DOT organizes gastronomy fair at Ayala Malls Manila Bay

The Department of Tourism's (DOT) flagship food festival, Kain Na 2022, is back in the National Capital Region (NCR) to bring every region's best gastronomic offers.

The "Kain Na! Foodie Adventure" will run from June 9 to 12 at Ayala Malls Manila Bay's activity center, featuring 13 booths and 40 exhibitors from across the country.

DOT Metro Manila Director Sharlene Zabala-Batin said the Philippines as an archipelago is a treasure trove of food beyond the staples adobo, sinigang, and pansit.

"This is precisely what this latest iteration of Kain Na! food and travel festival promises to give us-- a glimpse of the rich and delectable food culture in the Philippines to a sampling of local cuisines, heirloom recipes, precious produce, and some indigenous ingredients from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao," she said.

In an interview Friday, Philippine Tour Operators Association (PHILTOA) President Fe Abling-Yu said food tours do attract tourists to travel.

"Malakas ang hatak talaga ng food tours lalo na sa mga families na pupunta sa ibang lugar para lang sa pagkain. Dinadayo talaga nila, there's the curiosity and eventually nagiging word of mouth na iyon, dumadami 'yong dumadayo sa lugar (Food tour is an effective way to attract tourists, especially families because they are willing to visit a destination for it. They'll travel to that place and eventually it becomes a word of mouth luring more visitors to come)," she said.

Some of the local delicacies at the expo are bagnet, empanada, and longganisa from the Ilocos Region; tablea and tsokolate bars from MIMAROPA; and artisanal chocolate, fruit jams and pastries from the Davao Region.

Apart from these, tour packages offering food, leisure, and adventure tours to the Cagayan Valley region, Bulacan, Calabarzon, Davao, Siargao are also put on sale.

During the fair, TED talks-inspired Food Tourism 101, would also be made accessible online and open for registration via https://bit.ly/399L7bW.