Food, culture and great camaraderie highlighted the ASEAN Culinary Delights Food Fair, held recently at the SMX Convention Center of SM Aura Premier.

The Food Fair is a project of the ASEAN Ladies Foundation, which is composed of the First Ladies of ASEAN ambassadors, and SM Aura Premier. It featured the cuisine from the ten member ASEAN countries: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, which were highlighted in the cookbook ASEAN Culinary Delights. The proceeds of the event will be donated to assist in the rehabilitation and reconstruction of typhoon ravaged areas in the Visayas.

No less than ASEAN Ladies Foundation chairman Gretchen del Rosario and president Mano Hirubalan led the ribbon cutting ceremony together with members of the ASEAN diplomatic corps.

They included Brunei Darussalam ambassador Datin Paduka Malai Halimah Yussof; Cambodia ambassador Tuot Panha; Indonesian ambassador Johnny Lumintang and Sonya Lumintang; Laos ambassador Malayvieng Sakonhninhom; Myanmar ambassador Ye Myint Aung; Singaporean ambassador Hirubalan VP and Mano Hirubalan; Thailand ambassador Prasas Prasasvinitchai and Sandra Prasasvinitchai; and Vietnam ambassador Truong Trieu Duong and Dinh Thi Thu Huong. 

ASEAN Food Fair Committee chairman Julie Heidemann; Neevia Kurup, second secretary of the Malaysia embassy, and SM senior vice president for Marketing Millie Dizon joined them.

During the event, mallgoers had the rare opportunity to taste authentic culinary specialties from Southeast Asian countries that have become global foodie favorities: Sate Pentul from Indonesia, Onde Onde from Malaysia, Laksa and Chicken Rice from Singapore, Chicken Relleno from the Philippines and Beef Noodle Soup from Vietnam.

The event also gave shoppers a taste of delightful—but rarely sampled—regional specialties: Rempeyek and Keripit from Brunei, Kuih Bakar or Baked Custard from Malaysia, Ohn-nho- khauk swe Soup from Myannmar, as well signature dishes from Laos.