Food is always at the center of every Filipino celebration, and the holidays are the perfect time to bring families together through shared meals, and a taste of home. For decades, CDO has been an integral part of countless Filipino families’ celebrations, providing delicious food that make every gathering special.
Guests and attendees enjoy an early Noche Buena spread made with CDO products, including CDO Holiday Ham
To usher in the much-awaited season of joy, CDO hosted a festive get together entitled “A Taste of Home this Christmas,” a holiday-themed brunch that highlighted a Noche Buena spread with CDO food products presented in co-created dishes whipped up by Jones All Day of Raintree Restaurants. Aside from the delectable display, CDO also hosted a program with guests Small Laude, Chef Marky Bartolome, and Nicole Andersson, who each shared tips and advice on how to make the holidays even more memorable.
“We, at CDO, aim to enrich the lives of Filipinos through our well-loved brands and products. And knowing that Christmas is one of the most important celebrations in the country, we want to highlight not just CDO food products that have become holiday staples, but also different ways Filipinos can make the season even more delightful and meaningful for their loved ones,” said CDO VP for Marketing Bernice I. Jalgalado to open the program.
At the heart of the celebratory brunch were Noche Buena favorites, CDO Holiday Ham and Danes Queso de Bola. Made from 100% premium whole meat of tender pork hind leg, CDO Holiday Ham is delicately simmered in a special pineapple sauce for a deliciously rich flavor that blends perfectly with the meat’s smoky taste. Meanwhile, Danes Queso de Bola has the right blend of creaminess and classic natural cheddar flavor that pairs well with bread and pasta that Filipino families just can’t resist.
Guests enjoyed CDO Holiday Ham on an open-faced sourdough toast with arugula and apple compote, Danes Queso de Bola with truffle honey and crostini, San Marino Premium Spanish Sardines with dill, boursin and crostini, Highlands Gold Corned Beef potato croquettes with Danes Herb and Garlic Mayo and Danes Sriracha Mayo, crispy CDO Young Pork Baconettes, CDO Idol Cheesedog in a blanket with curry ketchup glaze, CDO Funtastyk Young Pork Barbecue brochettes with zucchini, aubergine and capsicum San Marino Gourmet Tuyo cream pasta with stracciatella and caviar, CDO Funtastyk Young Pork Tocino and spinach mini quiche, sundried tomato and arugula petite salad with shaved Danes Queso de Bola, and halo-halo crumble with CDO Kaong and CDO Nata de Coco.
CHRISTMAS WITH SANTA SMALL
Another highlight of the event was a special program led by everyone’s favorite Small Laude, or in this case, Santa Small, who shared how she prepares for Christmas with her essentials, like an abundance of Christmas decorations, and the company of family and friends.
Small Laude shares why she’s excited about her favorite season of the year. She will celebrate Christmas with her family and her top ham choice, CDO Holiday Ham.
One thing remains a constant every year in the Laude household–CDO Holiday Ham. The entrepreneur and content creator insists that their Christmas just won’t be complete without Holiday Ham at the center of their holiday feasts, or to give as gifts to loved ones. Santa Small shared, “No matter how busy the holidays get, CDO Holiday Ham is the perfect reminder to celebrate through get-togethers, feasts, and gifts with our loved ones.”
H’MON AND TASTE IT, H’MON AND GIFT IT
Filipinos are very generous at the core, oftentimes doing their Christmas shopping months before, and merrily counting down the days till the eve. Nicole Andersson’s choices for gifting this Christmas are CDO Holiday Ham, Danes Queso de Bola and other CDO favorites. CDO food products’ taste and quality ensure that she is always proud to share them with friends and family.
Nicole Andersson shows how to create Christmas baskets with different budgets and combinations of CDO products.
Nicole led a live tutorial on how to prepare decorative and pretty Christmas gift baskets with three different budgets, using gift items like chocolate, cookies, and of course, CDO Holiday Ham, Danes Queso de Bola, and various CDO products.
Finally, it goes without saying that Filipinos never skip on the sacred tradition of Noche Buena every Christmas eve. The celebrations are always much awaited, which is why the food served must also rise to the occasion. For Chef Marky, the stars of the holiday feast have to be 100% premium, and none other than CDO Holiday Ham and Danes Queso de Bola.
IN PHOTO: A sample gift basket created by Nicole Andersson, with CDO Holiday Ham and Danes Queso De Bola.
Chef Marky did a live kitchen demonstration showing guests how to prepare their own Noche Buena centerpiece using CDO Holiday Ham. In addition, he also shared how to create a Christmas-themed charcuterie board with Danes Queso de Bola.
A WARM WELCOME FROM CDO
CDO Foodsphere National Sales Manager Jao Ong and Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer Rafael Llagas, Jr.
CDO Foodsphere representatives who warmly welcomed the guests. From L-R: Janna Ong-Santos, Marketing Manager; Bernice Jalgalado, Vice President for Marketing; Rafael Llagas, Jr., Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer; Ice Galangan, Marketing Manager; and Patricia Magbanua, Head of Corporate Affairs and Communications.
Also present to warmly welcome guests were Janna Ong-Santos and Jao Ong, representing the CDO leadership, along with Corporate Affairs Head, Patricia M. Magbanua, and Marketing Manager, Ice Galangan. To close the program, Raffy Llagas, CDO SVP and Chief Commercial Officer, said, “At CDO, we are always excited to ring in one of our favorite seasons. We believe that food has the power to connect us and it’s in this spirit that we invite all of you to share our story—the story of a company that, for 50 years, has stayed true to its mission: to bring the comfort of home to tables across the country.”
Aside from CDO Holiday Ham and Danes Queso de Bola, the event also featured CDO products that have also become well-loved staples in Filipino households like CDO Idol Cheesedog, CDO Funtastyk Young Pork Tocino, CDO Funtastyk Young Pork Barbecue on Stick, CDO Young Pork Baconettes, Highlands Gold Corned Beef, San Marino Gourmet Tuyo, San Marino Premium Spanish Sardines, CDO Nata de Coco, CDO Kaong, and Danes Sriracha, and Herb & Garlic Mayo.
ADVT.
This article is brought to you by CDO food products.