Sisig Wins Award for the Pope’s Filipino Chef in Washington D.C. - The Scene

Chef Jessie Sincioco adds two more distinctions to her culinary credentials. She served pork sisig at the 10th anniversary of Events DC Embassy Chef Challenge at the Ronald Reagan Building & International Trade Center in Washington, D.C. That local dish made from pig parts sizzled to win top marks, earning first place in the Judges’ Choice Award and also in the Peoples’ Choice Award.” The modest and self-effacing Chef Jessie said, “My niece Chef Abby Sincioco Mateo was the official participant and I was her official alalay.”

The annual event is a month-long celebration of the diplomatic community in Washington, D.C., where 177 embassies are located. Over the last decade, embassies have fielded chefs as part of the culinary diplomacy to prepare a sampling of flavors for attendees of the event.

Chef Abby Sincioco Mateo
Chef Abby Sincioco Mateo

Feeding Pope Francis

I met Chef Jessie Sincioco decades ago when Le Soufflé first opened in what is now the Greenbelt area. She was one of three chefs, together with Billy King and Andreas Katzer, who started the restaurant that became a favorite of Manila’s gastronomes.

Chef Jessie has the distinction of having been hand-picked to prepare the food for His Holiness Pope Francis during the pastoral visit of the pontiff to the Philippines three years ago. Throughout the papal visit, she cooked all his meals in the Apostolic Nunciature, where Pope Francis stayed for the duration of his stay. Researching on his palate preferences, Chef Jessie whipped up Argentinian dishes like chicken chimichurri and meat dishes, as well as fish and vegetables.

A victory for Team Philippines! The Sincioco's Sisig dish won the Judges' Choice Award and the Audience Choice Award. They are photographed here with Mr. Ivan Gonzales of the Philippine Embassy, who was also their bartender for the competition.
A victory for Team Philippines! The Sincioco’s Sisig dish won the Judges’ Choice Award and the Audience Choice Award. They are photographed here with Mr. Ivan Gonzales of the Philippine Embassy, who was also their bartender for the competition.

Menhir Salento Wine Dinner

The multi-awarded chef, who counts two L’Assiete D’Or trophies besides several “Chefs on Parade” awards, currently helms three dining establishments under her company JCS Gastronomie, Inc. She is a hands-on president, overseeing Top of the City by Chef Jessie, Chef Jessie Rockwell Club and most recently, Chef Jessie Grill at The Grove by Rockwell.

The first Filipina Pastry Chef in 1990 keeps a full schedule and barely had time to travel to the Embassy Chef Challenge. She has received international invitations to partner for culinary events among which was from the maker of Negroamaro N.O JGP Menhir Salento, the only wine that His Holiness Pope Francis had during his 2015 papal visit. Since Chef Jessie could not find an opening in her schedule to travel to Puglia, Italy, the winemakers adjusted to her and arranged to visit the Philippines for a one-day gastronomic dinner on June 12 at Chef Jessie Rockwell Club on Amorsolo Drive at the Rockwell Center.

RELATED READS: Luxury Sleeping Systems Brand Derucci Opens Its Flagship Store in Old Manila

As a special for Epic Experiences 2018, its fifth installment, Visa Platinum, Visa Signature, and Visa Infinite cardholders can exclusively enjoy either a complimentary glass or a bottle of wine at some of the Philippines’ most premium dining establishments.
As a special for Epic Experiences 2018, its fifth installment, Visa Platinum, Visa Signature, and Visa Infinite cardholders can exclusively enjoy either a complimentary glass or a bottle of wine at some of the Philippines’ most premium dining establishments.
Visa Head of Products for Indonesia and the Philippines Shabab Muhaddes, Chef Jessie Sincioco, and Visa Country Manager for the Philippines and Guam Stuart Tomlinson
Visa Head of Products for Indonesia and the Philippines Shabab Muhaddes, Chef Jessie Sincioco, and Visa Country Manager for the Philippines and Guam Stuart Tomlinson

Visa Epic Experiences

Chef Jessie’s restaurants have been tapped as part of the Visa Epic Experiences affluent dining platform, which is a wine and dine series exclusively for Visa Platinum, Visa Signature and Visa Infinite cardholders. There are over 60 selected establishments throughout the country where privileged cardholders can have either a complimentary glass or bottle of wine.

Additional perks for Visa cardholders are 25 percent discount on published room rates of Anya Resort Tagaytay and 60 percent off published room rates at Crimson Resort & Spa Mactan. The Visa Epic experience is available till March 15, 2019 on all visa cards issued anywhere in the world.

RELATED READS: Philippine Pavilion Opens in 16th International Architecture Biennale in Venice

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