The Chefs of Gerardo’s Batch 11 held a Degustación at the Cinco Niñas Restaurant along Gensan Drive, National Highway, Koronadal City, last August 1.

Degustación is a French term which means "a careful, appreciative tasting of various foods" and focusing on the gustatory system, the senses, high culinary art and good company.” This is the 7^th Degustación done by graduates of Gerardo’s.

Sixty tickets for the said event valued at Php. 900 were sold out within a few hours from its release in Koronadal City.

The dishes were created mostly by Batch 11’s chefs during their own Degustación in Gen. Santos City where they were divided into two groups of 8 chefs per group and they served twelve courses for 30 guests per group.

The Degustación at Cinco Niñas was more challenging simply because it was an off-venue event and the chefs had to consider HACCP throughout the entire time the food was prepared, transported then served.

Cinco Niñas, a new restaurant owned by the Sueno family in Koronadal City, was a perfect for the occasion. The restaurant is new, clean, very cool and cozy, and more importantly, it sets the ambiance for the fine dining experience.

The guests, mostly from the affluent and influential families of Koronadal, left very satisfied with the food and service provided by the restaurant and the new chefs.

Among the chefs who cooked the food is Chef Maripe Sueno-Duremdes of Batch 11. Chef Maripe is the topnotcher of Batch 11.

Degustación. The chefs and student-chefs belonging to Batch 11 (wearing toques) and Batch 12 (wearing skull caps) posed for posterity just a few minutes before the fine dining service started at Cinco Niñas Restaurant.

Gerardo’s and KCC Mall of Gensan entered into a partnership agreement giving KCC Discount and Privilege Card Holder 5% discount if they enroll in a certificate course, and 15% discount if they enroll in a recreational class.

The agreement was signed last month in connection with both company’s outreach programs-  helping the people of Gen. Santos City and Sarangani Province during this time of crisis.

Those who can avail of the discounts must be a holder of any KCC discount or privilege card.

Upon enrollment, the card must be presented to the registrar for acknowledgment and verification. This promotion will last until the end of the year.

          KCC MALL OF GENSAN

Mother’s Days Tributes.Photo shows Chef Gerry and Chef Faith in a series of demos for the benefit of the mothers who  were card holders of KCC Mall of Gensan.

Gerardo’s joined the celebration of the 8^th Yaman Gensan by conducting a Gumpaste Flower Making demonstration at The Atrium, Gaisano Mall of Gensan.

The demonstration benefits the cake decorators and gumpaste flower makers in Gen. Santos ang Sarangani Province, especially those who do not have the financial resources to enroll cake decorating courses or gumpaste flower making lessons.

The event was held in coordination with the Gensan’s SMED, and the Dept. of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Gen. Santos City.

Yaman Gensan is an annual activity spearheaded by the local government, the DTI and participated by the private sector to promote the small and medium size busineses based in Gen. Santos City.

GUMPASTE FLOWER MAKING DEMO AT GAISANO

Gerardo’s announces the opening of enrollment for Certificate in Culinary Arts Batch 13 set to start in October 18, 2010. 24 slots are available for this batch.

“This will be the last batch for the year”, according to Chef Faith, Gerardo’s training director. However, she added that due to the demand batch 14 will start in mid-January 2011.

                Gerardo’s  graduates are now deployed in various countries overseas like Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Australia, United Kingdom and the US.

                “Many more are set to follow within the year”, says Chef Faith, “and the good news is that we are now starting to deploy our students to jobs onboard international vessels.”

                “The reason why our graduates can easily apply  for jobs abroad is that we have an excellent and very strict training programs making our graduates fundamentally sound in all aspects of culinary arts”, she said.

 

THE SILVER ANNIVERSARY CAKE of former mayor now Congressman Jun andDoctor Rose Acharon features an elaborate gumpaste flower arrangement.

The cake was done by Gerardo’s. Some of the flowers will be featured duringthe free gumpaste flowers demonstration this coming July 2 in Gaisano Mall of Gensan.

                The demonstration is in line with Gen. Santos City’s Yaman Gensan activity which honors small and medium scale enterprises.

                Gumpaste flowers are edible sugar flowers that are often used as decors for wedding and birthday cakes. There are only three schools in the country that teaches gumpaste flower making, and only Gerardo’s is based in Mindanao.

                “It is actually expensive to learn gumpaste flower making, but because of the request of the Dept. of Trade and Industry and Yaman Gensan whose intention is to promote small businesses in our city, we’re offering this for free on July 2,” says Chef Gerry Arbis, the school president.

                “Those who want to learn must be at The Atrium of Gaisano Mall by about 1:30 as we’re expecting lots of participants because we have not offered this subject for over a year now and this time it’s actually for free… “ he added.

                Interested participants can may contact (083)552-8385 or you may go straight to the demonstration venue.