Pork and Spoon

Inspired by the Cebu Food and Wine Festival, the Manila Food and Wine Festival (MFWF) had a series of food events in the National Capital Region for two weeks. Organizers Anton Diaz of Our Awesome Planet and communications director of Resto PH Spanky Enriquez partnered with the Department of Tourism-National Capital Region for this Manila edition. They envision MFWF to increase food tourism in the country as well as showcase the best of the Philippines from the food and beverage industry, hotels and restaurants to chefs and restaurateurs and our national and regional food culture.

“The Pork and Spoon,” the last dinner of MFWF held at Cucina Restaurant in Marco Polo Ortigas was a snout-to-tail Filipino feast from some of the country’s most vibrant chefs.

Niño Laus of Ninyo Fusion served an array of starters such as Miso-braised Pork Innards and Pork Blood Emulsion on crispy rice kiping, rice-wafer leaves hanging during the Pahiyas festival in Lucban, Quezon; a sandwich made of Pork Skin Crackling stuffed with Pork Face Terrine, Kansi Gel, Pickled Okra Seeds; and Lechon Sinuglaw (grilled pork with raw fish cooked in vinegar) with Chili Pomelo, Cilantro, Chicharon Furikake, Coconut Milk Vinaigrette served on a Betel Leaf.

Eight-hour smoked Pork Ribs served with Mole and Puerto Rican Arroz by Charles Montañez

Charles Montañez of Alegria made pork ribs smoked for eight hours served with mole and Puerto Rican arroz.

Edward Bugia of Mimi & Bros. made Dinuguan Longganisa (blood sausage) with Salted Egg Creme Anglaise and Crumbled Puto (rice cake), and a Coconut-Lemongrass Paella with Lechon Sisig.

Mikel Zaguirre of Locavore roasted a whole Cebu lechon and prepared goto (rice and tripe porridge) and Smoked Bopis (sautéed pork lungs and heart).

Kalel Chan of the Raintree Group of restaurants made Dry Papaitan (an Ilocano soup made with bile) Taco with Guacamole and Pickled Lasona (Ilocano onions), Pork Trotter Balbacua, and a Birria Ramen.

Zarah Manikan of Gelato Manila served Homemade Taho Ice Cream, Polvorónes, Beer and Lard Gelato, and a Sweet Pomodoro (tomato) Sorbet with Whipped Kesong Puti (local white cheese) and Basil Oil.

Chef Rexsan Abarquez of Cucina Restaurant prepared for his Cucina buffet plus specials for that night: Kalderetang Kambing with Young Tamarind Leaf and Native Chicken Halang Halang (Visayan spicy chicken stew in coconut milk).  The Philippine STAR writer Karla Reyes of The Plaza provided a carving station to serve their famous ham.

These made up the amazing lineup of pork dishes for that one-night-only dinner to mark the end of the successful MFWF. The Filipino food community certainly looks forward to the second edition next year!

The London production Hamilton with Rachelle Ann Go as Eliza Hamilton

Award-Winning Musical ‘Hamilton’ in Manila

Hamilton will finally be staged in Manila!

Hamilton premiered on Broadway in August 2015 to wide critical and audience acclaim and has gone on to play seasons in London’s West End, Australia, Germany, Canada and New Zealand.

With a score that blends hip-hop, jazz, R&B, and Broadway, Lin-Manuel Miranda’s global phenomenon has been captivating fans all over the world since 2015 and has received 11 Tony Awards, seven Olivier Awards, the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and the 2016 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album.

The company is led by Jason Arrow as Alexander Hamilton, DeAundre’ Woods as Aaron Burr, Akina Edmonds as Angelica Schuyler, Darnell Abraham as George Washington, David Park as Marquis de Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson, Shaka Bagadu Cook as Hercules Mulligan/James Madison, Jacob Guzman as John Laurens/Philip Hamilton, Elandrah Eramiha as Peggy Schuyler/Maria Reynolds and Brent Hill as King George.

Filipino performer Rachelle Ann Go, who originated the role of Eliza Hamilton in London’s West End, will return to reprise the role.

Producer of the international tour Michael Cassel said, “We have assembled an extraordinary cast of superstars from productions all over the world for Hamilton’s first ever international tour. We can’t wait to introduce them to you as we make our way to exciting new places for the very first time.”

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The international tour of Hamilton will be staged at The Theatre at Solaire on Sept. 17. Tickets are available at www.ticketworld.com.ph. The Manila run is scheduled until Nov. 26, 2023.

For news and updates, visit hamiltonmusical.com/international-tour, instagram.com/hamiltoninternationaltour or https://www.facebook.com/hamiltonintltour.

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