The International Food Exhibition (IFEX) Philippines has just celebrated its 10th edition with an even bigger show this year at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.

This 4-day event occupied both floors of SMX and showcased diversity, innovation and food trends from Asia and the rest of the world.  It is also an official parallel activity to the APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade (MRT) Meeting this May 2015. This biennial event was organized by DTI-CITEM.

IFEX badge and pass



APEC top brands showcase

Here are the highlights of our visit to the last day of the recently concluded Asia's Ethnic Food & Ingredients Show:


PHILIPPINES

What's not to love with this booth full of Guimaras mangoes? Truly the best mangoes in the planet!


An up and coming food company from Zamboanga, Deli Foodline, showcased their Calamansi juice and concentrate, as well as their Durian Jam.


Had a taste of the "smallest, tastiest and crunchiest mini cucumber" cultivated by Mam Dewi, who I learned had also graduated from UPLB.


Representing my city was Taguig Fish Processing Producers Coop. with their very innovative and healthy products like Fish Burger Patty and Fish Nachos. Had a chance to talk to Ms. Feli Trinidad, who told me briefly how she started the business from scratch and what her future plans are. Very inspiring woman!


For soy lovers, another dish to add to your list is Miracle Tofu Sisig made from 100% food grade and non-GMO soybeans.


This is also the first time I've heard of and seen the Batuan fruit (Garcinia binucao) which can be used as the base for sour soups like sinigang.


Of course, what's a food expo without the chocolates? Here are my favorites:

Malagos Dark chocolate! I have been seeing them everywhere and I just can't get enough of it. Sooo good!

Cacao de Davao's Durian Filled Dark chocolate, and 70% Dark chocolate organic coconut sugar in coffee, chili, and mint variants.


Choco Locco's Artisanal chocolates in Hazelnut, French Vanilla Coffee Bean, Spicy Chili, Cappucciono and Turmeric.



Mingo, a mix of moringa, rice, and mung bean, is a nutritional food innovation aimed to help children in deprived comunities and victims of natural disasters in the Philippines. Now that's one good advocacy!


Thanks Mama Sita's for using edible cups for sampling! This is my first time to eat one and hopefully this won't be the last that we see this in food expos. If you're wondering what it tastes like, think ice cream cone.


Who would've thought you can do so much with oyster mushroom?



Next time I want to try cooking these vegetable noodles from Healthy Rich. They have variants in Carrot, Saluyot, Spinach, and Squash. 

Had a chance to taste the honey from Milea Bee Farm's Native Stingless Bees. Instead of the traditional sweet taste, their honey has that distinct sweet and sour flavor to it.


Look at these giant sea creatures! Would you want to eat them? Quite scary!



JAPAN

 Made from processed cheese, Candy Cheese comes in the following variants: Black Pepper, Almond, Plain, and Wasabi (not shown in photo).


Assortment of products from Darumaya Japanese Foods Center which includes but not limited to: sake, matcha, gluten-free soy sauce, sesame salad dressing, and Kenko. Visit them in Cartimar, Pasay for your Japanese food needs!




THE MANILA GUSTO GALLERY: Food for the soul

Located in the second floor of SMX, this exhibition is designed by Detlef Klatt, a renowned German master florist and designer. It showcases "select Philippine specialty and artisanal food products that evoke heritage, provenance, authenticity, quality, and uniqueness in inspiring and modern tablescapes of graceful elegance and sophistication."


Pick your poison from these up and coming alcoholic beverages: Intramuros Liquer de Cacao, Manille Liquer de Calamansi, Manille Liquer de Dalandan, Ginger Beer, Better Common Mojito, COO PCR, and COO Aviation.

No one can deny how visually appealing this presentation of herbs in their leaf and powder form are. Some of the samples include: Lagundi powder, Malunggay leaf flakes (Moringa), Oregano powder, Ginger powder, Ampalaya powder, Guyabano leaf, and Turmeric powder. 


Truly the uses for coconut is endless! Here we can see coconut transformed into: coconut flour, coconut chips, dessicated coconut, toasted coconut chips, and coconut sugar. 


Look, touch and smell different coffee in its raw state: Wild Civet Robusta, Hineleban coffee, Instant Rice coffee from Ilocos Sur, Liberica (Barako), Monk's blend premium coffee, and Cavite Excelsa.


The Original Cookie Sticks by Aretei Foods Corporation and Slurp's Coffee Fuel and Cold Brew, all featured in Red Box Food at the 2nd floor.


 This made me remember one of my subjects in Food Science where we made different variants of ketchup. Are you willing to try McNester's Mango Ketchup and Kusina Klassics' Kalamansi Hot Sauce?

They say we Filipinos can't live without rice, but have you ever tried other variants of rice beside the white one? Some of the displayed are Organic Black rice, Organic Red rice, Organic Brown rice, and Balitanaw rice (from the Mt. Province).



Other sections found in IFEX are the following:

For more information, head on to IFEX Philippines website.

It's been awhile since I've last visited a food expo and I must say that we were quite impressed not just by the emerging and innovative products that we've seen and sampled in IFEX but also with the design of the whole exhibition. It was well-spaced and styled artistically. Makes me excited for the next installment on 2017!

How about you? When did you last visit a food expo? How was it? :)