Six Germans were tasked to prepare and cook Lebanese, Argentine, Japanese, New Zealand and Philippine street food on a five-course challenge

PHOTO shows (from left) chef Maite Hontiveros-Dittke, chef Niklas Siebecke, Ambassador to Germany Ma. Theresa Dizon-de Vega, Caroline Glusa and chef Bulawan Callanta.

The mouthwatering puto bumbong, the inviting smell of bibingka, the appetizing palabok and the comforting tub of sorbetes — these are some of the most popular Filipino food that are plied on the streets.

These have made summers and Christmases unique and special for Filipinos.

As special and as unique as these are, how will these fare in the eyes and tongues of non-Filipinos?

Recently, German chefs in Berlin gave these Pinoy fare a try.

Metro, one of the largest supermarket chains in Germany and Europe, held its Metro Cup Young Chefs at the Metro Cooking Academy in the country’s capital city.

Six Germans were tasked to prepare and cook Lebanese, Argentine, Japanese, New Zealand and Philippine street food on a five-course challenge.

For the Philippine dishes, binaki and latik were picked.

Binaki is a dish popular in Bukidnon and Bogo in Cebu. It is a type of steamed corn sweet tamales wrapped with corn husks.

Latik, meanwhile, is the complimentary coconut-based sauce of suman, a Filipino gelatinous rice cake often wrapped in banana or coconut leaves.

Judges were chefs in Germany including Filipino-German chefs Bulawan Callanta of AYAN Street Food restaurant and Dusseldorf-based chef and food advocate Maite Hontiveros-Dittke.

Philippine Ambassador to Germany Theresa Dizon-De Vega awarded chef Caroline Glusa for making the best binaki and latik version. She received a native Philippine bag with Philippine cookbooks and food items.

The Philippine Embassy in Berlin continues to have a full slate of culinary-related activities for the rest of the year as part of its Culinary Diplomacy thrust.