipes. (PIA/Cagayan de Oro)
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Northern Mindanao’s specialty cuisines and food products took center stage in the three-day food and travel festival of the Department of Tourism (DOT)-10.

Dubbed as “Kaon ‘Ta,” the festival features the unique local agricultural products, arts, and crafts, and information kiosks on farm tourism sites in Northern Mindanao to promote the region as a food destination in the country.

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The Department of Tourism in Region 10 launches a three-day food and travel festival dubbed “Kaon-Ta” to showcase a wide array of local cuisine including exotic Northern Mindanao recipes. (PIA/Cagayan de Oro)

Thirty-two exhibitors, including hotels and restaurants, farm resorts, agro-industry groups, eco-farm adventure parks, universities, and various tourism offices of local government units in the region showcase their specialty products.

DOT-10 Director Marie Elaine Unchuan said chefs from prominent hotels and restaurants in the region are also featured in a demonstration series showing off their unique recipes.

The featured chefs and their special recipes included Chef Benjie Gaviola for beef randang; Chef Arvin Cacanindin for chicken surol; Chef Pat Sabay III for humba de oro; Chef Cyril Balbuena for sinuglaw and inun-unan na pidlayan; Chef Albert Chiu for roast beef and binaki; and Chef Roseller Fiel for halal chicken piaparan, among others.

Unchuan said various tribes and private establishments, all being tourism stakeholders, also participated in the food and travel festival.

The gastronomic extravaganza held on November 23-25 at Centrio Ayala Mall, is part of a nationwide series designed to create awareness and interest on Filipino cuisine and tourism destinations.

DOT Assistant Secretary for Mindanao and Palawan Myra Paz Abubakkar, who graced the launching, said that food is a way to attract people to go to places.

Citing DOT data, she said more than 90 percent of tourists engage in unique food and beverage experience and food comprised one-third of their expenditures.

She noted that food will always be considered when visiting places and that it is all the time part of travel itineraries.

Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno, who was also present, lauded the tourism department for the launching such an event. He said food tourism is one of the best ways to promote Northern Mindanao and the country. (PIA10)

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