I am going to say this right off the bat, Ultimate Taste Test Pro Edition 2017 is by far my favorite among Ultimate Taste Tests which I have attended since 2011. While previous Our Awesome Planet’s UTTs were special and undeniably enjoyable, the UTT Pro Edition this year shoot up to several notches higher in terms of serving people the best of the best food that merchants can offer.
Anton himself mentioned that the vendors this year were carefully picked through the Ultimate Taste Test Audition hence, the lineup comprised of the best ones they have chosen. It was after all Pro Edition.
Anton himself mentioned that the vendors this year were carefully picked through the Ultimate Taste Test Audition hence, the lineup comprised of the best ones they have chosen. It was after all Pro Edition.
Ultimate Taste Test Pro Edition 2017 happened last September 2-3, 2017 at Glorietta Activity Center. The two-day food festival gave chance to the vendors to showcase their products to the foodies who stood as food critics for the day, and to sell their products to the public. The event was concluded last Sunday and winners were announced.
The winners of the Ultimate Taste Test 2017 Pro Edition are Auntie May’s for Foodie’s Choice Award, Sisig Kanin Balls by Broken Oven for Judges' Choice Award, Ted’s Sta Cruz Bibingka Cheesecake for People’s Choice Award, and Pizza Grigliata Manila as the Ultimate Taste Test Champion.
The Ultimate Taste Test Champion was awarded worth up to Php 5 Million financial investment and business support of guaranteed food stall, kiosk, or restaurant in an Ayala establishment from Mr. Eric Dee of Foodee Global Concept. Quark Henares of Globe Studios is creating an Ultimate Taste Test Startup Food Entrepreneur Online Show hosted by Patti Grandidge Herrera which makes this UTT Pro Edition extra special compared to the previous ones.
The Ultimate Taste Test Champion was awarded worth up to Php 5 Million financial investment and business support of guaranteed food stall, kiosk, or restaurant in an Ayala establishment from Mr. Eric Dee of Foodee Global Concept. Quark Henares of Globe Studios is creating an Ultimate Taste Test Startup Food Entrepreneur Online Show hosted by Patti Grandidge Herrera which makes this UTT Pro Edition extra special compared to the previous ones.
Personally, I love all the winners and I believe they are all deserving of the awards they got. Yet, it is a tradition here at YedyLicious to share my Ultimate Taste Test Top Picks or simply the list of my favorites whenever I have a chance to do so. It is not easy to narrow down the ones I enjoyed during the event because majority of them were really good. Normally, I would only pick 10, this time I cannot go lower than 16.
Here they are. In random order.
Here they are. In random order.
Pizza Grigliata Manila
Address: 404 Annapolis Tower
42 Annapolis St., San Juan
Metro Manila
Facebook: @pizzagrigliata.manila
Instagram: @pizzagrigiata.manila
Email: pizzagrigliata.manila@gmail.com
Pizza Grigliata was the first one my friend Glenn and I tried during the UTT Pro Edition and upon finishing our fair share of the pizzas they offered, we knew we were off to a good start. They served Margherita, Bianca Quatro Formaggi, and Prosciutto Arugula Pizza. Aside from the Margherita, the pizzas boast of black crust made with squid ink. All were good eaten as it is but with a drizzle or two of the honey chili, it became all the more well worth of the Ultimate Taste Test Champion title.
JAM Foods & Co.
Contact nos.: 0917 533 1371 (viber) 02 6229740
Email Add.: jam.foods.and.co@gmail.com
Facebook: @JAMfoods
Instagram: @jamfoods
I have always been a fan of Jam Foods and Co since its Mercato Centrale days and I cannot count how many times have I written about them here on the blog. Good news is, to this day, I am still a fan since they are consistent in being awesome. Their newest product the Bacon Tocino blew me away, I tell you. I love bacon and tocino in general and separately. Amazing people from Jam Foods didn’t hold back in combining the two which made me even more crazy about these very reason why I can never be a vegan. Their Angus Beef Tapa as always, was impeccable.
Auntie May's Home Kitchen
Address: Pioneer St. Market
Reliance cor Pioneer St.
Mandaluyong City
Contact Nos.: 0917-885-0508
Facebook: @auntiemays
Instagram: @auntiemays
Angus Beef Salpicao, Adobo sa Gata, and Callos – these are the three dishes that Auntie May’s served during the UTT and I have never found a single soul who didn’t like any of it. Among my KTG family, Aunty May’s garnered several nods of approval. They really deserve the Foodie’s Choice Award. If I were to describe them, “Mapapa-kanin ka sa sarap!”
Oink Oink Lechon Bagnet
Address: Robinsons Forum
EDSA cor. Pioneer St.
Mandaluyong City
Contact No.: 02 517 2117
Email Address: katekorfoodco@gmail.com
Facebook: @OinkOinkLechonBagnet
Instagram: @oikoinkph
Google+: oinkoinkph@gmail.com
I have mentioned this on my Instagram post but let me say it again here, the cool guys behind Oink Oink Lechon Bagnet are really funny, but they take their lechon bagnet seriously. And this resulted to the best ones I have tried in the market recently. It’s crunchy and it melts in the mouth leaving traces of savory flavor that one may not soon forget. It may induce a mental sparring with your cardiologist as you bite on it, but when taken in moderation – it might be the best lechon bagnet you will ever have here in Manila.
Charlie's Pritchon
Address: 43-D Kalayaan Avenue,
Quezon City
Contact Nos.: 921 0405 / 921 0415 / 0918 531 8851
Website: charliespritchon.com
Email: charliespritchon@yahoo.com
Instagram: @charliespritchon
My friend Jeeves De Veyra of ABS-CBN Online swears by the goodness of Charlie’s Pritchon that he even accompanied us to the booth for us to try the Pritchon with Pita Bread. First bite and it reminded me that fellow KTG recommendation shouldn’t be taken lightly. Charlie’s Pritchon was amazing!
TAPAddiction by Mom's Breaktime Food Corner
Store Addresses:
Buendia By The Court (5pm to 12mn daily)
Salcedo Community market (7am to 12pm Sundays)
Contact Nos.: 02 239 3371 / 0927 998 5544
0947 517 8789 / 0915 336 5717
Email: mbreaktime@yahoo.com.ph
Facebook: @TAPAddictionByM
I am not having a change of heart here, I still love the Angus tapa from Jam Foods. However, TAPAddiction’s USDA Premium Beed Tapa is a welcome addition to the list of beef tapas I love. I am a big woman with a big heart, I can love all of them, right? The combination of tapa, rice, egg, and the atchara was just amazing it made me craved for more, to be honest.
Don Bao
Address:
#1 Brixton Street,
Kapitolyo, Pasig City
Contact No.: 0998 8638671
Instagram: donbao.ph
I don’t care much about Don Bao’s Kani Nacho because it lacked the crispness I like in my nachos, but I find their Crazy Bao amazing. The combination of the soft fluffy bun pared with crunchy tempura flakes lends a playful texture in every bite. While the kani, savory eel sauce, and Japanese mayo toppings provide flavor that makes it satisfying. I was not aware that Don Bao has a restaurant in Kapitolyo until my friend Richie of The Pickiest Eater mentioned it. Good to know there’s physical store I can visit when craving hits.
The Broken Oven
Address:
Industrie Food Loft
2nd Flr. City Golf Complex
Julia Vargas, Pasig City
Contact No.: 0917 816 2726
Email: thebrokenovenspecials@gmail.com
Facebook: @thebrokenovenspecials
Instagram:@thebrokenovenspecials
Broken Oven served Lechon Sisig Balls and Truffle Lechon Sisig Balls which reminded me of one of my favorite Italian dishes, arancini. I guess I love the classic way a sisig dish can be enjoyed so it didn’t make a fan out of me from the get go. But when thinking about convenience of eating and considering the flavors were good especially the truffle variant, it ended on my favorite list still.
GMCS Farms
Address:
Jade Dr. Ortigas Center
Pasig City
Email: angel_yu_16@yahoo.com
Contact No.: 0917 3306090
Facebook: @GMCSFarms
Instagram: @gmcs_farms
I love mushroom so, it is no surprise that I ended up liking their Crispy Mushrooms with Dips. While I don’t care much about sardines these days, my friend who have tried their Spanish Sardines noted that it was indeed good. What I love about GMCS Farms was the way they sincerely explain their products to the foodie critics dropping by their booth. They farm their own mushrooms which are all organic and they catch their own fishes and turn them into Spanish sardines. I would very much love to visit their farm one of these days.
Beef Barn
Contact No.: 0977-8508888
Facebook: @BeefBarn
Instagram: @TheBeefBarn
I have always loved The Beef Barn’s Roasted Beef and I am glad that the quality is still as good as ever. I feel bad that they close down their restaurant in Eastwood but it is good to know that they are still mostly actives on weekend food bazaars in the Metro. Their Tuyo Aglio Olio was too soggy for my liking, too bad since the flavor was promising. It was really the Roasted Beef that made them a winner for me.
Kirunch Japanese Fusion
Address:
51 Magiting Street,
Diliman, Quezon City
Contact No.: 0942 386 8771
Facebook: @KirunchJapaneseFusion
I find the elderly couple manning the Kirunch booth really adorable. They talked about their business so shyly but with palpable pride because it was after all their son's brainchild. I love both the Laksa Ramen and the 5 Treasure Gyoza they offered that I am considering visiting their restaurant in Diliman if only to try those again.
Sabaw Dumplings
Email: sabawlongbao@gmail.com
Contact no.: 0915-9696851
Facebook: @SabawDumplings
Instagram: @sabawdumplings
It was funny because I visited Sabaw Dumpling’s booth during the time when the cool-looking lady was a bit overwhelmed with the demand of their products. I completely understand that and if only I could offer her a hug, I probably would. Good thing that after regaining her composure, she went back in making the Tablea Xiao Long Bao again with such finesse as if nothing happened. She continued on and it was beautiful.
I was not able to try the Tablea Xiao Long Bao because there weren’t any cooked ones available when I dropped by. I however, have tried their Sisig Potsticker which I like but it was the Bula Long Bao which stole my heart. It was so good it can rival the best Xiao Long Baos I have tried in my years of food blogging. I have high hopes for them, I hope they know that they're doing a good job and I sincerely hope their business prosper.
Cinq Dessert Boutique
Address:
GF Ceo Flats
27 Canopus cor Jupiter St.
Makati City
Website: cinq.com.ph
Facebook: @cinqdessertboutique
Instagram: @cinqdessertboutique
A food brand which I am also a fan ever since it opened its door to the public way back 2014, Cinq is still as impressive as ever. Their Financiers and Earl Grey Turtles were like what dreams supposed to taste like. I love that each bite screams high quality ingredients with a lingering flavor you cannot find elsewhere.
Ted's
Address:
KM 83 National Hway
Brgy. Duhat, Santa Cruz Laguna
Contact Nos.: 049-5016858 / 0915-8669974
Email: ted.sxl@gmail.com
Facebook: @teds.sxl
Instagram: @TedsLaguna
I cannot remember how many times have I mentioned here on the blog how much I love cheesecake. When I tried Ted’s Sta Cruz Bibingka Cheesecake, it instantly shoots high up on top of my list of Best Cheesecakes. I love that there was a fine balance between the distinct flavor of bibingka and the known richness of a well-made cheesecake. I tell you, it was one of the best locally-made cheesecakes that I have tried.
Blended Fruits and Herbs
Contact No.: 0916-780-2558
Email: blended.juice@yahoo.com
Facebook: @blendedfruitjuice
Instagram: @blended.juice
I love Blended Fruits and Herbs for being so generous and letting the foodies try all of the drinks available on their booth. Everything was good and I appreciate that their drinks are all natural with no preservatives and no food coloring. I super love their Citrus Ginger!
OhGK!
Address:
Gawad Kalinga Enchanted Farms
Pandi-Angat Rd.
Angat, Bulacan Philippines
Facebook: @OhGKNatural
Website: gk1world.com/gk-enchanted-farm
I love any drinks with ginger, truth be told. As a matter of fact, ginger brew or salabat played a big role in helping me quit smoking – I will blog about that, I promise! So, whenever I find healthy drinks with ginger on it, I make it a point to always give it a try. OhGK! Which stands for Oregano Honey Ginger and Kalamansi was one of those which made me fall for it in an instant.
So, there you go, my favorites during the Ultimate Taste Test 2017 Pro Edition. I really enjoyed this year’s UTT and I am looking forward to future Ultimate Taste Test. Thank you to Spanky Enriquez for letting us cover this event. Thanks and congratulations Anton, Rache, and Team Our Awesome Planet! Congratulations to the winners!
To know more about Ultimate Taste Test Pro Edition 2017, you may visit their website at UltimateTasteTest.com and Anton's website at OurAwesomePlanet.com.
