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Who won the sweet showdown? Four pros battle it out for chef Gordon Ramsay's seal of halo-halo approval during his visit to Manila
MANILA, Philippines – Among the many goals Gordon Ramsay had in mind during his Manila visit was to judge who could make the best halo-halo in under 10 minutes.
Whose creation reigned supreme — YouTube creator Ninong Ry, celebrity chef Judy Ann Santos, culinary student Danica Lucero, or Gordon Ramsay PH head chef Bea Qua’s?
FOUR culinary powerhouses competing for Chef Gordon Ramsay’s seal of halo-halo approval. – All photos by Paul Fernandez/RapplerThe global icon graced the Newport World Resorts Theater stage for an exclusive event on Monday, January 20, to discuss the success of his restaurant’s Philippine expansion and simulate a fun mini MasterChef Halo-Halo challenge with four local F&B professionals in front of a cheering crowd.
Ice to meet you
The curtains revealed a convincing simulation of the competitive kitchen setup, with each contestant presenting their own take on the classic Filipino dessert to Ramsay. Each contestant was allowed to have a secret ingredient up their sleeve to make their creation stand out.
RAMSAY asking Judy Ann Santos about her secret ingredient. Actress and chef Judy Ann Santos came in strong with her twist on halo-halo, featuring black sesame polvoron, which she put in the middle and top of the dessert, to give it that “balance of sweetness and saltiness.”
“I’m caramelizing plantains with butter,” she told Ramsay over the stove, just like she was giving a live cooking masterclass.
Her concoction of black sesame polvoron, nata de coco (fermented coconut juice), coconut milk, evaporated milk, leche flan, cubes of cheese, and sweetened jackfruit immediately impressed Ramsay.
HARD at work, the celebrity chef and former MasterChef Pinoy Edition host Judy Ann Santos calmly showed off her skills.“It’s good, it’s really good. I love the black sesame,” he said with a grin, followed by Judy Ann squealing in delight.
JUDY Ann Santos was quick to fangirl over her celebrity chef idol. Judy Ann was the former host of MasterChef Pinoy Edition from 2012 to 2013. When Ramsay mentioned this to her, she replied: “I always watch the show with my kids. They just love you so much and I do too. It’s a thing we bond over.”
“I love that,” Ramsay responded with a warm smile.
On the other end of the kitchen, content creator Ninong Ry (Ryan Morales) took a bold approach with his coconut jam, infusing the icy milk with it. He shared that it “goes well with dairy and the other ingredients” and it’s “very accessible.”
NINONG Ry explaining to Ramsay why he chose coconut jam as his secret ingredient. “Keep that hair out of your halo-halo!” That’s a very long ponytail, goodness me,” Ramsay quipped in his signature banter style, referring to Ninong Ry’s iconic hairstyle.
“Is [this recipe] from your mother or grandmother’s side?” Ramsay asked, to which Ninong Ry humorously replied, “Uh, no, it comes from me.”
“Confident you’ll win?” Ramsay asked. Ninong Ry responded with a deadpan “no,” followed by laughter from the crowd.
THE YouTube content creator is known for his accessible and easy-to-do recipes, coupled with approachable Pinoy humor. After taking a sip of Ninong Ry’s creation, Ramsay was shocked by its sweetness. “Shit, that is sweet! Oh my God!” To which Ninong Ry responded with a grin, “You have to mix it, that’s why it’s called halo-halo.”
TAKING a sip, Ramsay immediately commented on how “sweet” the treat was. Ramsay joked, “I can feel my arteries jamming up!” as he took another sip.
Danica Lucero, a culinary student from CCA Manila, brought a kamias compote, made from the sour Filipino fruit, which added a tangy element to her dish.
RAMSAY asking culinary student Danica Lucero about her usage of kamias. “Visually, it looks beautiful,” Ramsay said, followed by his seal of approval for her creation, which also featured nata de coco, sago, macapuno, leche flan, and a blend of evaporated milk and coconut milk.
Gordon Ramsay PH’s head chef Bea Qua’s creative take used cane sugar (“instead of white or brown sugar,” she said) and mango ice cream. She also utilized the rare tibuok salt from Bohol, known for its fruity and smoky flavor.
RAMSAY joked that Head Chef Bea Qua couldn’t lose the competition, or else! Say ‘halo’ to the winner
In just a few minutes, a winner is announced — it was CCA culinary student Danica Lucero!
AFTER being crowned the winner, Lucero was congratulated by the rest of the participants and Ramsay himself. As the crowd cheered, it was clear that the gimmick was not just about friendly competition or food — it was about bringing people together, honoring Filipino culture, celebrating regional ingredients, and pushing for innovation, through the lens of a renowned culinary icon. – Rappler.com
