Judy Ann Santos, Ninong Ry, other chefs take part in Gordon Ramsay's 10-minute 'MasterChef' challenge in Manila
Gordon Ramsay made his Philippine visit unforgettable with a mini cook-off with Pinoy chefs like Judy Ann Santos and Ninong Ry, who impressed the world-renowned culinary expert with their own takes on halo-halo using secret ingredients.
After chatting with the Filipino crowd in Pasay City on Monday, Jan. 20, Ramsay surprised the audience by transforming the stage with a set resembling that of his iconic cooking reality TV show MasterChef.
The participants included celebrity chef Judy Ann Santos, food influencer Ninong Ry, culinary student Danica Lucero, and Gordon Ramsay Bar & Grill PH head chef Bea Therese Qua, who were given only 10 minutes to "put together the most amazing halo-halo."
After greeting each contestant, the chef, in true Gordon Ramsay fashion, jokingly told Qua, "You cannot lose this. If we lose this, we're screwed."
Qua opted to include Asin Tibuok, a rare artisanal sea salt from Bohol, to make her halo-halo more exciting with its fruity and smoky flavor.
Santos, who recently completed a professional culinary program at the Center for Asian Culinary Studies, meanwhile, decided to spotlight black sesame polvoron. "I have black sesame polvoron with me already. I'm gonna put it in the middle and I'll put some on top so [there would be a] balance [between] the saltiness and the sweetness from the polvoron. There's also a bit of salt on it, so it's not gonna be that sweet," she explained to Ramsay.
"It's good. It's really good. I love it. That's interesting," Ramsay told Santos after getting a taste of what she made.
Ninong Ry added some coco jam to his own version of the Pinoy dessert. "I think it goes very well with dairy and all the other ingredients," he said.
"Amazing, amazing. Just one request: Keep that hair out of your halo-halo," Ramsay told him, drawing laughs from the crowd.
What stood out at the cooking challenge was Lucero's version, which combined Kamias compote with a mixture of nata de coco, sago, macapuno, leche flan, evaporated milk, and coconut cream.
According to Ramsay, Lucero's take on the halo-halo "had an edge."
"That separates it in terms of the contrast and the balance," Ramsay said as he announced Lucero as the winner of the mini Pinoy edition of MasterChef. "Congratulations! Job well done."
The event was held at Newport World Resorts, gathering over a thousand industry makers in the country—from F&B leaders, chefs, and food influencers to foodies, culinary students, and fans. During his Manila visit, Ramsay revealed he's looking to open three more restaurants in the Philippines. He also talked about his culinary journey as well as the success of his first restaurant in the country: Gordon Ramsay Bar & Grill.
Newport World Resorts Chairman Kevin Tan announced the arrival of Gordon Ramsay Bar & Grill in the Philippines in November 2023. It officially opened to the public on Aug. 31. You can have a glimpse of the restaurant and some of its food items here.
Ramsay is a multi-Michelin-starred chef who has opened various restaurants in different parts of the world. He’s best known for cooking shows such as Kitchen Nightmares, Hell’s Kitchen, Hotel Hell, and MasterChef.
