Bacon: It's not just for breakfast anymore! Isn't it strange that this universally loved food is primarily confined to the morning meal? You might find it on a burger or sprinkled on a salad, but bacon is overwhelmingly associated with breakfast.
Well, Rachel Carrasco, the founder and CEO of the Philippine food company Baken, is on a mission to change that. She's a branding visionary and a devoted bacon enthusiast, and she's launched the world's first all-bacon snack line. Baken aims to transform bacon from a breakfast staple into an all-day, everyday pantry essential.
This bold proposition created quite a stir at August's HKTDC Food Expo Pro, held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Baken used this prominent industry event to introduce its innovative range to numerous food professionals. They showcased their award-winning Real Bacon Crisps, Bacon Cookies, and Bacon Jam, aiming to disrupt the category.
Carrasco believes Hong Kong, with its "premium appetite and high-value consumer base," is the perfect launchpad for Baken's international expansion.
But the excitement didn't stop there. On the second evening of the expo, Baken hosted an exclusive dinner at Louise, a Michelin-starred restaurant in Hong Kong. The event was attended by industry leaders, media representatives, business partners, and Philippine consular officials.
The dinner menu was designed to highlight the versatility of the Baken products. Guests enjoyed dishes like scallop crudo with Bacon Jam, Oita egg with smoked potato and bacon foam, Hong Kong chicken rice enhanced with Real Bacon Crisps, and a banana turon millefeuille finished with Bacon Cookie ice cream. As Executive Chef Loïc Portalier noted, "Baken is a unique and creative product that keeps the essence of bacon while opening new possibilities for chefs." It's exciting to see a single ingredient inspire such culinary creativity!
What do you think? Could bacon truly become an all-day snack? Would you try bacon cookies or bacon jam? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
