An impressive haul of 15 gold, silver and bronze medals across 13 different categories is an impressive statement. And the victorious 17-chef delegation of City of Dreams Manila emerged on top over 52 other teams from noted hotels, restaurants and catering services at the 16th edition of the Philippine Culinary Cup as Overall Champion. A significant milestone for the prestigious integrated resort complex, the recent victory reflects City of Dreams Manila's continuous commitment and dedication to culinary excellence. And soon, you may be able to experience and savor the flavors of these award-winning dishes...
In an exclusive preview, City of Dreams Manila hosted an intimate dinner simply dubbed the Champion's Table showcasing the victorious culinary team's winning renditions last October 17 at the Grand Ballroom. For one special evening, the top chefs of City of Dreams Manila recreated their winning dishes from the 2026 Philippine Culinary Cup for another memorable dining experience of vibrant flavors and masterful execution by the bay. Read on for a tasty peek at the dishes that may soon be part of the regular menu of your favorite restaurant at City of Dreams Manila...
Through the years, City of Dreams Manila has been a part of my blog's journey documenting countless flavors and memories from their repertoire of culinary options (for more on the many culinary dining destinations at City of Dreams Manila, see my previous posts for my top picks starting with The Fresh Flavors From The Sea And Grill At Hidemasa In City Of Dreams Manila from two years ago, A Taste Of Royal Thai Cuisine At Red Ginger from a decade ago, When A Typical Sunday Cantonese Lunch Is Transformed With A Luxurious Vibe...At Crystal Dragon. from 2019, Northern Exposure: A Taste Of Authentic Northern Chinese Flavors At City Of Dream Manila's New Jing Ting Restaurant from 2017, Filipino Flavors Reimagined With A Contemporary Spin At Haliya Modern Filipino Cuisine Of City Of Dreams Manila from 2021 and Taste Of Artistry: A 5-Course Filipino Tasting Experience At Haliya Modern Filipino Cuisine In City Of Dreams Manila from last year and Sunday Best: The Sunday Brunch Buffet At Nobu Restaurant from 2018. And it continues to this day with City of Dreams Manila earning the coveted title as Overall Champion in the recent 2026 Philippine Culinary Cup. At City of Dreams Manila, the creative culinary process is a continuous cycle in constantly raising the bar. And for guests and diners at City of Dreams Manila, this passionate approach lays the foundation for a memorable dining experience.
The country's premier and only World Association of Chefs Societies (WORLDCHEFS) endorsed and recognized culinary competition, the Philippine Culinary Cup remains an insightful gauge of the country's culinary creativity with the roster of winners providing a snapshot of the local dining scene. And for 16 years, the prestigious Philippine Culinary Cup has long been the gold standard for competitive culinary competitions in the country. This year, the trophy for Overall Champion finds a home at City of Dreams Manila...
That evening, the winning chefs of City of Dreams Manila relived the moment once more with a lavish feast of their culinary creations at the Grand Ballroom.
In a stunning display of creativity and excellence, City of Dreams Manila unveiled the winning cast that earned it the Overall Champion recognition among the country's best by the extremely competitive Philippine Culinary Cup, starting with savory nibbles with the Art of Dimsum.
The entry Art of Dimsum is a delectable trio of Crystal Skin Chive Scallop Dumpling, Sea Bass Lucky Bag with Lime Leaf, and Sichuan Style Shrimp Wontons paired with Sichuan Spicy Sauce, Yellow Pepper Sauce, and Homemade XO Sauce. The plated rendition first feeds the eye before the palate with its intricate execution. Then, that first bite drapes the palate with a savory burst of rich yet clean briny flavors from the succulent seafood. Scallop, shrimp, and sea bass. The lavish catch of the day is celebrated in tasty and exquisite filled pockets of dimsum expressions. Each bite brings a complexity of flavors that teases the palate yet each contrasting note complements the other in a delicately nuanced play of vibrant undertones and hints. And the sauces complete the elegant medley of flavors. It's an excellent start at the Champion's Table of City of Dreams Manila.
From the Filipino Cuisine Challenge category of the competition, City of Dreams Manila's culinary team presents a savory and decadent trio of Tres Talaba, Estofadong Antigo, and Binanging Adlai drawing inspiration from traditional and even nostalgic local flavors.
A delicate shell-like crisp base becomes the vessel for a creative expression of pure flavors in three acts for Tres Talaba with its diverse renditions of flavors. From kamias salsa, calamansi crema, pomelo and adobo sarsa, green mango and dayap palamig each with its own own play on unique notes complementing the fresh and briny sweetness of the succulent oyster, the tasty trio becomes the proper starter to a course of local flavors.
Completing the Filipino Cuisine Challenge is the Estofadong Antigo with fork-tender slabs of pork belly and pork ribs with grilled pork butt with the pronounced sweet, salty and tart notes of the kinchay at sili soy cutting through the savory richness, pineapple jus and maruya and sweet potato fondant for that whisper of sweetness. The modern, updated and contemporary spin honors the deep and rich hearty notes of the original dish. And paired with the Binanging Adlai with pork fat rebusado, roasted bone marrow, corn, mushroom and kamote, it's a real serious meal with a colorful weave of contrasting notes.
City of Dreams Manila's entry for the Pasta Challenge Category is the Spicy Seafood Marinara Spaghetti with Kataifi Prawns, Bagna Cauda Sauce, Osetra Caviar and fresh basil that transforms a familiar staple into an elevated expression of pasta goodness from the tartness of the sauce and that subtle lingering heat. The addition of prawns wrapped in crisp pastry adds a textural component to the dish while the mildly salty hints of the Bagna Cauda Sauce and marinara just ties everything together capped by the indulgence of Osetra Caviar with its bold and briny "pops" of flavor.
The entry for the Asian Gourmet Challenge is another beautifully plated rendition with the Asian Pork Roulade, a savory pork loin roulade with aromatic Asian spices and wild betel leaf paired with Crispy Egg Yolk Puffs made with salted egg yolk, seasoned minced pork cumin, and kaffir lime leaf and Fragrant Tomato Rice with Asian spices, sweet raisins and fresh coriander. The delicate Crispy Egg Yolk Puffs provides a contrasting counterpoint to the richness of the pork loin roulade with the Fragrant Tomato Rice completing the sumptuous rendition. In one dish, City of Dreams Manila presented infinite possibilities to dining at the prestigious integrated property led by inventive young chefs from the culinary team.
From the US Pork Category, the Braised US Pork Shoulder with pork sausage, sweet potato purẻe, pork and mushroom tortellini, blueberry compote, pickled granny smith apple and mustard seeds and seasonal vegetables is a meticulously plated execution with several components, each one contributing to a lavish medley of flavors and textures. The tender US Pork Shoulder is well executed with its tender finish complemented by a variety of flavorful layers from the different components of the dish.
One of my personal picks that evening has to be the entry for the US Lamb Category with the Herb Crusted Braised US Lamb with Creamy Mushroom and Lamb Ragout, Lamb Cromesquis, Spicy Tomato Chutney, Mint Jus and Seasonal Vegetables.
Perfectly executed with a juicy pink center, the tender US Lamb delivers rich yet clean savory notes complemented by the duo of Creamy Mushroom and Lamb Ragout. The Lamb Cromesquis or deep-fried croquette brings an element of texture into play while the tomato chutney, mint jus and seasonal vegetables brings layers of flavors to the dish. Yet all the different elements comes together in an elegant, seamless and balanced finish.
Capping the tasting experience, City of Dreams Manila's entry for the Dream Team Challenge is a three-course feast in itself starting with the Stuffed Kampachi Croquette...
...with Smoked Gouda and Honey Sriracha Sauce. The winning chefs then incorporate playful elements adding color, flavor and texture contributing to the overall dish. Each tasty bite sets up the palate for the main course...
...of Smoked Herb Crusted Beef Rib Finger on creamy mushroom risotto, red wine jus, mushroom ragout, crisp Beef Cromesquis or stuffed croquette, beef ravioli, roasted pumpkin purée, sautéed glazed seasonal vegetables and stuffed morel. Elegantly plated, it's a proper plate for the evening's culminating course. The Smoked Herb Crusted Beef Rib Finger is tender and juicy with its beefy richness pairing well with a whisper of smoky hints and herbal notes. The slab of beef is paired with a complement of savory bites like the Cromesquis and beef ravioli along with the roasted pumpkin purée, silky smooth mushroom risotto, the red wine jus and mushroom ragout tandem and glazed vegetables.
And for dessert? The Dream Team Challenge three-course feast has the perfect sweet ending with the Her Strawberry Pistachio Story with a layered strawberry and pistachio cake, pistachio mousse, lime jelly dome, strawberry Tanghulu red wine cream cheese dusted with pistachio polvoron. The award-winning dishes present potential new flavor experiences at the different dining destinations at City of Dreams Manila, and some of these same dishes may find its way on the regular menu. As part of the evening's activities, guests were invited to vote on their favorite dish for a possible place on the menu. The Philippine Culinary Cup often serves as a barometer and benchmark on the state of the local dining scene's creativity. If the Champion's Table preview is any gauge, then City of Dreams Manila's position as a dining destination continues to look temptingly bright.
City of Dreams Manila is located at Aseana Boulevard corner Macapagal Avenue, Entertainment City, Paranaque City or call 691-7772 or 800-8080 for more information. You can also visit their FB Page and IG Feed at https://www.facebook.com/cityofdreamsmanila and https://www.instagram.com/cityofdreamsmanila for more information and updates.
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