Year after year since 2009, the Ajinomoto® Umami Culinary Challenge (UCC) gathers the Philippines’ most creative and innovative culinarians. The event is now one of the country’s biggest intercollegiate culinary competitions. This year, Ajinomoto® UCC attracted thousands of visitors and hundreds of HRM and Nutrition students from 51 Universities and Colleges, not just coming from Metro Manila and nearby provinces, but as far back as Ilocos, CAR and Visayas. Distinguished judges during the event included culinary experts Chef Bruce Lim, Chef Dino Datu, Chef Sau del Rosario, Chef Rosebud Benitez and nutrition experts Dr. Veritas Luna, Dr. Zenaida Narciso and Ms. Joan Sumpio to name a few.

Ms. Kathryn Bernardo, teen sensation and AJI-NO-MOTO® Umami Seasoning Endorser kicked off the event’s most anticipated Awarding Ceremony. The University of Santo Tomas (UST) bagged the coveted Umami Bowl Award and a kitchen classroom showcase after receiving the highest overall score in major competition categories including Best Filipino Umami Dish-Luzon, My Eat Well, Live Well® Plate and My Own Umami Creation.

La Consolacion College : Manila shared the spotlight and received double recognition after winning first place in Luzon for the Best Filipino Umami Dish competition category and outdoing Hercor College from Capiz in the National Cooking Showdown for the same category. Other winning teams came from the University of Perpetual Help System- Biñan and Calamba, Manila Tytana College, Rogationist College, De La Salle University : Dasmariñas, Saint Michael’s College of Laguna and Colegio de San Lorenzo.

First place winners for each of the four (4) categories received gold medals and PhP 10,000 in cash, second place winners won silver medals and PhP 8,000 pesos and third place winners received bronze medals and PhP 5,000 pesos. The Ajinomoto® Umami Culinary Challenge is presented by AJINOMOTO PHILIPPINES CORPORATION and sponsored by La Germania, Solane, Masflex KitchenPro, Nature’s Spring and Business Mirror.