Only from PH
TACLOBAN CITY – A groundbreaking culinary book series from the province of Samar has brought the Philippines into the global gastronomic spotlight after winning top honors at the prestigious Gourmand World Cookbook Awards 2025 held in Portugal.
The five-volume “Secret Kitchens of Samar” series, a comprehensive tribute to the province’s rich food heritage, clinched two major international awards—Best Book Series in the World and Best Regional Book in the World—at the awards ceremony held during the Cascais World Food Summit at the Estoril Convention Center in Lisbon from June 18 to 20.
Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan and book author Clang Garcia were present in Portugal to personally receive the awards, marking a proud moment for Eastern Visayas and the country.
“This victory is not just for Samar, but for every local cook, weaver, farmer, and family whose stories and flavors are woven into these pages,” said Governor Tan. “This is a tribute to our roots and our shared passion to preserve and promote Samar’s culinary soul.”
Authored by Clang Garcia, a tourism advocate and World Food Travel Association ambassador, the “Secret Kitchens of Samar” was a project spearheaded by the provincial government of Samar, with funding support from the Tourism Promotions Board Philippines and technical assistance from the regional office of the Department of Tourism (DOT).
Garcia said receiving the international recognition was both humbling and emotional. “It was a moving moment to receive a special award recognizing the depth of my contribution to Philippine gastronomy tourism—something I never received in my own country,” she said.
Out of over 200 participating countries and regions, the “Secret Kitchens of Samar” was the only winner from the Philippines, making the recognition even more historic.
Gourmand Awards founder Edouard Cointreau, who made the announcement at the Estoril Congress Centre, praised Garcia’s work as a “masterpiece” that not only preserves Samar’s unique gastronomy but also celebrates its communities.
“Congratulations to Ms. Clang García for her ongoing and passionate contribution to food tourism in the Philippines, highlighted by the launch of Secret Kitchens of Samar,” Cointreau ointreau said. “Your work honors the rich culinary heritage of the province and celebrates the heart and soul of its people through stories, recipes, and cultural traditions.”
The Secret Kitchens of Samar series serves as a cultural and gastronomic chronicle, documenting traditional recipes, cooking methods, and the everyday lives of people across Samar’s diverse towns. More than just a cookbook, it is a celebration of identity and resilience through food—placing the province and the Philippines on the global culinary map.
The Gourmand World Cookbook Awards, founded in 1995 at the Frankfurt Book Fair, is the world’s only international competition dedicated to food and drink publications.
It is open to works published in all languages and regularly attracts entries from around the world. Each year, it hosts a global symposium in a city of gastronomic significance, drawing top figures from the culinary, diplomatic, and publishing worlds.
With its recent international acclaim, Samar’s culinary legacy is now poised to reach more global kitchens, palates, and hearts.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
