Tourism is undoubtedly one of the key economic drivers of Cebu and it continues to be ravaged by the pandemic. Because of this, stakeholders of the tourism industry, most especially the food and beverage sector, have stepped up and come together to stage the first Cebu Food and Wine Festival.
The Cebu Food and Wine Festival is a movement to create an alliance amongst the industry players with one goal in mind – to once again enliven the pandemic-ravaged hospitality, tourism and culinary scene of Cebu. Organized by the Ministry of Food and Wine, a nonprofit organization created to assist in implementing a road to recovery project for local hotels, resorts and restaurants and allied industries, the first Cebu Food and Wine Festival is slated on April 18-May 2, 2021.
The two-week festival is set to open on April 18, 2021 with a Grand Reception Beach Dinner to be held at Crimson Resort and Spa where guests can savor numerous Brunch action stations along with sparkling wine, Rose and unique cocktails by the beach. Meanwhile, a Grand Finale Dinner is set to close the festival at El Viento, Marco Polo Plaza Cebu on May 2 where guests will get to savor a variety of tasty treats by special guest chefs in distinct action stations. Curated pocket events will be held in between, including a Farmers’ Market that will run for 2 Saturdays, where local farmers are invited to sell their fresh produce directly to consumers.
Restaurateur Kate Dychangco-Anzani of the Anzani group, who leads the CFWF, said that the festival is “a recovery project for the hospitality industry”, especially for the farmers and the people on the grassroots who are the worst-hit by the pandemic crisis. She added that it is now time to rise from the ashes, and that everybody needs everyone.
The event is organized in cooperation with the Department of Tourism, Cebu City Tourism Commission, and more than a dozen trade partners, coinciding with the 500th Quincentennial celebrations in Cebu.
For more information about event schedules (cooking classes, wine tastings, pop-up dinners, seminars, tours, etc.) and rates, visit www.cebufoodandwinefestival.com