Pinalalakas ng Department of Tourism (DoT) ang mga pagsisikap nito na isulong ang iba’t ibang natatanging putahe sa bansa sa layuning patibayin ang food tourism sa Pilipinas.

Sinabi ni Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat na may ilang Filipino-American chefs na nakagawa ng marka “by serving Filipino dishes in their restaurants and reaping awards and accolades.”

“Everybody keeps saying that Filipino food is the next big thing, but Ithink it is now ‘the thing,’ with Filipino descent culinary geniuses making their names of their own abroad,” sinabi ni Puyat sa isang pahayag

Kamakailan ay inimbitaha ng DOT ang tatlong US-based Filipino-American chefs na bumisita sa iba’t ibang culinary destinations sa bansa bilang bahagi ng kanyang inisyatibang “Chef’s Food Trip Project.” Sila ay sina Chef Tom Cunanan, na kinilalang “best chef” para sa Mid-Atlantic category sa 2019 James Beard Awards; Chef Charles Olalia, may-ari ng Ma’am Sir restaurant sa Los Angeles; at Chef Grant “Lanai” Tabura, host ng food show na Cooking Hawaiin Style.

“The objective is for the FilAm chefs to learn more about Filipino heirloom recipes, iconic delicacies, heritage dishes and ingredients so they can expand their respective restaurants as a way of promoting the unique Filipino culinary culture,” ani Puyat.

“Iwant upcoming local chefs and culinary students to realize that they need not cook foreign dishes just to make it big locally and in the world; you have the likes of Tom Cunanan, Lanai Tabura, and Charles Olalia who are proud of their own but are so successful abroad,” aniya pa.

Samantala, inimbitahan ng tourism chief ang mga turista na bisitahin ang iba’t ibang lugar sa bansa at tuklasin ang mga natatanging putahe, hindi lamang sa Metro Manila.

“Iwant people to come here and taste food not only in Metro Manila, because we have provinces where there are so many recipes they can taste. For example, we have lechon (roasted pig) in every province but it’s done differently with different ingredients, and then we have different kinds of pancit, laing, and chicken inasal,” wika niya.