Secret Kitchens of Samar Book Series, a five-volume culinary book celebrating the rich food heritage of Samar, proudly clinched two top honors at the prestigious Gourmand World Cookbook Awards 2025, held during the Cascais World Food Summit in Portugal.

The series was awarded Best Book Series in the World and Best Regional Book in the World, rising above hundreds of entries from over 200 countries and regions. Most notably, it was the lone winner from the Philippines, proudly representing the country on the global culinary stage.

Authored by World Food Travel Association Ambassador Clang Garcia, Secret Kitchens of Samar was a project of the Provincial Government of Samar, funded by the Tourism Promotions Board Philippines, and developed with technical assistance from the Department of Tourism – Eastern Visayas with Director Karen Tiopes.

Governor Ann Tan expressed deep gratitude for the international recognition and dedicated the awards to the “kitchen heroes and their families, the Samarnon community, and all stakeholders” who brought the project to life.

“This victory is not just for Samar, but for every local cook, weaver, farmer, and family whose stories and flavors are woven into these pages. This is a tribute to our roots and our shared passion to preserve and promote Samar’s culinary soul,” Governor Tan said.

Secret Kitchens of Samar serves as a cultural and gastronomic chronicle that documents the traditions, recipes, and community life across Samar’s diverse towns, placing the province—and the Philippines—on the global culinary map.