Chefs at WAPF 2023: cooking up new ideas with like-minded experts. Photo Credit: TPB
WORLDCHEFS Asian Presidents Forum (WAPF) 2023 recently convened in
the Philippines, welcoming delegates and association presidents from 16
member societies, two associate member groups, and organisational heads
of the World Association of Chef Societies (WORLDCHEFS).
This was the first time the event was held in the country, with the
last occurring in Bangkok in 2019. In October 1928, the World
Association of Cooks' Societies, now Worldchefs, was founded at the
Sorbonne University in Paris. On a mission to promote solidarity,
respect, and the preservation of culinary arts, the association worked
with the Tourism Promotions Board Philippines (TPB) and LTB Philippines
Chefs Association to bring the event to the Philippines.
The forum was launched with an opening ceremony on 31 July 2023 at
Conrad Manila. Sessions ran until 5 August 5 and united culinary experts
from Asia to share culinary heritage, industry best practices, and
sustainability goals through knowledge-sharing sessions, competitions,
and outreach programmes.
“We are given a unique opportunity to listen and learn from experts
about developments in the culinary field. The world is more connected,
now more than ever, and this has vastly influenced and changed the way
we look at food, especially in recent years. People from all over the
world are constantly seeking new gastronomic experiences,” said TPB COO,
Margarita Montemayor Nograles.
Strong regional participation
Attending member societies included those from the Philippines,
Indonesia, Cambodia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, China, Hong
Kong, India, South Korea, Mongolia, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan,
Thailand, and Vietnam. The associate member groups of Penang and
Pakistan were also present.
“So many presidents and so many representatives from WORLDCHEFS
member countries, [who] are here in the room, shows that Asia is one of
the powerful forces in WORLDCHEFS,” said chef Thomas Gugler, WORLDCHEFS
president.
Topics discussed
Discussions covered Filipino food heritage and food sustainability in
hospitality establishments, a panel discussion about the Philippine
culinary scene, an update on WORLDCHEFS Without Borders’ Chef Social
Responsibility efforts in Syria, and learning how to bridge the gap
between young chefs and the old guard in the culinary world.
Chef Carlo Miguel, LTB Philippines president, said, “We’ve always
wanted to be able to showcase Philippine hospitality to our Asian
neighbours … We can show them how advanced we are in our culinary skill
through the Philippine Culinary Cup as well.”
Unique competitions
To strengthen the synergies from such an event, the World Food Expo
(WOFEX), a long-running Philippine food trade show, was held from August
2 to 5 at SMX Convention Center and World Trade Center. WOFEX hosts the
only WORLDCHEFS-accredited culinary competition in the country, the
Philippine Culinary Cup, which ran on August 5 along with the semifinals
of the WORLDCHEFS’ Global Chef Challenge.
According to chef Willment Leong, WORLDCHEFS continental director for
Asia, the Global Chef Challenge itself had amassed a record number of
participants for the association - 51 chefs from 11 different member
countries engaging in the Philippine leg.
Leong also helped launch the WORLDCHEFS e-book “Food of Asia, Soul of
Asia.” Available on the WORLDCHEFS website, the e-book features
authentic recipes across the continent crafted by member association
chefs.
He said, “Hospitality from the Philippines is unbelievable … This
[has been a] tip-top, world-standard forum. We look forward to [coming]
back to this beautiful home we call the Philippines.”
The next big event will be the association’s bieenial Worldchefs
Congress & Expo 2024 to be held from 20-25 October 2024 in Singapore
Expo.