The Farmers Market Culinary Showdown: Seafood Edition, one of the highlights of the month-long Araneta City Seafood Festival, brought together three culinary teams for an all-seafood competition on August 22 at Dampa, Farmers Market.

Our Lady of Fatima University (OLFU) emerged as Champion, mentored by two-time Michelin Guide 2026 Bib Gourmand awardee Chef Miguel Cabel Moreno.
 
 
World Citi Colleges won Most IG-worthy Dish, mentored by Chef Rhenner Alair, Chef de Cuisine of ibis Styles Manila Araneta City, and Chef Athena Tuble, Cluster Executive Chef of Novotel and ibis Styles Manila Araneta City. Jose Rizal University, mentored by celebrity chef Chef Sharwin Tee, took home Most Innovative Dish.
 
 

The competition featured two rounds that tested the teams’ creativity, speed, and resourcefulness. In the Appetizer Round, teams received mystery boxes with ingredients revealed only on competition day and had 60 minutes to plan, prepare, and serve their dish.
 
For the Main Course Round, teams had 20 minutes to shop at Farmers Market with a ₱2,000 budget, with Dampa vendors helping them navigate the market. They then had another 60 minutes to create and serve their seafood main course.
 
 

The entries were judged by Chef Kalel Chan, Chef Jocen Villongco, Chef Ryan Siapian, Chef Gale Tan Sun of Asador de Manila at World Kitchens, and surprise judge Ms. Jan Buenaflor. The showdown was hosted by Binibining Pilipinas 2nd Runner-up Tracy Mae Sunio and The Hungry Chef/Celebrity Chef Nathaniel Uy.
 
 

This event is part of Araneta City’s month-long Seafood Festival, featuring a series of events and activities throughout August, from hotels, cinemas, malls, and F&B establishments across the City of Firsts.