A Bountiful Harvest from the Land and Sea at the Canadian Yuletide Luncheon by Canada's Food Island and Canada Beef in Dr. Wine BGC

The world's second largest country by total land area with the longest coastline from the Atlantic to the Pacific and the Arctic up north, Canada's vast landscape is home to some of the finest and freshest produce exported and enjoyed in over 55 countries. Canada is also the eighth largest exporter of agriculture and agri-food products guided by a stringent and robust agri-food and seafood system and science-based processes. From their exquisite beef, pork and lamb to the abundant harvest of agricultural products and the day's succulent catch of oysters, mussels, scallops, crabs and lobsters, Canada remains a top choice among restaurateurs and culinary professionals around the world. Take a closer look at Canada's infinite culinary possibilities in a variety of mouthwatering dishes...

Quality and freshness at its flavorful peak is a guarantee with each product from Canada, experienced first-hand in a lavish feast. The Team Canada Trade Mission in collaboration with Canada Beef and the Province of Prince Edward Island recently hosted the Canadian Yuletide Luncheon at Dr. Wine in BGC showcasing the wide variety of world class Canadian produce masterfully executed by some of the metro's top chefs including Chefs Sandy Daza and Carlo Miguel. Pure and rich unrestrained flavors set the tone for a memorable day revealing the bountiful and diverse harvest from The Great White North. Read on and discover the flavors of Canada...

A wine and French bistro, Dr. Wine in BGC was the perfect stage for a culinary spectacle made with the finest Canadian produce that day culminated by an engaging culinary demonstration by Chefs Sandy Daza and Carlo Miguel featuring Canadian beef, seafood and potatoes. The Philippines is a key market for Canadian produce, in fact the second top agri-food and seafood export market in the ASEAN region. Yet so much more remains to be discovered and experienced about Canada's diverse richness. And the best way to experience the unique Canadian advantage is through savory renditions by acclaimed chefs. 

At the Canadian Yuletide Luncheon, endless rounds of refreshing libations opened up the palate for the sumptuous feast ahead. It's hard to miss the red lobster from the Province of Prince Edward Island through Canada's Food Island providing a playful glimpse of Canada's rich and diverse produce. As our taste preferences continue to evolve and change due to increased globalization, food provenance or knowing where our food comes from becomes increasingly all the more important in our daily shopping list. The label with the maple leaf is a guarantee of freshness and quality gained through generations of tradition blended with the latest in science and technology. 

More than just an epic feast, the Canadian Yuletide Luncheon by Canada Beef and Canada's Food Island of the Province of Prince Edward Island also presented networking opportunities and relevant connections among key suppliers and food businesses in the country... 

...with Canada's leading ranchers, farmers and seafood operators with many representing generations of family-run businesses... 

...led by Diedra Kelly (R), Executive Director, Indo-Pacific Agriculture & Agri-Food Office of the Embassy of Canada and Nathan Phinney (L), President of the Canadian Cattle Association taking you straight to the source of Canada's finest produce. And the wide expanse of the Canadian landscape and its long coastlines already gives you a perspective on the variety of fresh produce with the Canadian Yuletide Luncheon serving only the proverbial tip of the iceberg with so many products still to enjoy and experience. 

The Canadian Yuletide Luncheon was also graced by Head of Mission Ambassador David Hartman with Canada's Minister for International Trade Mary Ng to formally open the affair. 

One of the highlights at the Canadian Yuletide Luncheon included live cooking demonstrations from some of the country's culinary icons with Chefs Sandy Daza and Carlo Miguel. The creative renditions presented not only the quality of Canadian produce but its versatility in your home or professional kitchen limited only by your imagination. 

And it's time to savor the flavors of Canada's freshest and finest with the impressive spread at Dr. Wine. Executive Chef Marc Silvestre Carbó of Dr. Wine Group and his culinary team prepared a lavish feast using the finest ingredients from Canada. 

The dishes served by Executive Chef Marc Silvestre Carbó highlighted the flavors of Canadian produce in its purest form... 

...from the exquisite Smoked Salmon with its indulgent buttery richness paired with herbed cream cheese, pickled radish, red onions, scrambled eggs and bagels for a sumptuous start at the Canadian Yuletide Luncheon... 

...to the succulent freshly-shucked Oysters from Canada's cold and pristine coasts. Seafood from the upper hemisphere with its frigid temperatures often deliver deeper and richer flavors and a lingering briny sweetness. A few more oysters proves my case. 

The clean flavors of Canada's fresh and bountiful catch continues with the Lobster Rolls at Dr. Wine. The freshness of large chunks of lobster is announced by an audible snap draping the palate with its rich briny sweetness. 

The Canadian Beef Advantage is then displayed at the Carving Station with massive slabs of Roast AAA Grade Canadian Beef. The uncompromising and shared efforts of the entire supply chain combine for a value proposition placing Canadian beef among the world's best. The Canadian Beef Advantage is anchored on four pillars ensuring its high quality namely animal health, food safety, grading standards and beef quality to complete the loop of superior beef production with the highest standards. The vast lands and climate of Canada also contribute to its flavorful richness with its lush and verdant grasslands like terroir and fine wine. 

Then, there's a long and cherished history with the land with many farms and ranches passed down through generations bringing with it a proud Canadian tradition and responsible stewardship binding the entire system together. This deep connection with the land is augmented by the latest cutting edge technology blending both tradition and science in a tightly knit weave throughout the supply chain. 

The result? Superior beef quality among the world's best with deep, bold and delectable savory richness with every slice and bite. The flavors are not only rich but clean and pure for a taste of Canada's seemingly endless landscape. 

Behind the bar at Dr. Wine, another round of libations are prepared...

...and served. Another round in between bites? Absolutely. 

The Mulled Wine Sangria at Dr. Wine perfectly complements the savory richness of the Canadian beef and pork dishes served that day with its soothing sweetness. 

Global Trade Services for Canada's Food Island of the Province of Prince Edward Island Lannia Pan MacAleer, CITP/FIBP also shared the bountiful agricultural and seafood harvest from Canada's smallest province. But big things do come in small packages as the Province of Prince Edward Island is renowned for its agricultural produce led by potatoes accounting for nearly a quarter of Canada's total potato production, berries and green vegetables. Plus, the island province is equally famous for its seafood specifically lobster, mussels and oysters. The short presentation was a prelude to even more renditions of the Canadian Advantage experience...

...with the culinary demo starting with Chef Sandy Daza. To highlight the richness of Canadian beef, Chef Sandy Daza draws inspiration from a comforting local staple. That afternoon, Chef Sandy Daza presented his traditional and nostalgic take on Beef Sinigang. 

The quality and clean flavors of the Canadian beef lends well to the all-time local classic for a noticeably next level version tempered by the familiar souring ingredients for that delicately balanced finish. 

After a gentle simmer, the dish is ready...

The local sinigang with Canadian beef is just one of many examples how Canadian produce can enhance and even elevate your dishes. It all comes down to the ingredients you use and Chef Sandy Daza shows just how easy you can replicate it at home. Changing it up with premium beef like Canadian beef is one lavish version upgrade of a local classic. Chef Sandy Daza also prepared a side of creamy Potato Salad with another of Canada's popular agricultural products. 

Then, Chef Carlo Miguel prepared a duo of seafood dishes using Canadian mussels and lobster...

...for yet another tasty side of Canada's many flavors. Cold water Canadian seafood is a much sought-after catch, as Chef Carlo Miguel prepared the first of two dishes. 

On the counter, tails of lobster on ice and a bag of mussels tempts your appetite...

...as Chef Carlo Miguel prepped the sauces for his seafood renditions. 

The first dish is plated, an elegant interpretation with the intricately layered Pavé made from Canadian potatoes topped with plump mussels and draped in a silky smooth and creamy sauce... 

...followed by his Asian-inspired lobster with gnocchi and laksa sauce for a creative play on flavors and textures. In all the dishes served by Chefs Sandy Daza and Carlo Miguel, the Canadian ingredients were the undisputed stars of the show. It's the Canadian advantage elegantly plated by Chefs Sandy Daza and Carlo Miguel at the Canadian Yuletide Luncheon. 

These are truly exciting times for the local culinary scene as multiple options for ingredients from all over the world become easily accessible. The right ingredients makes or breaks any dish, and using one of the world's finest beef, seafood and agricultural products takes you one step closer to the perfect dish. And there's just no better time to discover Canadian produce than the holiday season. And why stop there, continue on the new year with the full repertoire of Canadian produce. 

Canada's bountiful harvest from the land and sea, masterfully executed by Chefs Sandy Daza, Carlo Miguel and Executive Chef Marc Silvestre Carbó of Dr. Wine Group provided a richer, deeper and flavorful perspective of a successful food and supply chain model of a top exporter. Now you can enjoy the flavors of Canada by simply adding it to your shopping list...

For more on Canada's Food Island and Canada Beef, visit their FB Pages and IG Feeds at https://www.facebook.com/canadasfoodisland/, https://www.instagram.com/canadasfoodisland/, https://www.facebook.com/LoveCDNBeef/, and https://www.instagram.com/canadabeefasia/ for additional information and updates. You can also visit their website at https://canadabeef.ca/ for more details.

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