Sunya Thadathanawong from Thailand wins “The Amazing Food Challenge: Fun in The Philippines 2”

Asian Food Channel awards grand prize of USD30,000 in cash and prizes to winner of reality competition series.

On Thursday, 19 February at 9.00pm, the Asian Food Channel (AFC), part of the Scripps Networks Interactive family of lifestyle media brands, unveiled the winner of The Amazing Food Challenge: Fun in the Philippines 2 (AFC: FITP 2). The reality competition series, which was produced in collaboration with the Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Tourism Promotions Board Philippines (TPB), saw 10 new contestants travel across the Philippines, competing in physical and culinary challenges for USD50,000 worth of prizes.

In the highly anticipated finale, Sunya Thadathanawong from Thailand and Alec Wing from Mauritius went head-to-head in a heated cooking showdown. Their challenge – to use all the knowledge that they have learned throughout the program to make a traditional Filipino dish, and prepare it for 50 guests! The judges also threw in a last minute challenge, tasking both contestants to make an additional dish using only the ingredients they had on hand.

Sunya cooked a local favorite, adobo (vinegar chicken) and sinigang (sour tamarind soup with chicken and vegetables), while Alec cooked hipon sa aligue (prawns in crab fat) and sinuglaw (fish ceviche with grilled pork belly). In the nail-biting final deliberation round, due to his impressive skill and flavorful dishes, Sunya was crowned the winner and awarded the grand prize of USD30,000 in cash and a 3 day 2 night travel package to the Philippines. As runner up, Alec took home USD6,000 and a 3 day 2 night travel package to the Philippines.

When asked about his victory, Sunya said, “Winning Amazing Food Challenge: Fun in the Philippines 2 is one of the best things that has ever happened to me! I will never forget all of the exhilarating places that I visited and the wonderful people I met. I hope that viewers enjoyed watching the program on AFC and will take the chance to experience the Philippines for themselves.”

CheeK, Head of Creative, Content and Marketing Scripps Networks Interactive, Asia Pacific said, “We are thrilled to have partnered once again with Philippine Department of Tourism and the Tourism Promotions Board Philippines for the second season of Amazing Food Challenge: Fun in the Philippines 2. The program received very positive feedback and we are heartened by the enthusiastic response. We look forward to entertaining our viewers with more unique and fresh lifestyle concepts in 2015.”

The Amazing Food Challenge: Fun in The Philippines is hosted by Malaysian celebrity, Sherson Lian and resident judge, Chef Rolando Laudico from the Philippines. For more information on the program, please visit www.asianfoodchannel.com/afcfoodchallenge2.

About The Asian Food Channel

The Asian Food Channel (AFC) is the region’s leading food-focused channel that celebrates the unique Asian culinary experience with the added touch of global flavor. Launched in 2005, AFC was the first dedicated food television channel to broadcast pan-regionally. In 2013, Scripps Networks Interactive acquired AFC and included the channel into their wide portfolio of media brands. Today, AFC provides a healthy mix of both local and international content in a variety of formats, 24-hours, in 12 territories on many major pay TV platforms across Asia.

AFC entertains viewers with a range of local and international content from reality, lifestyle to travelogue program formats. AFC believes in celebrating the rich history and story behind Asia’s most beloved cuisines and continues to grow its library of originally produced Asian content, breaking boundaries with new and exciting programs such as The Big Break, Amazing Food Challenge and Great Dinners of the World.

AFC’s online presence continues to grow, with a popular website and Facebook page (over 1.7 million likes). AFC’s active social media presence has created a vibrant community where users can learn more AFC’s program offerings and interact by sharing their personal recipes. 

AFC is currently on:

- SkyCable Channel 22 (Philippines)

- Dream Satellite TV Channel 27 (Philippines)

- Cignal Channel 26 (Philippines)

- Destiny Cable Channel 71 (Analog) and Channel 22 (Digital) (Philippines)

Go to www.asianfoodchannel.com for more information.

About Scripps Networks Interactive

Scripps Networks Interactive (NYSE: SNI) is one of the leading developers of engaging lifestyle content in the home, food and travel categories for television, the Internet and emerging platforms. Its lifestyle media portfolio comprises popular television and Internet brands HGTV, DIY Network, Food Network, Cooking Channel, Travel Channel and Great American Country, which collectively reach more than 177 million U.S. consumers each month. 

The company’s international unit, Scripps Networks International, distributes five network entertainment brands including Asian Food Channel, Fine Living, Food Network, HGTV, and Travel Channel in more than 170 countries and territories across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Asia-Pacific and Latin America, and also holds joint-venture relationships with UKTV in the UK and Shaw Media in Canada.  The division manages the company’s international program licensing that makes its high-quality content available in more than 220 countries and territories.  Scripps Networks International is headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, and New York City, with regional offices in London, Singapore and São Paulo. 

For more information, please visit www.scrippsnetworksinteractive.com. 

About Philippines Board of Tourism

The Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) is the primary government agency charged with the responsibility to encourage, promote, and develop tourism as a major socio-economic activity to generate foreign currency and employment, and to spread tourism benefits to both the private and public sectors.

It aims to make accessible travel destinations, create better and affordable tourism products, promote tourism culture among locals, and increase recognition of tourism as an effective and efficient tool towards socio-economic development of the Philippines.  These are achieved thru the generation of foreign currency and employment; spreading of tourism benefits to a wider segment of the population with support, assistance and cooperation of both private and public sectors; and ensuring the safe, convenient, enjoyable stay and travel of foreign and local visitors in the Philippines.

For more information, please visit www.itsmorefuninthephilippines.com.

Visit the Philippines Year 2015

Visit the Philippines Year (VPY), is an invitation for all to experience the enduring promise of “It’s More Fun in the Philippines”. Encouraging nationwide participation, DOT hopes to inspire 10 million foreign tourists to discover, explore and fall in love with the Philippines.

VPY 2015 aims to have one major occasion every quarter that would attract not only domestic but also international tourists to visit the country. Known for its people’s competitive spirits and love for arts and music, the Philippines plays host to international sporting events such as Iron Man, and CWC International Wakeboarding Competition, as well as hosts’ events such as Sinulog and MTV Music Evolution. 

The tourism department sees this as a great opportunity for businesses and stakeholders to share with the world the unique experiences and adventures Philippines can offer.

For more information, please visit www.visitph2015.com. 

AMAZING FOOD CHALLENGE: FUN IN THE PHILIPPINES 2

10 individuals from all over Asia get a chance of a lifetime to travel across the Philippines and compete for USD50,000 worth of prizes! Waiting for them are a series of tough physical and culinary challenges – from paddling through action-packed water adventures to dishing up unfamiliar regional Filipino cuisines! Who will rise up to the challenge and become this season’s winner of The Amazing Food Challenge?

SUNYA THADATHANAWONG

Thailand

Photograher, 34

Sunya loves to joke that his eyes are bigger than his tummy. This Thai photographer enjoys cooking for his mother and aunt and names the mortar and pestle being one of his favorite kitchen tools. One person whom he admires greatly is Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej for his humility and generosity.

ALEC WING

Mauritius

Technology Sales, 50

Despite being a lover of Italian food, Alec’s ideal last meal would be a big bowl of Hakkata Ramen, complete with braised pork belly, half boiled egg and Shimiji mushrooms! He dreams of cooking for celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain at his very own Hawaiian-themed feast someday. Besides food, Alec is also passionate about sports, particularly squash and canoeing.

  

Host of Amazing Food Challenge: Fun in the Philippines - Sherson Lian

Malaysian cook Sherson Lian is no stranger to the camera, having starred in many popular Malaysian television programs and several Asian Food Channel (AFC) Original Productions. The talented chef will be the host of the second season of AFC’s reality show, Amazing Food Challenge: Fun in the Philippines, which sees 10 individuals travelling across the Philippines to compete for USD 50,000 worth of prizes!

Sherson’s culinary interest stemmed from an early age. When he was 11 years old, he started helping out in his mum’s small café in Kuala Lumpur. His task was to peel garlic and onions! Sherson eventually embarked on his own culinary career, working for JW Marriott Kuala Lumpur for three months as a trainee in various kitchens. He then became the manager of Paradise Café. Looking to challenge himself further, Sherson took over ownership of a restaurant named Paradise Corner. After three years of successful patronage and growth, Sherson sold off the restaurant and moved to Malacca in search for new experiences and challenges. 


Television career eventually came knocking to his door, and Sherson has since become a popular culinary figure in Malaysia’s food scene. He served as a guest judge in reality program Dapur Selebrity, as well as the host of Malaysian lifestyle cooking show, 5 Rencah 5 Rasa. Sherson also stars in AFC Original Production, Great Dinners Of the World, which documents his travels through France and Scotland with three other talented chefs as they serve up delicious dinners for their VIP guests.

In his spare time, Sherson enjoys traveling around the world and diving; he currently is licensed for advanced open water diving. Music is also a large part of Sherson – he was the lead singer for six-piece band Cross Fusion, which played a mix of jazz, blues, pop and fusion music!

Judge of Amazing Food Challenge: Fun in the Philippines - Rolando Laudico

Chef Rolando Laudico is one of the most recognizable names in the local culinary scene today. Well known in the Philippines as a “The Rebel” and as acting judge on AFC’s Original Production, The Amazing Food Challenge: Fun in the Philippines, he has built a reputation as a force to be reckoned with.

Fostering his love for cooking at a young age, Chef Laudico spent his first moments in the kitchen at age seven with his mother. In school, he furthered his interest through relative courses such as science and art, which were his favorite subject. When he turned 24, Chef Laudico landed a job at the La Primavera restaurant where he started from the bottom, washing dishes and helping in other forms of menial prep work.

Deciding to improve his technique, he enrolled in the Culinary Institute of America and after three years of hard work, took his first serious step in the culinary industry. He packed his bags and moved to France for an apprenticeship at L’ Essentiel restaurant.

The couple has also opened Chef Laudico Culinary Services, which provides catering for special events, and recently opened their newest brainchild, BFAST in Ayala Triangle Gardens, which serves breakfast favorites the whole day.

For Chef Laudico, the title “The Rebel” appropriately describes his passion for cooking. With every dish that he prepares, he keeps breaking the rules and pushing the boundaries of what is expected of his cuisine. He continuously fuses international and Filipino cuisine that results in a surprising and delightful meal.