Feast for the senses at the very first Yummy Eats

May 21, 2011--the date I blocked off my calendar, turned out to be a well-worth it day. It happened last Saturday (as of posting time) at the NBC Tent, The Fort, Taguig City with a turnout worth noting. We arrived a little past 2 PM and the crowd was still building, even that late in the day. Yummy Eats was for us to explore, and that we did!

When I say "feast for the senses," I mean it literally. The Yummy Eats event is a place where one can submit his  physiological capacities for some perception exercises.

Feast for the eyes

One of the more obvious things about Yummy Eats has something to do with the enormity of the venue. Choosing NBC Tent for a venue means the gather to be held means business--or something else. The place was packed with people and food stalls lined both ends of the Tent. We weren't as lucky as most people who were able to be there for the opening of Yummy Eats but that didn't stop us from enjoying the whole thing. 

Mochiko's chewy frozen delights!

It was hard to ignore the different food offerings by the many stall owners, and their grand food presentations. To not notice all the food around you is to fake being blind. 

Feast for the taste buds

As it was a food event, featured businesses had plenty of free samples to give to participants of Yummy Eats. It wasn't an all-sweets food event so there were to choose from: quiche to cakes, yogurt to ice cream, etc. In fact, it was such an experience that I often had to wash my mouth to rinse it free of the different flavors swimming inside it. 

 Quiche by Simply Pie

Vodka Tinapa by Jaq's Kitchen

Original chicken chops by Big Daddy's Chicken

My personal favorites include the quiches of Simply Pie, the Vodka Tinapa of Jaq's Kitchen, the original chicken chops of Big Daddy's Chicken, the gummy snacks of Mochiko, and a few others which I shall mention in the future. 

Feast for the ears

The moment we reached NBC Tent, loud booms and the sound of chatter filled the air. I realized it won't be a simple, quiet bazaar given the music. True enough, it was hard to miss the sounds echoing inside the venue. Activities seemed to have no end and that ultimately translated to perpetually preoccupied auditory organs. 

Aside from the loud music, you'd hear people comparing their favorites.

But apart from the loud music, it was also a treat listening to the stories being shared by stall owners. It is always interesting to hear the background behind the food being served to you, where the passion came (comes) from.

Feast for nose

The different dishes and snacks had their own aromas working for them during the Yummy Eats event, just as how people would wear scents to attract others. What came with the appetizing food presentation was the even more hard-to-resist aroma that the various food options gave off. 

It was heaven. I knew was at the right place the moment I picked up the smell of fresh cheese, roasted pork, and spicy dishes. I could've stayed the whole day only if I had time. 

Feast for the heart

To have attended food bazaars before Yummy Eats, comparisons are impossible to not have. I have been to a few food bazaars in the past and although there are those that got my thumbs-up, there are still those that didn't quite leave a lasting impression on me. Yummy Eats was different in its own right, or at least that's how I'd like to see it. 

Bringing love from their Batangas farm to the busy Yummy Eats tables. She says their food are as nourishing as they are yummy.

What I liked about the Yummy Eats event is the effort and enthusiasm that was invested into it. It's easy to put up a food bazaar so long as you have participants, both stall owners and attendees; true, but there should always be that 'heart factor' for it to be successful. 

Jaq's Kitchen's very own mother and daughter tandem. Catch them at Salcedo market!

If the organizers believe in their event, participants will too. I witnessed how ecstatic the stall owners were whenever they had to talk about their products and their business. "It's not just about profiting from it, really. It's about seeing people's happy smiles after trying your food," says a stall owner with an unpretentious smile.

I can safely say that I enjoyed the Yummy Eats event because I left with a heavy tummy and a grin on my face. Also, I had the chance to see people I know who share the same love for good food. And now, I await Yummy Eats 2. Maybe next year? 

Miscellaneous shots