Renowned Colombian Chief Carolina Asmar was in town recently to grace the Elements of Flavor series of Discovery Primea’s Flame Restaurant.
This series encompasses a range of carefully planned events that embody collaborations between Discovery Primea’s culinary team and renowned local and international chefs. The goal is to create extraordinary dining experiences that push the boundaries of innovation and celebrate the art of flavors.
“We take great delight in introducing ‘Sabor Colombiano,’ an exquisite addition to our Elements of Flavor series at Flame,” shared David Pardo de Ayala, General Manager of Discovery Primea, proudly embracing his Colombian heritage.
“This event is a testament to our commitment to provide our guests with extraordinary dining experiences,” he added.
Asmar was on hand to meet with members of the media prior to serving an exquisite dinner that celebrated Colombian cuisine. Asmar is from Barranquilla, Colombia. Barranquilla is located near the Caribbean Sea and is the largest city and third port in the Caribbean Coast region.
“I prepared for you today the Patilazo. It’s a refreshing drink made of watermelon, lemon, basil or mint and a little bit of flavored soda. Today I made use of orange soda and this is drink is meant to quench your thirst on a hot day,” she explained.
She also prepared Bollitos de Maiz or Boiled Hominy Corn Rolls. Bollitos are a Colombian side dish that is popular in the Caribbean region. These hominy corn and cheese rolls are wrapped in corn husks, bananas or plantain leaves, and then boiled or steamed.
“I make a more modern version of Bollitos where I stuff them with chicken and coconut stew, crispy chicharon and a vegetarian eggplant treat,” Asmar said, adding that Bollitos make the perfect afternoon snack or merienda and goes well with a steaming cup of hot chocolate, infused in the Colombian style with cinnamon sticks and whole cloves.
“Colombia and the Philippines may be an ocean apart but we have so many things in common. We have seafood, meat, vegetables, fruits. We share the same flavors and there are so many more similarities,” Pardo de Ayala said.
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Caption: Chef Carolina Asmar from Barranquilla, Colombia recently cooked up a Colombian feast for Discovery Primea’s Flame Restaurant.
