CHEF Aaron Joseph Gulinao of The Westin Manila has been crowned the grand winner in this year’s Barilla Pasta Championship Asia-Philippines competition.
Chef Aaron Joseph Gulinao with his winning Barilla Spaghetti in Alaminos Longganisa Ragu with Smoked Kesong Puti. THE WESTIN MANILA PHOTO
He will represent the Philippines alongside eight other top chefs in the Barilla Pasta Championship Asia Finals which will be held in November 2025.
The finalists also have the chance to embark on an exclusive culinary journey to Parma, Italy, immersing themselves in the rich traditions of Italian gastronomy.
This is the second year of the Asia championship where Barilla brings together talented chefs from across the continent to hone their skills, elevate their craft and celebrate the essence of Italian cuisine.
This year’s national competition received over 70 entries, with six shortlisted chefs participating in the finals held at De La Salle College of Saint Benilde.
Get the latest news
delivered to your inbox
Sign up for The Manila Times newsletters
By signing up with an email address, I acknowledge that I have read and agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Gulinao’s winning dish – Barilla Spaghetti in Alaminos Longganisa Ragu with Smoked Kesong Puti – has been inspired by his wife’s love for Alaminos longganisa, a Filipino pork sausage from Alaminos, Pangasinan, known for its savory and garlicky flavor.
The jury was composed of award-winning chefs from across Asia, including Andrea Tranchero, executive chef of Barilla Asia Pacific; Chef Margarita Marty, chairperson of the Culinary Arts Program of Benilde’s School of Restaurant and Institution Management or SHRIM; Chef Carlo Miguel, director for sports and socials at LTB Philippines Chefs Association; and Chef Othmar Frei, CEO of Werdenberg International.
Gulinao began his culinary journey at the Marriott Hotel in Manila.
He is currently a demi chef based at Westin Manila, a sister
company under the Marriott Group.
With nine years of experience in professional kitchens, his culinary journey is a testament to passion and pursuit of exellence, and Barilla has long been
a staple in his kitchen.
“To me, competitions like this allow me to express who I am as a Filipino chef. I appreciate the opportunity to share our local flavors on an international stage and even prouder to represent the Philippines in the regional finals,” he added.
Barilla’s signature pasta is crafted from a high-quality semolina blend, backed by over 145 years of pasta-making expertise and longstanding knowledge rooted in Italian traditions.
“Italian cuisine continues to be a staple in the Philippines, and we remain committed to collaborating with chefs to create recipes that truly resonate with Filipinos. We look forward to supporting their journey as they bring their masterpieces to the grand finals,” Tranchero said.
Visit https://www.barillaforprofessionals.com/global/pastachampionshipasia/ and inkedin.com/showcase/barilla-for-professionals- for more information.