Spanish fares like lengua, tapas, sangria took the sidelines as one of the best-known Spanish cuisine, the paella, became the star of the night and fed hundreds of attendees during the Paella Gigante at the Yanson Beach House in Talisay City, Negros Occidental, on Saturday, Nov. 30.
Spanish Ambassador Miguel Utray Delgado congratulated the organizers for making Negros as the first venue of Paella Gigante in the Visayas and intimated that this could just be the first of many as there are plans to hold this event on an annual basis in Negros.
This is a remarkable way of bringing together Spanish and Filipino influence, Delgado said who personally helped in the cooking process alongside Consul General Ignacio Sanchez Taboada.
The Paella Gigante was co-presented by the Spanish Embassy, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs European Union and Cooperation, and featured nine members of the LTB Philippines Chef’s Association as a fundraising activity to support the rescue, the rehabilitation and reintegration program of Kalipay Negrense Foundation.
The chefs and the organizers with Spanish Ambassador Miguel Utray Delgado.*
Joining the event were LTB President, Chef Jerome Valencia with Chef J.A Ventura, Chef J Gamboa, Chef Margarita Marty, Chef Sito Senn, Chef Rommel Hinlo, Chef Syrille Soenen, Chef OJ Gomez and Chef Mikel Arriet.
The chefs also gave an instructional process of cooking authentic paella which took a little over two hours from lighting the open fire pit to the end product which many agreed was worth the wait.
The giant paellera was made by Fire Chief Bryant Lao of the Bacolod Chamber Fire Volunteer Brigade which required a massive fire pit for cooking.
Kalipay founder and president, Anna Balcells thanked the supporters of the event and of the foundation, adding that any help they can get could go a long way in helping abandoned and abused children.
The guests were also entertained by the MassKara dancers, the Bailes de Luces dancers, the La Salle Chorale capped by a band that led to fellowship and dancing.*