The Davao Culinary Cup is set to return for its 11th edition this June, bringing together aspiring chefs, culinary students, hospitality professionals, and food enthusiasts from across Mindanao and neighboring regions. The three-day competition will be held from June 18 to 20 at the SM Lanang Premier Atrium in Davao City.
During the PEPtalks press forum on Friday, May 22, Chef Raffy Yroma of the LTB Chef Association Davao Chapter announced that organizers anticipate more than 200 participants from schools, hotels, restaurants, and companies in areas including General Santos City, Cagayan de Oro, and Cebu City. “This competition is actually open to all the students who are under culinary or hospitality, even the resort, hotel, and restaurant,” Yroma said.
What began as a local culinary contest in 2015 has evolved into one of Mindanao's premier platforms for showcasing culinary talent. This year's competition will feature categories in Filipino cuisine, Western cuisine, plant-based dishes, pastries, cakes, seafood, poultry, and modern Filipino desserts.
Celebrity chefs and judges from Manila are also set to participate, including Chef James Antolin, Chef Brando Santos, and Chef Cheng, alongside Davao Culinary Cup founding president Chef Salome “Sally” San Jose. Organizers will also launch the Young Chef Philippines Mindanao Chapter during the event, targeting aspiring non-professional culinary enthusiasts aged 25 years old and below.
Yroma described the program as “one of the biggest projects” of the LTB Chef Association Davao Chapter, noting that it aims to give young culinary talents more exposure and opportunities to connect with the food and hospitality industry. Ahead of the competition, participants will attend a seminar-workshop on May 28 featuring Chef Brando Santos, focusing on plating, culinary techniques, and competition standards to help contestants prepare.
Yroma emphasized that the Davao Culinary Cup uses a standards-based judging system instead of the traditional contest format. For organizers, the event has grown beyond mere competition and now serves as a platform to promote creativity, discipline, and excellence while helping raise culinary standards in Davao and across Mindanao. The Davao Culinary Cup is supported by SM Supermalls, the Department of Tourism, local government units, and members of the local culinary community.
