Record-breaking Knorr tapa fiesta dishes in one day

Filipinos love for beef tapa is undeniable. It is a favorite and signature dish that both locals and foreigners will find in almost all households and restaurants in the Philippines.

Tapa came from the Sanskrit word tapas, which means “heat.” It was an ancient, pre-Hispanic practice of drying boar or deer meat under the heat of the sun to preserve them. Over the years, Filipinos have learned to marinade the meat with soy sauce and other seasonings prior to drying to give more taste to it.

In a record-breaking event hosted by Unilever Food Solutions (UFS) Philippines—the maker of Knorr, Lady’s Choice, Best Foods and Lipton, different kinds of tapa dishes were served showcasing the endless possibilities of using Knorr Liquid Seasoning for marinating and seasoning dishes.

“As the preferred food service partner by chefs, cooks, and restaurateurs all over the Philippines, it is our joy and task to ensure that we continue helping them with the right set of products to make their dishes better for their customers,” shared James Benedict Carreon, Managing Director of UFS Philippines. “Through the Knorr Tapa Fiesta, we have showcased how Knorr is every chef’s choice of ingredient to elevate the taste of Filipino dishes.”

UFS partnered with and challenged ten distinct chefs across the Metro to create their ten signature and unique tapa dishes. The different tapa dishes feature different tastes, texture, and even inspirations that went beyond imagination.

“This is a one of a kind event that has been made in the Philippines,” said Jacque Ruby of MakeHistory.ph, a community that celebrates everyone who would like to be part of history, also A&E Networks Asia Head in the Philippines. “This sets a new record that Filipinos should be proud of!”

In celebration of this record-breaking event, Knorr extends to Filipinos the celebration of their love for tapa through the Knorr National Tapa Day last January 29, 2016.


For one day, Filipinos celebrate their love for tapa through a one-day nationwide promotion where they enjoyed two platefuls of tapsilog for the price of one.

Filipinos visit UFS’ TAPArtners nationwide such as Tapa King, Rufo’s, Countryside Steakhouse, Merzci Bakeshop & Restaurant, Floyd’s, and Taps for the buy one, take one promotion.

Starting store opening hours, Knorr National Tapa Day TAPArtners treat the first 100 dine-in customers to a buy 1 take 1 promo. This promo applies to all ala carte tapsilog meals offered by participating establishments.

“Tapsilog is an all-day favorite meal by Filipinos,” shared Chef Brando Santos, UFS Senior Sous Chef. “This favorite is best enjoyed with another Pinoy culinary staple—Knorr Liquid Seasoning, which develops the savory taste that chefs and diners look for.”

Be inspired with more recipe ideas. Visit www.ufs.com.ph to see how using Knorr Liquid Seasoning as a marinade will elevate the flavors of your favorite restaurant dishes.

THE TEN CHEFS AND THEIR TAPA DISHES

Chef Chef Abigail Martinez-Aluning
Chef Instructor, PACE

1. Braised Beef Tapa Short Ribs with Mixed Pickled Vegetables and Annatto Garlic Rice
2. Tapa Bangers and Mash
3. Chicken Tapatori
4. Tagalog Style Tapa Wings
5. Baked Tapa Mussels
6. Shrimp Tapa in Filo Pastry
7. Jicama and Tofu Vegetable Tapa in Fresh Spring Roll
8. Beef Tapa Flakes in Soft Tortilla Cone with Oriental Dressing
9. Tofu Tapa Steak with Assorted Vegetables
10. Duck Tapa Arancini with Lime Aioli

Chef Christian Carpio
Executive Chef, St. Luke’s Medical Center – Bonifacio Global City

11. SLMC BGC Beef Sirloin Tapa
12. Crispy Black Pepper Tapa
13. Chicken Tapa Iberian Style
14. Duck Floss Tapa
15. Tinapa na Bangus
16. Yemas Curadas Gambas Tapas
17. Beef Tapa Shawarma Pita Pocket
18. Dried Wood Ear Mushroom Tapa
19. Mother in Law Beef Tapa
20. Gluten Tapa

Chef Christopher Alarilla Bautista
Director of Culinary Institute, Lyceum of the Philippines University – Cavite

21. Chicken Fried Tapa Steak
22. Chicken Tapa Hash
23. Ensaladang Tapang Bangus
24. LS Tapa Flavored Poached Tofu
25. Pork Tapsilog Roll
26. Tapa Flavored Chicken Leg Confit
27. Tapa Flavored Crevettes
28. Tapa Seasoned Ratatouille
29. Tapsigoreng
30. Unilever Tapa Cheese Steak

Chef Demerlito Tulaylay
Food & Beverage Manager and Executive Chef, Victoria Court, Best Western Hotel La Corona Manila, Hotel La Corona De Lipa and Sohotel
Chef Instructor, Far Easter University and St. Jude College

31. Korepachi
32. Pork Tapyoza
33. Tapang Kabute Kropeck
34. Chicken Tapzadilla
35. Tinolamen
36. Yamang Dagat Curry-Kare
37. Grilled Marinated Veggie Tapa Lasagna
38. Crispy Seafood Sliders with Kani Coleslaw and Gabi Chips
39. Squid Taparelleno
40. Tapang Maki-sig

Chef Joseph Ventura
Executive Chef/Consultant, Red Crab Group of Restaurants

41. Pork Tapa Buns
42. Unagi Style Fish Tapa Nigiri
43. Pancit Tapa Patong (Batil Patong Style)
44. Beef Tapa Chips
45. Tapatacos
46. Tapa n Mac n Cheese
47. Tapa Croquettes
48. Tapabimbap
49. Tapa Flakes Sandwich
50. Yakitapa

Chef Monicca Nocido-Dechavez
Chef Instructor & ProServ Consultant, Professional Academy for Culinary Education

51. Lamb Tapa Kebab
52. Ox Tongue Tapa
53. Smoked Tuna Cheek Tapa in Rice Paper Wrapper
54. Portabello Mushroom Tapa
55. Black Silky Chicken-Oriental Tapa
56. Grilled Jerk Chicken Tapa Skewers
57. Shrimp Tapa in Oil with Grilled Herbed Bread
58. Beef Tapa-brie and Emmenthal Cheesesteak Sandwich
59. Duck Tapa and Mango Salad with Asian Style KLS-Citrus Dressing
60. Spicy Tapa and Cream Cheese Empanaditas

Chef Sabrina Chu Gan
Adjunct Chef Instructor, De La Salle-College of St. Benilde

61. Double-Fried Spicy Pork Tapa Spareribs
62. Tapa-ella
63. Stir-fired Tapa Duck and Turnip on Lettuce Cup
64. Baked Sticky Tapa-marinated Wings with Saffron Aioli
65. Spicy Shrimp Pasta with Butter-Tapa Sauce
66. Fish Tapa-quitos Cups with Pico de Gallo and Sriracha Mayonnaise
67. Spinach, Mushroom and Tofu Tapa Dumpling with Soy-Ginger and Rice Vinegar Dipping Sauce
68. Minced Tapa Pork Roll in Beancurd Skin
69. Tapa-style Tofu Salpicao
70. Chicken Tapsilog Sushi

Chef Sonny Mariano
Corporate Chef Consultant/Executive Chef for Banzai, Sumosam Group

71. Tapa and Tofu
72. Lamb Tapa “Sundae”
73. Duck Tapa Puff Pastry
74. Chicken Tapa Mofongo
75. Squid Ink and Salmon Tapa Croquette
76. Eggplant Tapa Tacos
77. Bangus Tapa Pizza
78. Beef Tapa Quiche
79. Salmon Tapa Roll
80. Roasted Pepper and Beef Tapa Cheesecake

Chef Timothy Neil Abejuela
Executive Chef/Operations Manager, Max’s Group Inc.

81. Pork Belly Tapa on Poached Egg & Kimchi Fried Rice (Seoul Flavored
Tapa)
82. Grilled Sirloin Steak Tapa with Grilled Corn and Tangy Potato Salad (Steak Tapa a la Andres)
83. Chicken Tapa Salad (White Tapa Salad)
84. Seared Duck Breast served with Tapa Sauce Reduction (French Style Duck with Tapa Sauce)
85. Tuna Tapa Roll
86. Sun Dried Bangus Tapa
87. Duo of Shitake and Oyster Mushroom Tapa with Garlic
88. Tapa Chimichanga with Salted Egg and Tomato Salsa
89. Tofu Tapa Bibimbap
90. Duck Tapa Confit

Chef Mikel Francis Zaguirre
Executive Food Producer/Executive Chef, Junior Master Chef Philippines/Master Chef Philippines
Culinary Instructor, De La Salle-College of St. Benilde and Lyceum of the Philippines

91. Pork Tapa “Sam-Gyup-sal”
92. Beef Tapa on Toast
93. Chicken Tapa Kebab Rice
94. Tapa Wings
95. Tapa Unaju Roll
96. Prawn Tap-chi Rice
97. Tagedashi Tofu
98. Bacon Tapa Jam Flammenkeuche
99. Watermelon & Grilled Tapa Salad
100. Charlie Chan Chicken Tapa Special

PARTICIPATING TAPARTNERS ON KNORR NATIONAL TAPA DAY

Filipinos can visit the following TAPArtners on Knorr National Tapa Day:

P&N Countryside Steakhouse – Robinson’s Mall, Imus City; Covelianda Road, Binakayan, Kawit; PMI Student Center, Brgy. Burol Main, Dasmarinas City

Countryside Sizzling House – Centralmall, Salitran Dasmarinas City; Molino

Taps – MTS, Bolton, Duterte, Palma Gil, Damosa

Floyd’s – Delgado, Atrium, Nelly’s, Ayala, Plazuela

Tapa King – Boni, Carpark, Chino, Cubao, E. Rodriguez, G.A. Tower, Jupiter, Link, Taft, Mega, NetPlaza, Pioneer, RCBC, Uni-oil Monumento, Tutuban, Davao, Cagayan De Oro, Banawe, Harrison, Santana Grove, SMDC Welcome Rotonda, Naga Road, Las Pinas, Katipunan, La Union, Antipolo

Rufo’s – A. Venue, Paseo Center, BF Homes, Pearl Plaza, Shaw, St. Benilde, UST, McKinley Hill, Market! Market!, SM Mezza, Eastwood, UP-Ayaland Technohub, Timog, Telus Cubao, Robinsons Galleria, Star Mall Las Pinas

Merzci Bakeshop and Restaurant – Luzuriaga, Silay, Bago, La Carlota, Sagay

Knorr inspire moms create the wonder of flavor with "Sarap ng #LutongNanay"

The kitchen always reminds me of my mother. The best mechado in the world definitely belongs to her. Its unusual to mix coconut milk with mechado, but my mother who is our top chef whips the dish like magic because it tastes good hands down.  Her top recipes include Ginataang Page (stingray), kilawing tuna, and chicken curry. I knew my mother could cook when I first had a taste of her malagkit (sticky) champorado with dilis, cheese and toasted bread. Its not normal but its how the way we liked it. Now that I have my own family, I always make it a point to visit her and bring her any food along the way. I love my nanay for all its worth. I will never trade her signature recipes for anything in the world.

Knorr celebrates "Sarap ng  #Lutong Nanay" last November 20, at Blue Leaf, BGC. Christine Jacobs Sandejas hosted the show with Knorr Ambassador Carmina Villaroel Legaspi and fellow mom influencers Dimples Romana, Delamar Arias, Pia Guanio and Danica Sotto. Together, they cooked the traditional dishes with a twists. When we signed in at the registration, we were given numbers to witness or cook with the  Knorr influencer. I was given number 3 which was Danica Sotto_Pingris'. We and other bloggers sat infront of her while she cooked Pork sinigang with Knorr sinigang mix and  watermelon.

A survey reveals that  in the Philippines – where home cooking remains an important component of family life – almost 80 percent of young people aged between 23 and 27 admitted they cannot cook.

From among more than 1,000 respondents surveyed, the top two reasons mentioned by respondents on why they do not cook as often, are a lack of confidence and inadequate knowledge about recipes.

Many Filipino moms aspire to be great cooks and they want to serve flavorful meals which have a positive impact on their families. However, it is not always easy: her decreasing confidence coupled with the increasing demands on her time, make this very difficult in a modern world.

“Home-cooking is in decline but Knorr is fighting back here in the Philippines to inspire and help moms create the wonder of their flavor, and build lifelong family bonds,” declares Oliver Sicam, Unilever’s Marketing Director for Foods.

Knorr is determined to make mom-cooked flavor matter again by inspiring people to cook more at home and by showing how mom-cooked flavors are the real key to the powerful bonds mothers yearn to build with their loved ones.

The “Sarap ng #LutongNanay” Movement

Knorr aims to ensure that meals prepared by moms remain an integral part of home life, so that strong family bonds continue to move the world forward. We call this “Sarap ng #LutongNanay,” a movement that is backed by the latest scientific discoveries.

Working with leaders in the field has confirmed that mom-cooked flavors help create memories which reach parts of the brain that other experiences cannot. The way the brain connects memories with the wonderful flavors cooked by mom for children, creates deeper and more vivid emotions than any other.

World-renowned neuroscientist Dr. Stuart Firestein, PHD from New York’s Columbia University has been carrying out research into the wonder of mom-cooked flavors for many years. “Flavors she cooks up in her kitchen reach the parts of the brain, heart and soul that other things just can’t reach,” says Firestein.

“What continues to fascinate me is how the brain instinctively knows that certain flavors and foods have the power to mean more to us than just sustenance. This is called sensory recall and is a phenomenon which demonstrates how the brain is hard-wired to respond in certain ways to different tastes and smells.  Even over time and distance, when we taste mom’s cooking, it transports us back to a special place and a unique memory,” he adds.


Knorr’s “Sarap ng #LutongNanay” movement is lead by its new brand ambassador, Carmina Villarroel. Cooking for her husband and twins, Carmina knows how important sharing food with loved ones is. These days, when each minute must be spent wisely, cooking at home is made more convenient for modern moms like Carmina with Knorr. Even the simplest dishes become more meaningful because they’re made with love by mom right at home.

According to Knorr Senior Brand Manager Jec Inocencio, “The “Sarap ng #LutongNanay” movement is just one of the many ways Knorr continues to prove that it understands modern moms’ needs, whilst developing a new generation of cooking moms, by providing convenient cooking solutions without sacrificing taste that families crave and love.”

Knorr’s “Sarap ng #LutongNanay” empowers moms to know their way around the kitchen, to encourage them to spend even just a few minutes each day to see what they can make for and with their families. It can be yet another occasion to strengthen bonds and to create memories that last a lifetime. Long after meals have been served, children will remember with fondness the times spent with mom experimenting in the kitchen. That there were things learned and laughter shared.

For more details on the event and everything Knorr, follow Knorr Philippines on Facebook. For recipes you can make for your families and share with fellow moms, visit www.knorr.com.ph.