This highly-urbanized city in Negros Occidental, the country’s top sugar-producing province, is seen to become the “Pastry Capital of the Philippines.”

Globally-renowned chef Myrna Segismundo, who was among the panel of judges in the just-concluded 2nd MassKanamit Culinary Showdown hosted by Bacolod Yuhum Foundation (BYF), the organizer of the ongoing 45th MassKara Festival, noted the potential of Bacolod.

“With all the pastries, cakes, and desserts that (you) have here, you should be promoting yourself as the Pastry Capital of the Philippines. It’s obvious to link sugar to Bacolod being Sugarlandia’s capital,” Segismundo said in a statement released by the BYF on Friday.

She observed that more and more student participants have been raising the bar in pastry competitions of the MassKanamit Festival.

“Sweet is always a very welcome flavor that bites even well for the locals,” Segismundo said.

In Bacolod, homegrown cake and pastry shops are the popular go-to for desserts and pasalubongs among locals and visitors alike.

Amid the city’s aggressive efforts towards promoting food tourism, Segismundo also recognized the potential of Bacolod to become Asia’s slow food hub.

Bacolod has the green light to host the maiden edition of the Terra Madre Asia-Pacific in November next year after Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez signed a memorandum of agreement with Slow Food International last month for the global event.

Meanwhile, more than 300 students from 18 culinary and hospitality management schools in Negros Island joined the 2nd MassKanamit Culinary Showdown held at the SMX Convention Center on Oct. 16 and 17.

The University of St. La Salle-Bacolod team was declared the overall champion.

Individual school champions included La Consolacion College-Bacolod for the Sweet Revenge Category; VMA Global College (Main), Food and Beverage Category; and Asian College of Dumaguete, Kucina Moderna Kulinarya Category.

The culinary competition that coincided with the 8th Sabor Bisaya Food Expo saw the participants creating masterpieces, highlighting Bacolod’s rich gastronomic culture and featuring innovations in popular dishes, emphasizing food sustainability and environmental protection.

“This year’s MassKanamit Festival is bigger with more competitions and a larger number of participants,” Ana Tison, chairperson of the BYF food committee, said in a statement. (PNA)