The Hotel, Resort, and Restaurant Association of Cebu, Inc. (HRRACI) is gearing up for Cebu Goes Culinary 2025, a two-day culinary showcase that starts today, September 26, 2025 at Sky Hall, SM Seaside City Cebu.
The event, co-organized with the National Food Showdown, will gather over 740 participants from professional and student categories competing in 17 events. The competitions, grouped into five clusters such as Battle Royale and Klasika Moderna Kulinarya, highlight Filipino heritage cuisine, local ingredients, and the drive to elevate everyday dishes to world-class standards.
“This is a venue for participants and establishments to showcase their skills and talents,” said Carmela Malagar, co-chair of Cebu Goes Culinary 2025 and HRRACI corporate secretary. “Guests can expect excitement, fun, culinary updates, and exposure to the rich local ingredients of the region.”
Heritage and innovation
With the theme “Balik Isla: Foraging the Philippine Countryside,” the event will immerse guests in heritage cuisine and reinterpretations using indigenous ingredients. Culinary schools, hotels, and restaurants are also expected to display their creativity through tablescaping, dessert decoration, and innovative food presentations.
The opening ceremony featured a chef parade, appearances by honored guests and tributes to culinary icons Glenda Baretto of Via Mare and Cebu’s own Madame Lita.
Opportunities for learning and growth
For HRRACI, Cebu Goes Culinary 2025 carries a clear message: Cebu is the culinary hub of the Visayas. The event is not only about keeping up with trends but also about recognizing and leveling up the skills of Cebu’s hospitality workforce.
For young chefs and students, the event is more than a competition. “It’s an opportunity to learn, build confidence, and widen their network by meeting mentors, suppliers, and future employers,” said Mia Singson-Leon, HRRACI President. “This exposure to new trends and techniques can be valuable in advancing their careers.”
Malagar added that the event allows participants to collaborate with national chefs and gain island-wide culinary exposure. The inclusion of the USDA Potato student competition, with a P20,000 prize, adds another layer of challenge and recognition for emerging talents.
Boosting Cebu’s culinary identity
HRRACI views Cebu Goes Culinary as a platform to showcase Cebu beyond its image as a leisure and beach destination. By highlighting both heritage dishes and modern innovations, the event reinforces the city’s identity as a culinary hub.
“Cebu has been hosting the biggest culinary event in the Visayas since the 1980s,” Malagar said. “Through Cebu Goes Culinary, we continue that tradition while levelling up our standards and showcasing our associates’ skills.”
The event also opens opportunities for global recognition. Competitions foster world-class standards, inspire sustainable and authentic food experiences, and attract international judges and collaborators.
The partnerships and collaborations needed to deliver CGC 2025 enabled chefs, restaurateurs, and food enthusiasts to collaborate and share ideas, potentially leading to further business opportunities in the foreseeable future, Singson-Leon explained.
“By celebrating Cebu’s rich culinary heritage while promoting innovation and sustainability, Cebu Goes Culinary can help establish the region as a must-visit destination for food enthusiasts and tourists worldwide,” she added.
At its heart, Cebu Goes Culinary champions sustainability and authenticity. By reviving heritage dishes, promoting foraging, and emphasizing farm-to-table practices, Cebu positions itself as a leader in eco-conscious gastronomy—a powerful draw for food-savvy, sustainability-minded travelers.
This year’s culinary event is co-presented by SM Seaside City Cebu and endorsed by the Department of Tourism Central Visayas. It is also made possible through the support of Platinum Sponsors Cebu Pacific, Equilibrium, Global Linens, Global Pacific, La Germania, and Solane; Gold Sponsors DPY Mercantile Inc., Haig & Lee, Nustar Resort and Casino Cebu, Plantation Bay, The Digital Hotelier, and Trade Offer Sales Co; and, Silver Sponsors All Year Home Products Inc., Bong Gre Corporation, Brother International, Converge, Diversey, Eastern Communications, Eastworld Sales, Ecolab, IFE Elevators, N2N Solutions Inc., TrustYou Pte Ltd., and Unisol.
The event’s donors include Allied Metals, Club Serena & Marina Seaview, Daikin, Delsan, DOT, Enderrun Colleges, GCash, HRS, Kitchenline, Linkbroad, PSWRI, Ramfire Engineering Systems, RISE, Sanden and Sunpride Foods Inc.
The benefactors include All Filipino Foods Inc., Belcris, CJLI Electro Mechanical Engineering Services, Clevermaster, Cornerstone, DITO, Don Revy, Fabtech, FoodSHAP Galaxy Traders, GHS, Golden Advance, Happy Living, Hive Rooms, Kings Quality Foods, MCRI Global Corporation, OMS WasteManagement, PMS PrimePower Network Inc., Qualpest Control Solutions, Sanitary Care, TAATS Marketplace, andTactical Security Agency.
Cebu Goes Culinary 2025 official tabulator is Mora, Sanchez, Meñoza Associates.
