Last September 12, 2015, Saturday, a thousand of foodies participated in the Ultimate Taste Test 2015 at the Glorietta Activity Center in Makati. Organized by Anton Diaz of Our Awesome Planet and San Miguel Lifestyle Brews, this food tasting event gave food lovers a chance to become food critics for a day. Over 40 food suppliers consisting of home-based food businesses and new ventures joined and served mouth-watering new flavors to guests.
Ultimate Taste Test 2015
It was my first time to attend such an event, and I was floored with the many different selections of food available.
The mechanics are pretty simple. Each of us was given one plate and a spoon to be used for the entire food sampling duration, so part of the challenge was to keep the plate neat and clean after getting and tasting food from the first booth to the last.
We were also handed out the map of the activity area and the rating sheet where we had to rate the food supplier accordingly on a scale of 1 to 5 (1 being the lowest and 5 being the highest):
1 – Thanks, but it could be better.
2 – It is OK.
3 – We had a good time.
4 – I love it!
5 – Awesome! I would recommend it!
The Ultimate Taste Test 2015’s official results are not out yet, and everyone is excited to find out who got the highest ratings. Meanwhile, here are my personal top picks that scored a perfect “5” and won my heart completely. π
My Top 5 Picks at the Ultimate Taste Test 2015 (Glorietta Activity Center, Makati City)
1. Chocoliquor – Cakes by Maricar
“Imagine biting into a high quality chocolate bonbon then taking the smallest sip of excellent red wine, just enough to enhance the flavor. That was our inspiration.” – Maricar Reyes-Poon
The chocoliquor cake turned out moist and rich with a great chocolate flavor. It was delicately sweet with just a small hint of bitterness. The liquor’s taste was not too intense and overly done to overwhelm one’s tastes, so the cake can be quite friendly for both adults and children.
This cake has been featured before on Kris TV, and it rightfully deserved so. Presented in a gold tin/box, this alcohol-based cake is an awesome treat to the family or a gift for a friend. I’m surprised that prices are more on the affordable end:
3.5″ round gold tin – PhP 290 (required pre-order, minimum of 12 pieces)
6.5″ round gold tin – PhP 550
9″ Γ 8″ rectangle in gold box – PhP 850
To learn more about Chocoliquor – Cakes by Maricar, visit/like its Facebook page or contact 09178648282 to order/inquire.
2. Fisher Farms, Inc.
I knew I would love the Smoked Milkfish – Pure Belly Cut by Fisher Farms, Inc. just by the smell of it. π It was mouth-watering, especially with rice. What made it special are the facts that they use the most premium part of the bangus and virgin beechwood chips imported from Germany to create not only a juicy texture and robust smokey flavor of the fish but also make it chemical-free and safe.
This is also best recommended for those who don’t have the time to cook and prepare food, since the item is microwaveable and can be easily served in minutes. The Smoked Milkfish – Pure Belly Cut by Fisher Farms, Inc. doesn’t contain artificial ingredients and chemical preservatives. It’s healthy since it’s a good source of protein and Omega-3, has zero trans fat, and is free from gluten, casein, nitrites, and MSG.
Fisher Farms, Inc. also sells meaty fishy sausages without the strong fishy taste. Products are available in Rustanβs and S&R. For more info, visit their website.
3. Gelato Lab
The softness and smoothness of the gelato served by Gelato Lab definitely stood out. My favorite flavor was the Matcha Choco Chip. π Mixed with chocolate bits that added a contrast, the Matcha Choco Chip gelato was made from high grade Japanese green tea powder thus produced an authentic full-bodied flavor.
Others were also enjoyable and satisfactory. To achieve the Coffee Stracciatella gelato, Gelato Lab used premium Colombian beans to produce an intense, creamy taste of coffee without any acidity or bitterness. The beans were blended with thin bittersweet chocolate flecks, which perfectly complemented the richness of the coffee. To make the Mango Pudding gelato, real mangoes were used in the recipe and small mango bits were mixed in to add more juice to the bite. The Bailey’s Irish Cream had a unique taste of boozy flavor with just the right subtle touch of alcohol. Glorious!
Aside from these presented in the Ultimate Taste Test booth, Gelato Lab also offers a good range of flavors from classic favorites (like dark chocolate and strawberry) and interesting combinations (like almond mascarpone) to the unusual (like thai milk tea, or pumpkin spice) and liquor-based (like pina colada).
For more info, visit or like their Facebook Page.
4. The Beef Barn
My mom somewhat got addicted to going back a couple of times to The Beef Barn’s booth to relish their house specialty: the Roast Angus Beef with Wild Mushroom Sauce. Nothing could be more sinful and comforting than a huge chunk of fatty Angus beef smothered with a creamy wild mushroom gravy.
The beef was crusted on all four sides and it had that melt-in-your-mouth wow factor that’s worth a minor heart attack. π Indeed, the roast angus beef by The Beef Barn is a winner in our book.
For more info, visit its website.
5. Chivy & Co.
If you want to get the famous Tian Tian hainanese chicken rice without having to fly to Singapore, Chivy & Co. can get you covered. Chivy & Co. created a recipe that’s inspired from the original and thought that they could make it even better.
I can tell that they got it right. π How? They were able to retain the moisture and tenderness of the Sous Vide Hainanese Chicken and cook it in its natural juices perfectly. Three different types of sauces (ginger sauce, sweet soy sauce and chili sauce) were served together with the fragrant Hainanese rice. Absolutely delicious!
Wrap Up
The Ultimate Taste Test has been a fun event with something for everybodyβappetizers, mains, drinks, dessertsβyou name it. As stated by Anton Diaz of OAP, “it is impossible to taste all the food in one session.” My mom and I went back three times to the Ultimate Taste Test (UTT15) activity area to give rest to our stomachs and set a good pace. π In between, we walked from Glorietta to SM, SM to Greenbelt, Greenbelt to Landmark and then back to Glorietta.
We spent almost seven hours in the area and were happy to also spot some of our KTG friends. At the end of the day, we were able to taste and rate dishes from 40/49 food purveyors. Hooray! We can’t wait for the actual results. π
About Rochkirstin Santos-Sioco
Health and technology freak. Food and lifestyle blogger with a large appetite for food and travel.
DUDEEEEEE weren’t you able to try out the freaking Beignets of Kapeng Mainit?? The one filled with matcha!!! That was the bomb! Also, I do agree with you on GELATO LAB. In any case, it was fun seeing you and tita! See you guys soon all right ? Cheers dear P.S>>>> Grabe! 40!!!! I tapped out at less than 20 LOL! Cheers
Oh yes, I remember those matcha bombs so clearly since those pastries were the first ones we’ve tried upon entering the activity area. They’re great but I would prefer if they’re served either hot or cold and not in normal room temperature. Haha, it was also nice and fun seeing you with Jai. π I seriously am surprised to learn that you’ve only been through 20/49! Unbelievable!
The Beef Barn would probably be my favorite with Fisher Farm coming in a close second. I am not a huge fan of chocolate so I can do without it but it does look good
You have same preferences as my mom. She dislikes sweet stuff including chocolate and ice cream. Your top two choices are also her favorites. π
What a great event for foodies. I haven’t seen all the food, but I would have chosen all these, too. I am sure all those who attended went home with happy bellies. I would love to attend an event like this.
If you have a huge appetite to try something new, it would be a thrill to get to sample all the food in all 49 booths. This has been a great event. π I can’t wait to attend UTT next year!
As a foodie myself, this event looks so exciting and so interesting! I just attended a big event with lots of sampling and it can get overwhelming when you have to pick a favorite! Your top 5 picks look great!
Right. When you’re too full, you can’t even taste good cooking anymore. It’s best to walk around the mall or probably strike a conversation with other foodies in the event. π Thanks, Cindy!
I have never heard of an event like this!! That would be such a fun event to get to attend! I love to try new places to eat and foods I hope someone near us does a similar event! One plate and spoon would be hard to keep clean through the whole thing.
Yeah, the good thing was that the food suppliers provided tissue paper for us to clean our plate and spoon. Garbage cans were also everywhere to ensure proper food disposal. Join the UTT next year. π
Wow, this looks like an absolutely delicious and totally fun event. I also loved that they handed out score cards in an attempt to declare a winner. I have gone to some similar events in Chicago and I always wonder how they got our feedback.
I suppose tallying feedback from paper-based material can be tiresome and stressful. It’s fun to write on score cards and pretend to be a professional food critic once in a while though. π Whenever you have the chance, attend an event like this.
Wow, what an incredibly fun event to attend! I would stay all day at the cake and gelato booths but I have to admit, the roast beef looked so delicious! I may have to look up a local event to attend.
Haha. Actually the desserts were right in front of the area from the entrance. That was why we first sampled them before the “actual food.” Next time, we should read and understand the map better. π
I love going to food events and this one sounded like it was amazing. I was especially intrigued by the chocolate cake that was inspired by red wine (because red wine is amazing amiright?) Also, that amazing beef from Beefbarn looks SOOOOO yummy, if I was there they would have had to pry me off of that table!
The beef was high grade for sure. The cuts were perfect for quick bites. I bet this will be a total hit in parties and catering services. π
this looks like an amazing event to attend! How much delicious food did you get to try?! Everything looks so yummy! I love that these are all home food based companies!
We tried to finish everything but we could not find the other remaining 9 for some reason I don’t know. Anyway, it was a nice attempt to taste and rate all 40 of them. π
Wow! The Ultimate Taste Test looks AMAZING! I just can’t imagine how much fun it would be to eat my way through it! I love your top 5 picks! It makes me want to come to Makati for the next event! I am a huge fan of Gelato too!
The gelato flavors featured in the event were unique and homemade. I can still remember how the matcha tasted. The entire combination of sweetness and bitterness worked harmoniously. π
When is the Taste test in Glorietta? Is this annual?
Hi Justin. The UTT 2015 is the 13th taste test held last September 12, 2015, Saturday. It’s an anticipated annual food trip which enables food lovers to get to know the latest food offerings in the market.