CEBU CITY, Cebu, Philippines — The growing popularity of cooking shows and culinary competitions broadcast on television is setting a new trend in the restaurant business in Cebu, an industry player here said.

Chef Raki Urbina, a restaurateur whose family owns Café Laguna, a Cebu-based chain of restaurants, said the restaurant competition here is such that restaurant chefs are now adding more “personalized touches” in terms of service and food preparation

“We owe it to popular television shows like Iron Chef, Masterchef, and other cooking shows which have leveled up the expectations of today’s customer. It’s no longer just about serving food; presentation is a vital component in selling your culinary offerings to customers,” Urbina said in an interview recently.

He noted that Cebu’s culinary industry is gaining strong interest among the younger generation, as signified by more students now taking culinary courses here and abroad in preparation for putting up their own restaurant or food business.

“The opportunity is there. The market is still dynamic, in fact very promising,” he said.