Solane awards first Cuisinera Challenge Winner

The panel of judges (from left): Solane marketing manager Carisse Vendiola, Chef Edith Singian and research and promotions manager Valeri Batenga

The country’s favorite cooking gas Solane has crowned the first winner of Cuisinera Challenge: 30 Minute Easy Recipe, a search for the tastiest homemade dishes that won over judges during the cook-off event at The Cookery Place in Bonifacio Global City. 

The panel of judges, which included Solane marketing head Carisse Vendiola and promotions and research manager Valeri Batenga, was led by renowned chef Edith Singian while contestants came from as far as Cebu and Pangasinan. 

Addressing the contestants, Solane general manager for supply and operations Jaypee Gonzales said, “Solane goes beyond providing safe LPG tanks by helping budding cooks in their journey to concoct the most delicious homemade dishes. It is admirable that the finalists made it this far using technique and imagination to create wonderful dishes.”

Solane General Manger for supply and operations Jaypee Gonzales (left) and product and brand communications manager Ernest Loquinario

Out of 22 finalists, Maridel Pacleb’s original recipes emerged as the most outstanding entries in the competition. Pacleb presented the judges with two original culinary creations: For the Regional Dish category that featured native Filipino recipes, she concocted the Buttered Pork Tenderloin Adobo in Parsley Garlic Cream Sauce. Given the secret ingredient tablea in the Market Basket category, Pacleb served Chicken Roulade with Spicy Tablea Chocolate Sauce. 

She took home Best in Regional Recipe, Best in Presentation (Market Basket) awards, and the Grand Prize, which included P30,000 and a one-year supply of Solane LPG. Standout home recipes were also made by Fe Merluza (Best in Market Basket Recipe) and Joy Marie Crabajal (Best in Presentation – Regional Recipe). Other finalists were John Paul Lumiguen, Jac Abadia, Honeylyn Bonagua-Agulto, Leonidas Gabe Manayaga, Jelanie Tamayo, Denise Christine Gonzales-Bernardo, Maria Luisa Juanson, Perly Antido and Joemar Ray Castro, who also took home gift packs from Solane.

 Maridel Pacleb, the winner of the first Cuisinera Challenge

Fe Merluza, the winner of Best in Market Basket Recipe

Solane hopes to see more faces to promote food as the binding force of all families with the Cuisinera Challenge: 30 Minute Easy Recipe next year.