A ‘Big Bite’ of a giant sisig and more: The Northern Food Festival

A sizzling pan 11 feet in diameter and filled with sisig prepared by Kapampangan chef Sau Del Rosario launched Big Bite! The Northern Festival last Friday at the MarQuee Mall in Angeles City, Pampanga.

An event highlighting the cultural traditions of Northern Luzon, Big Bite! was held by the private sector in cooperation with government bodies such as the Department of Tourism and the Department of Trade and Industry.

Angeles City Tourism Officer Richard Daenos said that the event represents everything about the culinary traits of the north, and that Angeles City is the gateway to the north.

"Last year, we presented biringhe (the Kapampangan paella) which was also very succesful. We wanted to show what is great about Angeles when it comes to food since it has become a venue for exciting occasions like this," Daenos said.

DOT Regional Director Ronnie Tiotuico said that the event will attract more tourists to the north since it promotes in one venue gastronomic highlights from across the region.

"When you go to a place, it's is not only the picturesque view that you will tend to enjoy. Of course you will look for something that will satisfy your cravings and that is food," he said. "The Big Bite is like a northern exposure where Angeles is a take-off point to the culinary journey."

More than 100 homegrown food merchants from Region I, Region II, Region III and the Cordillera Administrative Region had products on sale at the festival's Food Market, including coffee, jams, spices, condiments, local freshly cooked viands, snacks, native delicacies and regional specialties like bagnet, Ilocos empanada and longganiza.

"Although we present food that is traditionally pure Kapampangan, we are also open in embracing and accepting other types of food from other regions, where Angeles City can be a good market to sell these as [the city] is composed of myriads of people, not just Kapampangans," said Pamintuan.

Live cooking demos were staged by celebrity chefs on each day of the three-day festival.

On October 17, viewers watched Josh Boutwood, corporate chef of the Bistro Group and the Philippine Culinary Cup’s Chef of the Year for 2013 and 2014., demonstrate his skills.

Chef Sharwin Tee of Curiosity Got the Chef then took the stage on October 18, while Chef Sandy Daza of Foodprints and Pampanga culinary historian Atching Lillian Borromeo were featured on the third day.

There were also food art installations created by award-winning visual artist Leeroy New in collaboration with pastry artist Mikai Rodrigo, as well as by the Pampanga Arts Guild.

There was also a special exhibition featuring "The History of Sisig." — BM, GMA News