Gastro X Art Crawl highlights La Trinidad’s creative cuisine

These dishes, while rooted in familiar Cordilleran flavors, were transformed through imaginative textures and presentations that highlight both innovation and identity.

Drawing inspiration from the indigenous Pinikpikan dish and everyday highland staples—kamote and fresh valley-grown vegetables including lettuce, carrots, and mushrooms—Chef Rio Tolentino and his team transformed familiar flavors into creative culinary expressions.

Their collaborative approach exemplifies the essence of cultural fusion—honoring indigenous ingredients while embracing modern techniques that refresh traditional comfort food.

These offerings reflect the broader mission of the Gastro X Art Creative Crawl: to explore how creativity moves between art and cuisine, and how local stories can unfold not only on canvas or stage but also on a plate.

The Ibag-iw Creative Festival, now marking Baguio City’s 8th year as a UNESCO Creative City for Crafts and Folk Arts, carries the theme “Traditions Rooted, Futures Routed.”

The month-long celebration champions both heritage preservation and forward-looking artistic innovation, encouraging communities to rediscover their identity through creative practices.

By weaving food stops with art exhibitions shaped by local narratives and landscapes, the crawl delivers a sensory-rich journey that reaffirms Baguio, La Trinidad, and the rest of the BLISTT community as thriving centers of cultural storytelling.

The Gastro X Art Creative Crawl continues throughout November, inviting locals and visitors alike to taste, explore, and appreciate the shared creativity that defines the region’s identity.