The Ajinomoto® Umami Culinary Challenge - Now On It's 6th Year

{press release}
The annual Ajinomoto® Umami Culinary Challenge (UCC) 2015 is slated on Friday, January 30, 2015 at the Hall 2 of the SMX Convention Hall from 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM. On its 6th year, UCC organizer, Ajinomoto Philippines Corporation, puts together the best culinary teams from Luzon-Visayas-Mindanao in one (1) cooking arena to showcase their masterful culinary creations. UCC is the biggest, intercollegiate, multi-category culinary competition that focuses on the delicious potential of umami, the 5th basic
taste. The event attracts HRM and Nutrition students in 54 schools coming from NCR, Ilocos, CALABARZON, Central Luzon and Bicol Regions and regional winners from Visayas and Mindanao. 

Apart from the Luzon-Visayas-Mindanao Cooking Showdown, UCC 2015 features three (3) competition
categories: Best Filipino Umami Dish, My Own Umami Creation and My Eat Well, Live Well® Plate. The
competing teams will be judged based on intensity of their dish’s umami taste, culinary technique and
creativity, dish preparation and plate presentation. One of the major criteria is the Eat Well, Live Well.®
Cooking, which referred to culinary nutrition or the integration of culinary skills and nutrition knowledge
to create delicious and nourishing umami dish.
Winners will receive cash prizes: first place winners P10,000, second place winners P8,000 and third
place winners P5,000. National Showdown winners will receive PhP 15,000. Major prizes also include
gifts from UCC 2015 sponsors: La Germania, Solane, Fujidenzo and Masflex.
Ajinomoto® advocates culinary nutrition embodied in its slogan Ajinomoto® Eat Well, Live Well. Leading
technical experts in food, nutrition and medicine will also provide valuable insights to student-
competitors to solidify their background in culinary nutrition and educate them about umami and its
role in health and nutrition. Umami, the scientifically recognized and proven 5th basic taste alongside
sweet, sour, bitter, and salty, was first identified and isolated by Dr. Kikunae Ikeda of Tokyo Imperial
University in 1908.

11th Floor, V Corporate Centre, 125 L. P. Leviste Street,
Salcedo Village, Makati City, Philippines  

Ajinomoto Philippines Corporation (APC) is an affiliate of Tokyo-based Ajinomoto Co., Inc.Established in 1958, APC lives by its promise to provide consumers products that will always give the delicious taste to healthy and nutritious meals as embodied in APC’s slogan Ajinomoto® “Eat Well, Live Well.®” APC’s complete line of quality food and seasoning products are produced by international affiliates and local toll manufacturers using Ajinomoto’s license, quality standards and technological expertise. APC’s products include AJINO-MOTO® Umami Seasoning, Ajinomoto® Brand Ginisa Flavor Seasoning Mix, Ajinomoto® Brand Chicken Powder, PORKSAVOR® All-in-One Seasoning Mix, CRISPY FRY® Breading Mix, CRISPY FRY® Seasoned Crumbs, TASTY BOY® All Purpose Breading Mix, AJI-SHIO® Seasoning Mix, Ajinomoto® Brand Sinigang and FRES-C® Concentrated Powdered Drink Mix.

LIST OF SCHOOLS (AS OF JANUARY 27, 2015)

1. Academy Of Asia School Of Technology And Arts
2. Asian Institute Of Maritime And Studies
3. Benedicto College
4. Bulacan State University
5. Calayan Educational Foundation
6. Central Luzon Of College And Technology
7. Centro Escolar University- Malolos
8. Colegio De San Juan De Letran- Laguna
9. Colegio De San Lorenzo
10. College Of The Immaculate Conception
11. De La Salle University- Dasmariñas
12. De Los Santos Sti- College
13. Dominican College (San Juan)
14. Dr. Carlos S. Lanting
15. Emilio Aguinaldo College (Manila)
16. Facilities Management College
17. Far Eastern University
18. First Asia Institute Of Technology And Humanities (Faith)
19. Green Valley College Foundation, Inc.
20. Hercor College
21. Holy Cross Of Davao College
22. Jose Rizal University
23. La Consolacion Colleges- Tanauan
24. La Consolacion Colleges- Novaliches
25. Laguna College
26. Lyceum Of Subic Bay
27. Lyceum Of The Philippines University (Cavite)
28. Malayan College Laguna
29. Manila Tytana College
30. Mariano Marcos State University
31. Mariano Quinto Allarilla Polytechnic College
32. Mariners' Polytechnic Colleges Foundation
33. Metropolitan Medical Center-College Of Arts Science & Technology
34. Miriam College
35. Our Lady Of Perpetual Succor College (Olopsc)
36. Pamantasan Ng Lungsod Ng Marikina
37. Pangasinan State University
38. Partido State University
39. Perpetual Help College Manila
40. Philippine Cultural College
41. Phinma Araullo University
42. Polytechnic University Of The Philippines (San Juan)
43. Rogationist College
44. Saint Francis Of Asissi College
45. San Pedro College Of Business Administration
46. Southeast Asian College
47. St. Dominc College Of Asia
48. Tarlac State University
49. Technological University Of The Philippines
50. University Of Perpetual Help System Dalta-Molino
51. University Of Rizal System (Antipolo)
52. University Of Santo Tomas
53. University Of The East (Manila)
54. Wesleyan University Philippines