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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Mindanao devider 2 establishments collab to promote cacao industry

2 establishments collab to promote cacao industry

Published Mar 16, 2026 09:48 pm
MEMBERS of the city government of Davao and business and tourism stakeholders sampled cacao-infused dishes during the launching of a culinary collaboration between Cacao de Davao and IKAO Bar and Restaurant on Monday, March 16, as part of the 89th Araw ng Dabaw celebration. (Photo via Ivy Tejano)
MEMBERS of the city government of Davao and business and tourism stakeholders sampled cacao-infused dishes during the launching of a culinary collaboration between Cacao de Davao and IKAO Bar and Restaurant on Monday, March 16, as part of the 89th Araw ng Dabaw celebration. (Photo via Ivy Tejano)
DAVAO CITY – Members of the city government of Davao and business and tourism stakeholders sampled cacao-infused dishes on Monday afternoon, March 16, during the launching of a culinary collaboration between two establishments here to promote the cacao industry as part of the 89th Araw ng Dabaw celebration.
Cacao de Davao's event, held at Ikao Bar and Restaurant here, introduced newly crafted menu offerings that highlight locally sourced cacao and showcase the city's growing reputation as the Philippines' chocolate capital.
Ethan Kyle Lim, chief operating officer of the Cacao de Davao—a homegrown chocolate brand from Davao City – said this initiative was designed to increase awareness of Davao's cacao products and create more opportunities for farmers and local businesses.
"Since Ikao focuses on Filipino cuisine and locally sourced ingredients, we created several cacao-based dishes to show how the ingredient can be used in both traditional and modern recipes," Lim said, adding that Ikao is the second establishment they partnered with after Lamano.
He said the event features cacao-flavored dishes, in addition to the usual durian and mangosteen. He added that it involves more than a hectare of cacao farms and partnerships with local farmers and cooperatives to maintain supply for restaurants and cacao producers.
Chefs demonstrated and explained a lineup of cacao-inspired creations, emphasizing the versatility of locally produced chocolate. Featured dishes included toron de cacao, chocolate cheesecake frappe, golden bread ice cream, champorado, and a wabad de cacao drink.
Lim said the demand for cacao has continued to rise globally, and that producers in the city are positioning their high-quality beans for the domestic and international markets. He added that the collaboration will help the local cacao sector.
Cacao de Davao currently exports raw cacao materials and cacao products to several Asian countries, reflecting the industry's expanding reach. Its products are also available in Metro Manila, Quezon, Cebu, Las Piñas, Cagayan, and Butuan, among other key cities.
He said the collaboration also supports cacao farmers in Calinan District, where most of the raw materials are sourced, helping generate more income opportunities for farming families while strengthening Davao City's cacao value chain.
Lim said Cacao de Davao plans to expand similar collaborations with other establishments here to promote tourism further and showcase local ingredients. He emphasized that promoting Davao products is also about promoting the people of Davao.

Related Tags

Davao City Cacao Cacao de Davao Ikao Bar
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