SM Supermalls and People Asia Launches “My City, My SM, My Cuisine” Book

The My City, My SM, My Cuisine book launch at the SMX of SM Aura Premier brings together foodies from all over the country that have come to celebrate the exciting flavors of Philippine regional cuisine.

Published by People Asia, the book is a compilation of the My City, My SM, My Cuisine campaign that SM spearheaded from 2012 – 2013 in key cities around the Philippines where SM has malls.  The campaign had more than 20 stops in SM’s host cities as far north as Baguio and as far south as Davao.

It is a take-off from the previous My City, My SM campaign which highlights tourism, and like it a roadshow that makes a stop in each city just in time to celebrate their festival and with that, their amazing cuisine.  It is SM’s way of giving back to its host cities that welcomed them with open arms.

The book has a special focus on heirloom recipes, a treasure trove of culinary gems from prominent families from each city who opened their homes and shared their prized recipes as well as heartwarming stories in the process – the Lijaucos and Tiongcos of Santa Rosa, the Pastors and Montenegros of Batangas, the Lazatins of Pampanga, the Aquinos and Yaps of Tarlac, the Escuderos of San Pablo, the Remullas of Cavite, the Gastons and Puentevellas of Bacolod, and the Aboitizes of Cebu.

Some of these families had heroes for ancestors, and descendants happily shared the favorite recipes of General Emilio Aguinaldo, Dr. Jose Rizal, Marcelo H. del Pilar, and Mariano Ponce.  In Bulacan, the family of historian Mila Enriquez gave us the rare opportunity to sample the food of the heroes, as well as the convent chefs and the women of Malolos.

At a time when chefs have become celebrities, Chef Claude Tayag and his family as well as Rosebud Benitez, Tibong Jardaleza, and Jomi Gaston share their heirloom recipes with us.

Restaurants that have become foodie destinations – Pampanga’s Everybody’s Café, Pangasinan’s Matutina, Davao’s Binggoy’s Gourmet, Rizal’s Balaw Balaw, and Lucena’s Dealo Coffee Klatch – also took part in it, as did Naga’s Avenue Hotel and Baguio Country Club through its GM Anthony de Leon.

Food is also culture, and the book also highlights community cuisine from the Cordilleras, the Aetas of Olongapo, the Manobo and Maranao of   Davao, the T’boli of GenSan, as well as from Barangay Iponan of Cagayan de Oro.

Also in the community spirit was the cook fest, where participants vied for the best signature recipes – one entrée and one dessert – from each city.  This drew a wide range of contestants – students, family cooks, homemakers, even chefs from leading hotels and restaurants, and their winning recipes are published in the book.

The My City, My SM, My Cuisine book – and its launch – brings together these wonderful people and their wonderful recipes, as well as food lovers from all over the country.

With food as its center, the launch gives guests the opportunity to sample four exciting culinary showcases: a Suman Bar from Antipolo; the Baraka station featuring delicacies from Laguna; Food of our Heroes from Bulacan; and Claude Tayag’s Bale Dutung station from Pampanga.

My City, My SM, My Cuisine is one of the many ways SM celebrates Filipino culture in its malls.