Africa-Press – Angola. Mixed quizaca with beans, grilled mabangas, lamb and corn funge served with leaves and okra centered attention at the food fair in zone B, on the outskirts of the city of Benguela.
In a joint organization of the Municipal Administration of Benguela and the Refriango group, the gastronomic fair aims to dimension the program of parties alluding to the 406th anniversary of the foundation of the city of Acácias Rubras, to be marked on the 17th of May.
The winner of the event was young Emérita Buete, representative of zone D, with 48 points, one of the seven participating women entrepreneurs who are dedicated to making food both at home and in informal markets.
Indeed, Emérita Buete presented an innovative suggestion based on an exotic dish: a fish stew served with white rice, called “Mukeka” in Kimbundo, grilled mabangas (seafood) and a very small pudding.
In the immediate places, cooks Kiakumbeta António, zone F, with 46 points, Maria Helena, zone E, 44 points, Maria Coimbra, zone A, 40 points, and Isabel Aurélio, zone D, with 31 points.
As for the category of dish prepared with Tigra beer, the winner was Maria Coimbra, followed by Beatriz Santos and Maria Helena.
After announcing the results, the winner, who reconciles her professional life with gastronomy, said that she fell in love with Angolan cuisine since she was nine years old and now aims to contribute to the rescue of the country’s gastronomic identity.
Regarding the menu presented to the jury, the young woman said it was a dish with an exotic flavor that originated in Angola, but which has become very popular in Brazil and Portugal.
“I investigated that the dish was created in Angola, but our culture is forgetting about these dishes”, he said, arguing that it is necessary to rescue the country’s gastronomic culture, as many of these Angolan-style dishes have already been adopted as if they were original. from Brazil and Portugal.
By the way, the president of the Benguela Hospitality Industry Association, Jorge Gabriel, who headed the jury, recognizes that, from what he witnessed at the fair in zone B, Benguela continues to be self-sufficient in terms of gastronomy and restoration.
“I’m surprised by what I saw on the periphery. Very good quality and hygiene in the preparation, contrary to what we sometimes see in the squares”, she pointed out, for whom it was quite difficult to find the winner.
In his view, the Zona B gastronomy fair proved that it is necessary to work harder to publicize what is ours.
For his part, João Calete, head of the Provincial Department of Tourism, recognizes that it is necessary to promote what is done on the periphery, as Benguela is a tourist destination par excellence and many people come to taste the local cuisine.
He also explained that the seven participants from different areas, that is, communes in the municipality of Benguela, were able to demonstrate various categories from typical Angolan dishes, to creativity and international cuisine.
“We had very strong competition”, he assumed, assuring that the ladies who carry out this type of activity, at the market or at home, are very good with regard to the way of preparing and presenting the dishes made.
The person in charge assured that zones A, D and C will also hold gastronomy fairs and, with that, a final winner will be found, whose prize will go to the company Refriango as sponsor of the event.
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