Government employees in Calasiao showcased their creativity and culinary skills through the "Best Ways to Serve Puto 2024" event, which is part of the Puto Festival 2024.
The aim is to discover new flavors and presentations of the town’s renowned ‘Puto Calasiao.’
Various innovative puto creations include the following:
- Vigan Empanada-inspired Puto
- Japanese cuisine-inspired Puto, such as Puto Katsu
- Puto Chicken Poppers
- Puto Chicken Salad
- Puto in Coconut Cream Ganache
"Alam namin na may mga natatanging kakayahan at creativity ‘yung ating mga empleyado mula sa local government unit (LGU)," Editha Gorospe, Event Coordinator, Best Ways to Serve Puto 2024, said.
"Sabi namin, 'Maganda kapag mga LGU naman [mag participate] para mailabas nila ‘yung kanilang talento kung paano i-serve talaga [o] best ways to serve Puto," she added.
Each dish is given a twist to align with international food trends.
"Para naman mailabas namin ‘yung talento namin, ‘yung creativity ng bawat opisina," Armida Fernandez from the Municipal Civil Registry Office, said.
"Gusto namin na ma-maintain pa rin ang lasa ng puto, pero the challenge is reinvention [kaya] nag-infuse kami ng Japanese cuisine," Arvil Camacho from the Municipal Planning and Development Office said.
The local government hopes that activities like this will lead to the creation of new puto flavors that can be introduced on the international stage.
"Tinitingnan natin ‘yung ideas — kung ano ‘yung innovations ng mga kababayan namin, kasi hindi lang puto with cheese o puto with dinuguan — naghahanap kami ng different ways to serve puto," Mayor Kevin Roy Macanlalay said.
