It’s a World Pasta Day celebration like no other at Marriott Hotel Manila. The event highlights the profound effect of collaboration and compassion in the upliftment of communities especially the underprivileged in the country.
Together with Barilla, the world’s leading pasta brand from Italy, Marriott Hotel created the biggest nutritious pasta dish on October 25, 2023, for the street children beneficiaries of the Red Cross Philippines Pasay City Chapter.
Barilla Executive Chef Andrea Tranchero and Marriott Executive Chef Meik Brammer and his culinary team, joined forces to prepare the pasta dish out of 125 kilos of Barilla pasta which translates to some 500 portions donation.
Before the actual feeding program, the Red Cross Pasay team and some of its student beneficiaries from Villamor Air Base Elementary School and their parents/guardians were feted to various pasta dishes concocted by Filipino chef participants from Barilla’s Chef Contest 2023.
The Chef Contest 2023 was organized by Barilla back in September 2023 for chefs in Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, and the Philippines to introduce their very own pasta creations. The contest ended on October 5.
Four cooking stations were set in place at the Manila Ballroom where the chefs prepared and presented their winning pasta dishes: Vegan Spaghetti and Meatballs by Sous Chef Joana Tiglao; Spaghetti Tossed in Bouillabaisse Sauce with Scallops and Tiger Prawns by Chef de Partie Rose Ann Adarlo; Scampi by Sous Chef Rheevo Arnuco; and Pampanga’s Sisig Pasta by Chef Erwin Marquez.
After the sumptuous pasta lunch and ice cream, the youngsters lined up to receive their Barilla gift packs and had a photo opportunity with their benefactors with Barilla Christmas Tree as a backdrop.
The highlight of the day’s program, however, was the announcement of winners of Barilla’s Chef Contest 2023. Aside from Tiglao, Adarlo, and Marquez, all chefs from Marriott Hotel, chefs Arauco (Westin PH), Lesley Ann Salazar (Shangri-La PH), and Jim Bruce Sadia (Palm Country PH) each received vouchers worth $100. Marquez as the grand winner wins for himself and a trip to Italy to participate in a three-day exclusive masterclass at Academia Barilla in Parma, Italy.
Compassion to communities
“Our mission is clear—to ensure that every Filipino has access to good, nutritious food. It’s not just responsibility; it’s a shared vision. Together, we can make a difference that truly matters,” said Werner Berger, president and CEO of Santis Delicatessen.
Chef Tranchero himself passionately advocated for the health benefits of pasta and how Barilla plays a crucial role in creating sustainable, nutritious, and satisfying meals. Echoing Berger’s statement, he said that “nutritious food should be accessible to everyone, and this event is a step toward achieving that goal”.
Meanwhile, Chef Brammer said he is honored to collaborate with Barilla for World Pasta Day. “We are passionate about giving back to the communities we serve, and this event exemplifies our dedication to making a positive impact.”
Brammer, who has been with Marriott for more than a decade, also shared that their initiative in addressing food wastage is donating excess food to the underprivileged through the Red Cross Philippines.
For her part, Micot Juico, food coordinator of Red Cross Philippines, said, “We wish that more restaurants and bake shops in other areas can donate [their excess food] to us.”
For more than 12 years, Juico has been teaming up with hotels, restaurants, bake shops, and food storage facilities in the Philippines to provide food for street-dwelling children and calamity victims.
Juico added that they are also looking forward to grocery stores joining in their initiative to donate vegetables and other goods to underprivileged Filipinos. (With reports by Leony Garcia)
