Map of Samar. INQUIRER FILES
TACLOBAN CITY — A groundbreaking culinary book series that captures the flavors, traditions, and untold food stories of Samar province has bagged international recognition.
“The Secret Kitchens of Samar,” a five-volume cultural and culinary series produced by the provincial government of Samar, bagged two major global awards—Best Book Series in the World and Best Regional Book in the World—at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards 2025.
The event was held from June 18 to 20 at the Estoril Convention Center in Lisbon, Portugal. The Samar Provincial Information Office announced the recognition on its social media page on June 21.
Established in 1995 by Edouard Cointreau, the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards celebrate excellence in food and drink publishing from around the world.
Often referred to as the “Oscars of the culinary book world,” the awards are open to all publishers and authors, regardless of language or origin. With participation from over 200 countries and regions each year, it is the largest and most inclusive competition of its kind.
This year, “Secret Kitchens of Samar” was the only winning entry from the Philippines—a feat that underscores the growing global appreciation for regional Filipino cuisine and culture.
“This victory is not just for Samar, but for every local cook, weaver, farmer, and family whose stories and flavors are woven into these pages,” said Samar Gov. Sharee Ann Tan, who received the awards in Lisbon alongside the book’s author, Clang Garcia.
More than just a cookbook, “The Secret Kitchens of Samar” serves as a cultural time capsule. It documents how food becomes a vessel for memory, heritage, and identity, especially in places often overlooked by mainstream narratives.
It also highlights the role of food tourism as a powerful tool for economic empowerment and cultural pride within local communities.
READ: Samar joins cruise tourism circuit, welcomes New Zealand ship
The series, developed with funding from the Tourism Promotions Board Philippines and technical support from the Department of Tourism – Eastern Visayas, is the result of extensive research, storytelling, and collaboration with communities across the province.
It showcases heirloom recipes, local cooking practices, indigenous ingredients, and the cultural narratives that shape Samar’s unique culinary identity.
In 2022, the provincial government of Samar officially tapped Garcia, a known tourism advocate and World Food Travel Association ambassador, to write “The Secret Kitchens of Samar” as part of its efforts to promote slow food tourism and cultural preservation under the Spark Samar tourism campaign.
Formally launched in 2023, the project involved extensive fieldwork across Samar’s municipalities, where Garcia documented traditional recipes, cooking methods, and the stories of local cooks, farmers, and artisans.
The collaboration was made possible through the support of the Tourism Promotions Board Philippines and in partnership with the regional office of the Department of Tourism.
Garcia described the international recognition as deeply personal.
“It was a moving moment to receive a special award recognizing the depth of my contribution to Philippine gastronomy tourism—something I never received in my own country,” she said.
The series’ cultural value was recognized by Gourmand Awards founder Edouard Cointreau, who praised Garcia’s work for preserving Samar’s culinary legacy and for elevating Philippine food tourism on the global stage.
“Congratulations to Ms. Clang Garcia for her ongoing and passionate contribution to food tourism in the Philippines,” Cointreau said during the awarding.
“Her work not only preserves Samar’s unique gastronomy but also celebrates the heart and soul of its communities through stories, recipes, and cultural traditions,” he added./mcm
