SAN NARCISO, Zambales — A two-day culinary workshop was conducted here by the Department of Tourism Region III Office (DOT-R3) to strengthen the local food tourism industry and enhance the capacity of its stakeholders.

Organized by the Municipal Tourism, Culture and the Arts and Investment Promotions Office (MTCAIPO), in partnership with the DOT-R3 and the Provincial Tourism and Investment Promotions Office, the activity held on June 9 to 10 gathered 21 participants from local restaurants, cafès, and food stalls.

The Community-Based Tourism Kulinarya Workshop tackled food safety and handling, sanitation practices, and food business budgeting on Day 1 at The Tabernacle in Barangay La Paz.

In the workshop, resource speakers Chef Chloe Cauguiran and Chef Fran Pasco emphasized the vital role of local food in tourism development, and emphasized the use of “Pinggang Pinoy” to come up with balanced meals.

Pinggang Pinoy is a healthy food plate guide created by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-FNRI) to show the right food portions for each meal.

Participants said the lecture series inspired them to take pride in local flavors while continuously improving the type and quality of their products and services.

Day 2 held Selah Kampsite, meanwhile, focused on food preparation techniques, hands-on cooking demonstrations, and food service applications designed to enhance participants’ culinary knowledge, skills, and overall competence.

Cauguiran also discussed the HEART Method of customer service, emphasizing how the application of its principles can help stakeholders build trust, enhance service quality, and create meaningful and memorable experiences for visitors.

The HEART framework, which provides a step-by-step guide for handling complaints: Hear, Empathize, Apologize, Respond/Resolve, and Thank.

According to San Narciso Tourism Office, the Kulinarya workshop helped empower local entrepreneurs and strengthen the municipality’s food tourism industry.

Mayor La Rainne Abad-Sarmiento, who shared an inspirational message to workshop participants, said the training will help transform the local culinary heritage into a source of pride, as well as opportunity for tourism growth. – Taktikom News & Features