Pomelo Fete & Culinary Delights at SM Lanang Premier

Festivalgoers of all ages gather at SM Lanang Premier for a taste of their much-loved pomelo.

Pomelo Fete & Culinary Delights at SM Lanang Premier

The first ever Davao Pomelo Festival came to a wrap last weekend coinciding with the conclusion of the Visit Davao Fun Sale (VDFS). The five-week feast enticed throngs of tourists and locals to celebrate the city’s favorite fruit at The Fountain Court grounds of the metro’s premier shopping and lifestyle destination – SM Lanang Premier.

Chef Chino San Jose of Chippens slices the pomelo to get the pith, which will be used for his dish

Chef Rolando Llido of Hog’s Breath Café share his recipe at the Pomelo Festival while mallgoers look on.

From left: Councilor Al-Ryan Alejandre, Peter Canary of REDD-Ltd, Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang and City Tourism Operations Office OIC Lisette Marques at the Davao Pomelo Festival.

DOT-XI Regional Director Robert Alabado (3rd from left) graces the Davao Pomelo Festival. Together with him are SM Supermalls AVP for Marketing (Mindanao) Russel Alaba (extreme left) and DPSAI President Andrew Tan (right).

ABS-CBN’s Agri Tayo Dito host Ruben Gonzaga (center) join the purveyors of the Davao Pomelo Festival.

Friends delight in a pomelo eating session at The Fountain Court grounds of SM Lanang Premier.

In partnership with the Davao Pummelo Stakeholder’s Association, Inc. (DPSAI), SM Lanang Premier kicked off the Davao Pomelo Festival on a successful note in April. No less than Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang graced the event on behalf of Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, together with Councilor Al-Ryan Alejandre, Department of Tourism (DOT) Regional Director Robert Alabado, City Tourism Operations Officer Lisette Marques, and Dr. Lorna Herradura of Bureau of Plant Industry. REDD’s GI Consultant Peter Canary and ABS-CBN’s Agri Tayo Dito host Ruben Gonzaga were on hand to show support for the event. Meanwhile, SM officials led by SM Supermalls AVP for Marketing (Mindanao) Russel Alaba gave the guests a warm welcome.

Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang addresses the crowd at the opening of the Davao Pomelo Festival

SM Supermalls AVP for Marketing (Mindanao) Russel Alaba welcomes the guests

Sharing a pomelo toast at the launch were (from left) DPSAI President Andrew Tan, Councilor Al-Ryan Alejandre, CTOO OIC Lisette Marques, Nenita Farms (Tadeco) owner Victoria Floirendo Brias and SM Supermalls AVP for Marketing (Mindanao) Russel Alaba.

Leading Pomelo producers – Vic Farm, Tadeco Nenita Farms, Fe Felicilda, Sheba Marie Elefante, Helen Cabalida and Sarangani Agricultural Co., Inc. – retailed their best-tasting pomelos for the duration of the festival. As a treat for weekend visitors, Eat-All-You-Can pomelo promos were made available on Saturdays and Sundays.

Tourists and locals alike sample the pomelo varieties showcased at the festival — Festivalgoers of all ages gather at SM Lanang Premier for a taste of their much-loved pomelo.

Mallgoers were given the chance to witness free culinary demos on April 18, 19, 25 and 26 and get a taste of pomelo dishes and drinks. Featured chefs from Hukad, Hog’s Breath Café, Vikings, Chippens, Park Inn’s RBG, Center for Asian Culinary Studies, Institute of International Culinary and Hospitality Entrepreneurship, and Philippine Women’s College School of Hospitality Management showed audiences how they can concoct dishes and drinks with pomelo.

Vikings Executive Chef Anton Abad with Chef Richtofen Barraquias present their pomelo dish

Student Chef Patrick Ko from the Center for Asian Culinary Studies takes part in the Pomelo Dishes and Drinks Chef’s Demo

Braised pomelo pith with roast pork and shitake mushroom by Chef Chino San Jose

The Davao Pomelo Festival was SM Lanang Premier’s way of promoting the Visit Davao Fun Sale. It was supported by the Davao City Government, the Department of Science and Technology, the DOT, the Department of Agriculture, Department of Trade and Industry and REDD-Ltd “Sharing Knowledge for Ethical and Tasty Food.” As part of the DOT’s Flavors of the Philippines campaign, the Davao Pomelo Festival aimed to foster food tourism and generate more awareness and appreciation for one of Davao’s foremost fruits.

(PR & Photos by SM Lanang Premier)

Pomelo Fete & Culinary Delights at SM Lanang Premier

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