Video 1: Clips from the GCC2 Grand Bartending Challenge

Video 2: Clips from the GCC2 Cooking Competitions

Video 3: Clips from the GCC2 Opening Ceremonies

Video 4: Clips from the GCC2 Seminars

Video 5: Clips from the GCC2 Table Setting and Housekeeping Challenges

Video 6: Clips from the GCC2 Waitering Olympics

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The Grand Culinary Challenge (GCC) opened with a simple ribbon cutting ceremony that was a stark contrast to the excitement and anticipation of a huge crowd of visitors in a line that stretched all the way to the next hall at the World Trade Center last November 11, 2011. The quick and fan-fare free ceremony led by 2Advoc8 President and GCC Producer Victor Anthony Warren (right), GCC Trade Partner and Guest of Honor Steve Tamayo of Tamayo’s Catering (middle) and GCC Competition Chair Jomi Gaston (left) immediately gave way to the rush of visitors who wanted to view the competitions already being conducted inside the Hall.

More than 52 colleges, universities and trade schools and more than 116 elementary and secondary schools from Manila, Pasay, Quezon City, Malabon, Caloocan, Taguig, Marikina and Muntinlupa attended the two-day event.

The mix of the collegiate crowd (mostly from educational institutions offering Hotel and Restaurant Management, if not short culinary courses) with high school students interested to pursue culinary courses and hundreds of home economics instructors in the primary and secondary levels bent on upgrading their food and kitchen skills was unprecedented in a culinary event. According the GCC Producer Victor Warren, “Our single day tickets were sold out! The response from all educational institutions was simply overwhelming. Everyone wanted to learn how to translate their passion for food into a profitable trade!”

The second Grand Culinary Challenge followed closely in the heels of the first one that concluded last February 2011. Asked why 2Advoc8 hosted two competitions in just a year Victor Warren stated “We conducted the first GCC to ascertain if the academic community is ready not for another culinary competition but an advocacy. The response we received last February was a resounding yes. So we immediately followed up six months after with GCC2, and here we are.”

“We always believed that the academic community is ready to look more seriously into culinary events beyond being cooking competitions. We wanted the community to have a more wholistic view of the trade culinary students aim to pursue and the related skills they need to master to get them a lot further than their peers.”

“We want GCC to be that kind of an event and we are extremely pleased not just with the results but with the response and the pledges of support for similar events in the future” Victor Warren added.

Victor Warren attributes the success of the GCC program to the Commission of Higher Education, to the various Department of Education Divisions that pledged to support the program and to the deans and program heads of the various educational institutions who sent entries to the competition, participated in the events or even sent their students to come, watch and learn everything they can during the two-day event.

Seminars conducted during the event were:

• Food Photography 101: Taking Good Food Shots
  by e-Creative Photo
• Foodservice Insights and Trends
  by Mr. Steve Tamayo, Tamayo’s Catering
• Understanding Umami: The Science and its Application
  by Mr. Eugene Imm, Representative
  Umami Information Center, Thailand
• Introduction to a Career as  Barista:
  How to Start your Career as a Barista
  by Chef Ernest Martin, Director Gen.
  Chef Henry Magalona, Chairman
  Barista Guild of the Philippines
• Enhancing Your Events with Balloons -
  Balloon Making Seminar
  by Golden Treasure Skills & Devt.
• Molecular Gastronomy is NOT a Recipe
  by Mr. Emmanuel V. Garcia, Executive Vice President
  The Philippine Association of Chemistry Teachers (PACT)
• Do’s and Don’ts in Applying for a Job
  by Mr. Joseph de Ocampo
  JDO Consultancy and Training
• Culinary Academy by Unilever Foodsolutions
  by Chef Paulo Sia
• Kitchen Safety: Pest Control
  by Ms. Julie Na, Technical Director Rentokil Malaysia
• Event Styling: Styling Your Events with Flowers
  by Mr. FJSionson, FJSionson Flowers and Events
• Recipes for Future Financial Success
  by Mr. Eric Barronquillo
  BPI Financial Wellness Academy
• Waitering Seminar:
  Skills and Techniques in Waitering
  by Tamayo’s Catering

Here are some select photos of the GCC seminars being conducted by select GCC speakers

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One of the most exciting special awards given during the Grand Culinary Challenge was the Knorr Ambassador awards. The Knorr Ambassador is specially selected by the executives of Knorr to be an inspiring cooking partner for every Filipino, going through extra-ordinary lengths in pursuit of great flavour! Named Knorr Ambassadors were Charmagne Javier from the University of Sto. Tomas and Brian Christian Gaudia, a member of the team organized by Chef Ed Tawagon.

GCC’s lineup of sponsors is led by Knorr, Cif and Unilever Foodsolutions, Splenda, Dole Philippines, Smart Infoboard, Bank of the Philippine Islands, Del Monte Philippines and Rentokil Initial.

GCC’s Program Partners are Tamayo’s Catering, FJ Sionson Flowers and Events, LRT Stainless, F and B World, The Barista Guild of the Philippines, Nustrata, Philippine Association of Chemistry Treachers, Golden Treasure Skills, The Barista Guild of the Philippines, El Kapitan Food Enterprise and e-Creative Photo.

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Select photos of the GCC Awards Program

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Gallery of our favorite shots

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More photos per GCC Competition!

• GCC2 List of Winners in the Dream Team Challenge, click here
• GCC2 List of Winners in the Modern Asia Cuisine, click here
• GCC2 List of Winners in the Great Sinigang Challenge, click here
• GCC2 List of Winners in the Creative Filipino Merienda, click here
• GCC2 List of Winners in the Great Grill Challenge, click here
• GCC2 List of Winners in the Deans’ Culinary Festival of Reg’l Cuisines, click here
• GCC2 List of Winners in the The GCC Barista Competition, click here
• GCC2 List of Winners in the Grand Bartending Challenge, click here
• GCC2 List of Winners in the Creative Table Setting, click here
• GCC2 List of Winners in the Buffet Table Setting, click here
• GCC2 List of Winners in the Grand Housekeeping Challenge, click here
• GCC2 List of Winners in the GCC Waitering Olympics, click here
• Want to check if you’ve been “spotted” by the GCC photographers? Click here to check!

Search for Core!

The Grand Culinary Challenge (GCC) Organizers officially begins the search for outstanding HRM students who will serve as the Core for GCC2.

The GCC Core is a group of select HRM students trained for months in event management, to efficiently conduct the GCC competitions as a tightly-knit team.

Members of the Core are exposed not just to lectures and hands-on training but to the opportunity of working side by side with trade professionals, chefs and foodservice trade executives to learn from them. Proudly donning the exclusive GCC Core uniform, members of the Core each receive a special Certificate of Appreciation that attest to the time they have served as part of the group.

Members of the Core are selected based on their knowledge of the GCC Competitions, Rules and Regulations through a written examination they are allowed to take upon the recommendation of their instructor or Dean to the GCC Organizers. Those who post top scores and make the cut are then subjected to team building workshops and events management training all leading to the opening of the coming GCC.

If you are interested to be a part of the Core for GCC2:

• Download and study all the GCC Competition Rules and Regulations.
• Ask for your teacher or your Dean’s for a written recommendation endorsing you the GCC Organizers as a potential Core Member. The Letter of Recommendation is a requirement. Please be aware that should you pass the examination and become a part of the Core, your Legal Guardian will be requested to sign a GCC Waiver Form that will cover your participation in the training, select activities as well as in the actual GCC schedule itself.
• Visit the website regularly and wait for the announcement of the testing venue, date and time.
• Report for testing. Don’t forget to bring your Recommendation Letter.
• Visit the website regularly for the results and the training venue, date and time.

Interested? Download the GCC2 Handbook now. Click here.

For GCC1 Core Members

We are looking for 5 GCC1 Core Members to join GCC2 as Senior Core. For those interested to be join, you will STILL be required to take the GCC2 Core Exams . Date, time and venue will be announced soon.

Announcement:

GCC2 Core Team Heads:

• Diana Lumot
• Grace Balagtas
• Yumi Macaraig

GCC2 Assistant Program Coordinator:

• Darwin Papa