The Center for Culinary Arts (CCA) Manila hosted a one-day conference dubbed The Future of Food powered by Courage Asia. Discussed in the conference was a range of topics that give insight into improving not only the business side of the industry, but also looking back to traditions in search of ways forward.
This is further highlighted by the keynote address of Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda when she expounded on how food systems are threatened by climate change and how it can be possibly mitigated, “I believe we draw hope from the wisdom passed down by our ancestors, the resilience of their food systems, and the innovativeness of our people. The future of food is not just about what we eat, but what it went through and how we consume it.”
A little over a dozen speakers talked about sustainable practices that help food producers directly connect with restaurants, conservation of food cultures by passing on local traditions and understanding the rich diversity of the country’s local and indigenous ingredients, and elevating the dining experience through best practices and with the aid of new technology.
The future of food, especially here in the Philippines, calls for more supporters and practitioners to champion these advocacies to ensure that the legacy of the country’s rich culinary heritage will be passed on.
CCA’s Culinary Director and Culinary Advisor of Breville Philippines, Chef Philip John Golding focused on how Technology Trends in the Kitchen can build on CCA’s tradition of honing exceptional culinary talents, who can push the boundaries of gastronomy and elevate Filipino cuisine to new heights through smart technology.
“The technology that we now use are extremely relevant for the future,” Chef Golding highlighted some of the new tools that they are starting to use in CCA campuses, “digital kitchen or connected kitchen refers to a kitchen equipped with advanced technology and digital tools to enhance efficiency, productivity, and functionality.”
He elaborated further that by integrating digital and smart devices, it can streamline kitchen operations with its advanced software and systems and improve the cooking process.
“Some of these advanced features and components are already commonly found in digital professional kitchens; these include intelligent cooking appliances such as smart ovens, induction cooktops, sous vide machines, and smart refrigerators.”
Chef Golding explained that these appliances often come with built in sensors, connectivity features, and programmable settings to optimize cooking processes and ensure precise results. This is important most especially for professional kitchens that thrive on consistency with every dish that comes out of the counter.
His presentation featured the Smart Oven™ Air Fryer by Breville which can cook multiple different foods with different cooking techniques. Its Element iQ® System is a combination of technologies that allows heat to move around the oven when and where it’s needed to create the ultimate cooking environment. This enables, not only chefs and culinary professionals but also home cooks, to have repeatable and good quality results with ease and mastery.
Throughout the conference, attendees were treated to free-flowing coffee by Breville’s baristas, serving espresso, a humble cup of joe, or lattes elevated with the freshest milk from Emborg. Everything was made fresh and with ease through an array of Breville coffee equipment—from the precise grinding and dosing of the Smart Grinder Pro™, brewing craft filter coffee with the Precision Brewer™ Thermal, and for that specialty espresso with the Dual Boiler™ and silky microfoam milk for latte with the Bambino® Plus—all of which are great additions to a coffee-lover’s countertop.
During a panel discussion, a question was raised on how human labor is safeguarded with the rise of increasingly smart technology in the kitchen. Chef Golding aptly answered, “It’s not a threat.”
Being in the industry for decades, he has seen kitchens that were gloomy, hot, and sweaty. He also explained further that technology has allowed paving a more diverse workforce in the kitchen as equipment and appliances have become more manageable.
“We should embrace new technology, and it shouldn’t take us away from our core business of competency. We think it’s a huge plus, but we still need people to manage all these things for our industry.” This only emphasizes that any kitchen appliance or equipment, no matter how much it eases cooking processes, is still a tool for any chef or home cook who has the imagination to innovate in the culinary arts.
If you are looking for kitchen equipment that allows you to cook with more ease, while thinking of coming up with dishes that you haven’t tried cooking before, what you need is a smart appliance that can help you learn and understand more cooking techniques.
For more information about Breville’s products, visit their website here. You can also follow their Facebook, Tiktok, and Instagram accounts to keep updated on their releases and events.
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