The flavors of Bacolod City and Negros Occidental were featured by the Philippines in the ongoing international gastronomy exhibition Terra Madre Salone del Gusto 2024 in Turin, Italy.

Organized every two years by Slow Food International, Terra Madre is considered “the largest event dedicated to food politics, sustainable agriculture and the environment.”

Slow food refers to dishes that are well-prepared, not in haste as opposed to fast food, and uses locally sourced ingredients.

“We hope visitors will savor a true taste of the Philippines, especially the flavors of Bacolod and Negros Occidental, through our delicious offerings,” Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, who led the delegation from this city, said in a statement.

During the product activation for Terra Madre Philippines 2025 on Sunday, Benitez talked about positioning Bacolod as a “slow food hub in Asia.”

At the “Salu-Salo (eating together): Philippines Good, Clean and Fair Fiesta!” booth opening on Sept. 26, Bacolod and Negros Occidental featured coffee by Coffee Coalition; cacao by Chris Fadriga; lechon by Jayjay Sycip; heirloom rice and inanchila by Rowena Gonnay; langka salad, dinuguan and puto by Joeri Arro and April Justiniani; Chicken House inasal by Rhea Sycip; and cocktail by Kalel Demetrio.

Another event featured a “delicious exploration of the unique cuisine of the Visayas archipelago.”

The region’s Cooks’ Alliance presented the history behind some local recipes and ingredients, including products from the Ark of Taste in the Philippines.

The tasting lineup included “Kinilaw,” a ceviche made with salted blue marlin and salted duck eggs, and “Inasal kag Atsara,” a tasty combination of grilled chicken (inasal) and pickled papaya (atsara).

Also presented were KBL (kadyos, baboy, langka), a hearty soup made with kadyos pigeon peas, also known as Congo peas grown on the islands of Panay and Negros, along with pork (baboy) and jackfruit (langka).

In a separate statement, Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez, who is part of the delegation from Negros Occidental, said he is “honored and proud to represent the country at the world stage and showcase the authentic taste of Philippine flavors.”

“Together, we continue to push for good, clean, and fair food for everyone,” Benitez, president of Association of Chief Executives of Negros Occidental, said. (PNA)