Bartender/Mixologist Jojo Valenzuela (left) and Chef Red Garcia carried the Philippine flag at the Embassy Chef Challenge 2017 held at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center on May 24, 2017. WASHINGTON Washingtonians and visitors were introduced to binalot at the Embassy Chef Challenge 2017, held at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, D.C. on May 24, 2017. 1 / 6
Red Garcia, owner and executive chef of Kalye DC, represented the Philippines in Washington s top culinary competition, making over 800 pieces of binalot with Filipino-style pork barbecue as the featured dish. The competition brought me back to my roots. It was an amazing experience to show our culture through food by bringing the classic binalot to the table, to relive our culture and to share it with people from all over the world. My crew and I are so very proud to be able to carry the Philippine flag for the Embassy Chef Challenge. It was so very surreal and quite humbling, Garcia remarked. Using the distinctly Filipino style and Philippine ingredients, Chef Red infused the pork meat in a mixture that included Datu Puti soy sauce and vinegar, and made the basting with UFC Hot and Spicy banana ketchup. Jojo Valenzuela, a renowned Filipino bartender/mixologist in the Metro DC area, complemented the binalot with his award-winning cocktail, Rizal. Made primarily from gin and spiced guava mansi soda, Rizal played well with the sweet, spicy and smoky flavors of the barbecue. 2 / 6
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