The 16th Philippine Culinary Cup - A Recap

The 16th Philippine Culinary Cup, held from July 29 to August 1, 2026, at the SMX Convention Center in Mall of Asia, was a tremendous success! The LTB Philippines Chefs Association, in collaboration with WOFEX, proudly hosted this world-class culinary competition, making it accessible to chefs in the Philippines and the region.

Since 2010, the Philippine Culinary Cup has inspired Filipino professional and junior chefs, raising cooking standards nationwide.

The PCC is still recognized as the gold standard of culinary competitions in Asia!

This year's edition was the biggest yet, with the 4-day competition drawing over 1,200 competitors, officiated by chefs accredited by Worldchefs, the global association dedicated to enhancing culinary standards through education, training, and professional development.

This year's edition was made even more special by the presence of Worldchefs President Chef Andy Cuthbert and Vice President Dr. Rick Stephen, along with culinary luminaries such as Chef Tony Khoo of Singapore, Culinarian at Marina Bay Sands, and Chef KK Yau of Malaysia, Executive Director at Tropicana Academy.

We were honored to welcome back Chef Michael Strautmanis, who returned to personally award the Michael Strautmanis Scholarship Grant to a well-deserved winner. During the closing ceremonies, Chef Alan Palmer was also given a Special Recognition Award in acknowledgment of his contributions to the culinary community.

Congratulations to all the participants this year! Your hard work and talent made this milestone edition truly unforgettable.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributed to the success of the 16th Philippine Culinary Cup!