What do you call the act of devouring food at the Ultimate Taste Test event? – ‘Ultimate Taste Testing’. 🙂
![Anton Diaz of Our Awesome Planet Anton Diaz of Our Awesome Planet, NomNom, & Tricie (R-L)](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6068/6139803034_03aa3ba758_m.jpg)
Anton Diaz of Our Awesome Planet, NomNom, & Tricie (R-L)
Ok, I made that up.
A week after the Ultimate Taste Test 6.0, people have been asking how many food stalls was I able to try. And when I answer 51, they seemed to be amazed and ask how I did it.
It’s simple actually.
If you approach it mathematically, ~50 stalls in 5 hours is equal to 10 stalls per hour or 6 minutes per food stall. Thinking about it, 6 minutes is already a good rate which includes taking photos, lining up, and asking a little background about the food from the owners.
Here are some tips on how I was able to make it through 51 of the 55 food stalls in Ultimate Taste Test 6.0:
1) Skip Breakfast – this readies your tummy with maximize space available. 🙂
2) Come Early – I came 15 mins. ahead of time. There were only a handful of people and you’ve got the food suppliers pulling you by the arm just to try their delicacies. You’ll never feel unwanted. 🙂
![Ultimate Taste Test 6 Conquering 51 Food Stalls at the Ultimate Taste Test 6 (2011)](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6066/6139804754_584ba5d65e_z.jpg)
Conquering 51 Food Stalls at the Ultimate Taste Test 6 (2011)
3) Relax, Don’t Panic – Eat in pace, one at a time. You’re not in a race. Get rid of the greedy mentality and trust the organizers that they prepared enough food for everyone and that you will not run out of food to taste.
4) Take a Sip after every food stall visit – this helps clear your palate for objective tasting of the next, and pushes down the previous. You can also bring a water bottle just in case the event lacks beverage suppliers.
![Nom Nom Nom Nomnomnom...](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6163/6139253047_b971b40194.jpg)
Nomnomnom...
5) Eat in Line – when rush hour strikes, you might find yourself waiting in line specially if the stall is a blockbuster hit. This is the best time to eat your haul from the previous stall. By the time you’re finished, your’re in front of the line. Efficiency is key. 🙂
6) Bring an Eating Buddy – (preferably with the same level of appetite) nothing beats peer support. If you see your friend eating along with you, you will be more determined. Although I came by myself, we didn’t fall short of having the other food bloggers around for company (and critique).
7) Strategize – being my third UTT, I already learned from my previous mistakes. I utilized a different strategy this time. For the first hour (11am-12nn), I just took photos. The title should actually be 51 Stalls in 4 Hours. 🙂
8 ) Alternate Main Dishes and Desserts – my first approach was from left to right, but there came a point when there was a series of dessert food stalls which overwhelmed even my sweet tooth. I decided to drop my sequence and just remember to go back to the ones I skipped.
6 Ultimate Finds from the Ultimate Taste Test 6.0
This was my alternate title for this article. But since a lot of food bloggers already came out with theirs days ago. I surmised mine was old news.
Anyhow, so here’s NomNom Club‘s Top 6 Ulitmate Finds from the Ultimate Taste Test 6.0 last week:
![Symphony of Flavors Symphony of Flavors](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6152/6139805564_634142ddb1.jpg)
Symphony of Flavors
6.)  Symphony of Flavors – Best Leche Flan Cheesecake ever! The goodness of Lech Flan and Cheesecake combined.
![Carmen's Best - Holly's Milk and Ice Cream Carmen's Best - Holly's Milk and Ice Cream](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6198/6139803224_f609f0114e.jpg)
Carmen's Best - Holly's Milk and Ice Cream
5.) Carmen’s Best – Using 100% fresh cow’s milk, I love the Salted Caramel Ice Cream.
![Chef C's Paella Chef C's Paella](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6169/6139803436_44d6e7f25b.jpg)
Chef C's Paella
4.) Chef C’s – I can’t remember if they served other dishes but I was extremely satisfied with their Paella De Andaluz.
![Dek A Thai Authentic Cuisine Dek A Thai Authentic Cuisine](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6069/6139252665_a5bebcf7cb.jpg)
Dek A Thai Authentic Cuisine
3.) Dek A Thai Authentic Cuisine – The Popia and Thai Milk Tea were indeed authentic and very good. You’d want to dine in and ask for a full serving. 🙂
![Luigi's Luigi's](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6203/6139804894_d4a7f7b2ba.jpg)
Luigi's
2.) Luigi’s - They almost made my top spot with their awesome Phillychangas and Chicken Cordon Bleu with Aligue Mayo. Yummy!
![PinakBest PinakBest](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6161/6139805102_df19651624.jpg)
PinakBest
1.) Pinakbest – Aptly named, Pinakbest was my pinaka-best pick with their Bagnet and Ilocos empanada. They also got the longest line.
But…but…I have more recommendations! Allow me to give my next 6 as well:
![Spring By Ha Yuan Spring By Ha Yuan](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6190/6139254029_a606350262.jpg)
Spring By Ha Yuan
7.) Spring by Ha Yuan – Their Ka-Pao variants Pulled Pork, Beef Shortrib, and Monk’s Dream were a sight. I was only allowed to try one though – Beef Shortrib – and it was good!
![Theo & Philo Chocolates Theo & Philo Artisan Chocolates](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6068/6139254701_5dd3eb55f0.jpg)
Theo & Philo Artisan Chocolates
8.)  Theo & Philo Chocolate – these Artisan Chocolates come in interesting packages and chocolate flavors combined with the not-your-usual chocolate partners. 🙂
![5 Loaves & 2 Fish 5 Loaves & 2 Fish](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6181/6139802816_d7b59714d7.jpg)
5 Loaves & 2 Fish
9.) 5 Loaves and 2 Fish – not sure if I should call it nachos or tortillas, but the baked chips were crunchy and the dips were interesting and flavorful
![Chori Chori Burger Joint Chori Chori Burger Joint](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6154/6139803824_9b38f4d92a.jpg)
Chori Chori Burger Joint
10.)  Chori Chori Burger Joint – they got the Chori Burger taste from Boracay. You should try the Chori Burger with Egg.
![The Sweet LIfe The Sweet LIfe's 'Sweet Surrender'](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6083/6139805804_03ca5ff07e.jpg)
The Sweet LIfe's 'Sweet Surrender'
11.) The Sweet Life – You should try their “Sweet Surrender” which is a frozen soft meringue with custard and French Vanilla ice cream. It is held by a graham cracker crust.
![Eat My GF Eat My GF (Garlic Fries)](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6178/6139804190_378509aa23.jpg)
Eat My GF (Garlic Fries)
12.) Eat My GF – Aside from the interesting name, it’s basically Garlic French Fries at it’s best.
An additional special mention would be Chef Bruce Lim’s Chef Table’s Buco Pie Martini for its creativeness. 🙂
![Chef's Table Buco Pandan Martini Chef's Table Buco Pandan Martini](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6171/6139252257_f15d2c5f0f.jpg)
Chef's Table Buco Pandan Martini
For more photos of the other exhibitors, check out the photo albums in our NomNom Club Facebook fanpage.
![Ultimate Taste Test 6 Ultimate Taste Test 6](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6161/6139255037_8d86025e30_z.jpg)
Ultimate Taste Test 6
And those are my 13 Top Picks form the recent Ultimate Taste Test 6 and how I made it through 51 of them in 5 hours. See you next year! 🙂