Sights and Flavors at Madrid Fusion Manila 2016

It's been two weeks since Madrid Fusion Manila 2016, and I can still savor the rich flavors of Spanish jamon and wine, as fresh and vivid as those three memorable days in early April. 

After a successful pre-launch Tapas Night (see my earlier post on The Best of Spain at Green Sun), the much awaited culinary event of the year, Madrid Fusion Manila 2016, had finally, and officially, started. Jamon, wine, and more jamon and wine. And it just can't get any better than that (see my previous post on Interporc and Pork Love at Madrid Fusion Manila).

But what made the festival even more memorable, aside from the authentic Spanish flavors, was reconnecting with old friends and making new ones. At the Bodegas Protos booth, Joan Carreras shared his wide selection of Spanish wine...

...and not far away, more familiar faces, with an equally impressive selection from Txanton (for more on Txanton, see my earlier post on the epic Bordeaux Rendezvous at Txanton).

The friendly ladies at the Marques' de Caceres booth shared their own selection of special Spanish wine, offering a unique taste of Spain with every glass.

Looking for organic and biodynamic wine? Head on over to the Dominio de Punctum booth for a taste of something new, different, and exciting.

All throughout the three days at Madrid Fusion Manila 2016, it was the magnificent leg of pork, cured and dried, the Jamon Iberico, made from acorn-fed Iberian black-hoofed pigs, that kept pulling me back again and again.

At the Txanton booth, master carver Gerson Rodriguez prepared paper-thin slices of the magnificent melt-in-your-mouth pork to an appreciative crowd that never seemed to end (more on Txanton's premium Jamon Iberico de Bellota on my previous posts at The Bar Experience at Sage Bar, A Bubbly Champagne Brunch at Alfred, and A Bordeaux Rendezvous at Txanton). 

At the Terry's Selection booth, renowned Filipino master carver Micheal Teves Lopez showcased his artistry with each thin slice of the premium Jamon Iberico. More wine, and more jamon, and it just can't get any better than that.

At the Interporc booth, chefs Carola Vives (L) and Michelin-Starred Ivan Cerdeno (R) spun their own magic with Spanish white pork, with Jamon Serrano and inventive dishes to the delight of the crowd (more on Interporc on my previous post, Pork Love at Madrid Fusion Manila). 

Chef Juan Carlos de Terry of Terry's Selection shared his impressive selection of wine, cheeses, and cured meats, including the premium Jamon Iberico de Bellota, making his booth one of the most popular meeting places at Madrid Fusion Manila. During the pre-launch cocktails and Tapas Night at Green Sun, Terry's Selection shared delectable bites of Spain with their sumptuous spread (check out my earlier post on Madrid Fusion Manila's opening Tapas Night at Green Sun).

Visitors were also treated to a series of cooking demonstrations by Terry's Selection's team of chefs, with a variety of traditional paella dishes for yet another tasty bite of Spain. Spanish sausages were also served, fresh from the grill, to complete the experience at the Terry's Selection booth.

Throughout Madrid Fusion Manila, it was great to see old friends, like Chef Robby Goco (L) of Cyma and Green Pastures (see my previous post for Green Pastures at The Fort) and Chef Gene Gonzalez (R) making the rounds (see my posts on Rediscovering the Local Bread Culture and Cafe Ysabel's Timeless Classics). 

It was also good to see Chef Jose Luis "Chele" Gonzalez (L) of Vask (more on one of the metro's finest Spanish restaurants on my post on the The Vask Experience) and Arrozeria (see my post on their Signature Spanish Dishes), and Chef Mike "Tatung" Sarthou (R) of Alab with his latest book (more on Alab on my post here).

On the last day, I get a glimpse of Chef Kevin Cherkas of Bali's acclaimed Cuca Flavors Restaurant with Chef Juan Carlos de Terry at the Terry's Selection booth, and days later, experience first-hand his own unique and inventive approach to flavors (for more on Chef Kevin Cherkas, see my previous posts on A Day with Chef Kevin Cherkas at Sage Bespoke Grill and his Special 7-Course Dinner at Sage Bespoke Grill). It's been an amazing three days, and here's to even bigger and better things to come in the next Madrid Fusion Manila...

For more on Madrid Fusion Manila 2016, check out their FB Page here at https://www.facebook.com/MadridFusionManila/.

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