Namyangju, 25 September ? As part of its efforts to promote Philippine culture, particularly Philippine cuisine, in South Korea, the Philippine Embassy in Seoul participated in the Namyangju Slow Life International Festival, an annual food festival that features special food table culture from over the world.

Under this year's theme "Food, City, and Health," this year's festival brought together participants from around 40 countries, including the special participation of wives of ambassadors who introduced dishes and food culture of their respective country at the Dining Share with Global Citizens Food Show, one of the main events of the festival.

Mme. Maria Ana A. Hernandez, spouse of Philippine Ambassador to South Korea Raul S. Hernandez, demonstrated to the audience of the Food Show how to cook the popular Filipino dish kare-kare, or braised ox tail in peanut sauce, and ginataang mais, or sticky rice and sweet corn with coconut milk.

"As most Koreans are already familiar with the Philippine adobo, I would like to introduce our kare-kare to the Korean audience this time," Mme. Hernandez explained when asked why she chose to prepare kare-kare.

After the cooking demonstration, some members of the audience were invited to taste the kare-kare and ginataang mais. The festival organizers also served calamansi juice and fresh lumpia to the audience. The Embassy's participation is timely as for many of the audience, it was their first time to taste Philippine food.

Apart from Mme. Hernandez, the Mesdames of the Embassies of Algeria, Azerbaijan, Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Slovakia, Spain, and Vietnam also participated in the said Food Show which was held at the festival's Gastronomy Tourism Experience Pavilion.

Organized by the Namyangju Slow Life International Festival Organizing Committee and hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and the Rural Affairs, this year's festival, which ran for 5 days starting 22 September 2017, promoted healthy eating and an eco-friendly lifestyle.

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