VANCOUVER 14 November 2025 – The Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver, with the support of the Department of Foreign Affairs’ Office of Cultural Diplomacy, hosted a day-long celebration of “Halal Gastronomy Tourism” led by Chef Datu Shariff Pendatun III, Chief Culinary Officer of Aluyan Food Group and one of the Philippines’ most respected Mindanaoan chefs.
The event aimed to highlight the richness of Mindanao’s culinary traditions and promote the Philippines’ Halal and gastronomy tourism offerings to Canadian and international audiences. The program was composed of two segments: a morning food demonstration and tasting for Vancouver Community College (VCC) students, and an afternoon talk and networking event attended by members of the British Columbia Consular Corps, culinary professionals, business owners, and leaders of the Filipino community.
The morning session, held at The Bistro, VCC, provided students an opportunity to observe Chef Pendatun prepare traditional Mindanao dishes such as Pindilutanan a Sagutong (grilled eggplant with coconut lime dressing); Inaluban a Sera (charred fish in coconut milk); Kiyuning (turmeric rice); and Sindul (root crops in coconut milk). The demonstration emphasized culinary technique, flavor balance, and respect for Halal preparation standards. The students also assisted the Chef in the preparation process, allowing hands-on learning in ingredient selection and flavor layering.
In the afternoon, guests gathered for a talk on gastronomy tourism in Mindanao, followed by a curated food tasting and networking session. The program offered participants a deeper understanding of how Philippine regional cuisines contribute to the country’s culinary identity and tourism development.
Through this project, the Consulate seeks to advance greater awareness of Mindanao’s culinary heritage and to encourage more opportunities for cultural exchange, education, and tourism collaboration between the Philippines and Canada. END
