THE Marianas Visitors Authority has announced the food competition winners of the recently held Taste of the Marianas International Food Festival and Beer Garden.
The “Eskabeche” Cooking Contest was held on the opening day of the festival, Friday, Aug. 27.
“Eskabeche” is a fish dish with a vinegar-based sauce and fresh vegetables.
Nataline Kaneshi’s entry won the top prize, Samson Tan’s was second, Smoked Out’s finished third, and Andrew Songsong’s was fourth.
On Saturday, Aug. 28, the “Kadun Pika” Cooking Contest took place on the festival grounds at the Garapan Fishing Base.
“Kadun pika” is stewing chicken with garlic and other seasonings, including donne, the potent local hot pepper for which Tinian is famous.
This time, Smoked Out’s entry won first place, Pika Me’s was second, Samson Tans was third, and Yan’s Team’s was fourth.
On Sunday, a “Bunuelos Kamuti” Eating Contest was held, open to the first 10 registrants, 18 years and older.
The contest challenged participants to eat the most “bunuelos kamuti” in 30 minutes, or be the first to finish four pounds of the deep-fried dessert, a nod to the island of Rota which is well-known for this dessert.
George Cabrera came in first Ramon Rejano was second, Regino Ben was third, and Andrew Songsong was fourth.
“What we wanted to do is that we wanted to give a taste of the island of Saipan, a taste of Tinian, and a taste of Rota,” Marianas Visitors Authority Managing Director Priscilla Iakopo said in an interview.
“And we do that every year,” she added. “Unfortunately, we were not able to have a Taste of the Marianas last year due to the global pandemic…but I’m so overwhelmed [by the turnout this year]…there are so many participants.”
Iakopo said on opening day, roughly 4,000 people attended the festival.
This year’s festival was sponsored by Bank of Guam, IT&E, Bridge Capital, and Dave’s Electronics Center.
MVA would also like to thank the following agencies for their help and cooperation in making this year’s festival safe: the CNMI Covid-19 Task Force, the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp., the Bureau of Environmental Health, Alcoholic Beverage and Tobacco Control, the Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality, the Department of Public Lands, the Department of Lands and Natural Resources, the Saipan Mayor’s Office, the Saipan Zoning Office, the Department of Public Safety, the Commonwealth Utilities Corp., and the Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services.
Shayne Villanueva of Yan’s Team finished fourth in this year’s Kadun Pika cooking contest.
Chef Samson Tan fires things up during the Eskabeche cooking contest.
MVA representatives tabulate the judges’ scores in the Kadun Pika cooking contest.
Judges taste the dishes in the Kadun Pika cooking contest.
Miss Marianas 2021 Savannah Lyn Delos Santos poses for a photo prior to the Eskabeche cooking contest.
Chef Samson Tan came in third place in this year’s Kadun Pika cooking contest.
Pika Me to Win placed second in this year’s Kadun Pika cooking contest.
Smoked Out is this year’s winner of the Kadun Pika cooking contest.
