The Datu Puti Adobo Movement was coined to get the staple local dish to become the Filipino’s official “pambansang ulam.”
There are possibly over a hundred different takes on Adobo, across all regions of the Philippines and we, the adobo-loving race are unstoppable and it would be so nice
Mercato Centrale’s Food Vendors Friendly Competition
The Datu Puti Adobo Challenge represents the next phase in the Datu Puti Adobo Movement. After the warm response to the advocacy in 2015, 2016’s Datu Puti Adobo Challenge is poised to drive more enthusiasm and sustain support for the cult fave dish. More specifically, the Datu Puti Adobo Challenge dares Mercato Centrale’s food vendors to stake their claim for the best Adobo dish in town.
It was definitely not an easy pick. There were at least three excellent Adobo dishes that I’ve tasted that I very much loved during the Media Preview:
Dadding’s Kitchenette’s Adobong Enselada
A savory salad of adobo flakes, red egg and ripe mangoes. I love the concept of this adobong enselada being a stand alone dish. Can work as an appetizer or viand. Its flexibility goes beyond as the flavors of the crispy adobo flakes, the salted egg and sweet mangoes all complement as it delights in every bite.
Dayrit’s Pork Adobong Laing Pinangat
Filipino favorites Adobo and Laing, in one unique flavorful dish. I never thought the marriage of adobo and laing can be such a gastronomical treat! This is especially a stand out for me, because unlike a lot of the dishes I’ve tried during the preview, the adobo was cooked just right. Not too salty and the creamy taste of the coconut milk with the laing enveloped the whole viand in a beautifully wrapped serving. I hope pray that this is going to be a mainstay in Mercato Centrale. I’ll go there every week, just to get my helping or two! Okay, I’ve just given away my pick. 🙂
Oinkery’s Pugod-Smoked Pork Adobo
Pork shoulder pugod-smoked for 8 hours, glazed with Cebu-style adobo sauce garnished with manggang hilaw. My first helping of this adobo got me going back to the booth to check with the owners if they had Tinapa in it. There’s none. Apparently, it’s the taste from the adobo being pugon-smoked for 8hrs. I love the unique concept of pugon and the interesting taste of tinapa in what really is adobo.
I knew at first bite, Dayrit was going to bag the Media and Blogger Preview Winner title. Although there were other excellent adobo dishes, Dayrit’s was a stand out. Congratulations! Here’s looking forward to tasting more of your Pork Adobong Laing Pinangat at Mercato Centrale!
Celebrating Adobo’s Best
Meanwhile, Mercato Centrale’s finest vendors will showcase their Adobo recipes at a gastronomic showdown at the Mercato Central Saturday market in Bonifacio Global City on June 11, the culmination of the Datu Puti Adobo Challenge.
Join the Movement on June 11 and enjoy the taste fest during the Datu Puti Adobo Challenge. Rate sheets will be tallied based on the sampling served to a select pool of judges. Then, at the end of the Datu Puti Adobo Challenge, three winners will be declared, taking into the account the flavor, story, and heart behind their Adobo masterpieces. In addition, a People’s Choice Award will also be given to the crowd favorite, based on the preferences of the foodies on site.
All Adobo winners will be awarded start-up funds in cash, so they can include their winning dishes in their regular Mercato menu for at least 12 nights. The People’s Choice awardee, on the other hand, will receive over P3,000 worth of Datu Puti goods.
Adobo Party
Aside from the Datu Puti Adobo Challenge, the celebrations at Mercato Centrale on June 11 will also feature a celebration of homegrown talent, all in full support of the advocacy behind the Adobo Movement. The party will be hosted by familiar foodie Tonipet Gaba, and the feast will be made even more festive with musical performances by musical idols UpDharma Down and Ebe Dancel.
Drop by Mercato Centrale (along 7th avenue and 25th street, across The Forum and in front of the “Between the Lines” art mural) in BGC Taguig on June 11, Saturday, to witness a showdown and showcase of the best of the best of our homegrown talents onstage and behind kitchen doors.
