They say food brings people together. What more if the food is a giant serving of pasta? Baguio City’s Pasta Mania: An HRAB Pasta Festival was held last October 2 at SM City Baguio Atrium, with chefs and cooks preparing over 5.6 tons of pasta for everybody in attendance.
The celebration served as the opening act for the 8th Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism (HRT) Month and the 16th National Food Showdown (NFS) – Regional, showcasing the hospitality services of Baguio City. A 28-foot pan contained 16 pasta flavors that incorporated Cordilleran taste, including native flavors of kiniing, etag, and hamonado longganisa. The mixtures also highlighted vegetable salads to complement the flavors.
“We are not vying for a Guinness Record because that entails funds and we would rather use the funds for activities that the public will have fun being a part of by having a bite or a photo with the centerpiece,” shared Anthony de Leon, president of the 200-member Hotel and Restaurant Association of Baguio (HRAB) and general manager of the Baguio Country Club (BCC), during the event.
De Leon also expressed his certainty that the food can feed an estimated 15,000 people. After the opening ceremony, the 28-foot pan of pasta was distributed to guests and passersby, bringing the community of Baguio together while representing unique Cordilleran flavors.
The event was joined by hotels and restaurants that brought their signature dishes, including El Cielito, John Hay Hotels, Le Monet, Sotto Grande, Orchard Hotel, The Other Office, Hill Station, Lafayette, Crown Legacy, and Baguio Country Club.
“This is not just about pasta. Food is meant to be shared,” Vice Mayor Faustino Olowan stated during the event.
What do you think about this giant-sized undertaking? Let us know in the comments!