The Flavors of Life

By Bob Zozobrado

Opening before an enthusiastic crowd of luminaries in the social scene, the Flavors of Macau launch prominently featured seven display tables, one for each of seven celebrity chefs representing the 12 Metro Manila, Cebu and Davao restaurants which will headline the food festival, offering a taste of dishes inspired by their joint trip to Macau last October. Thus Margarita Fores had minchi with quail eggs and caldo verde; Luke Gagnon offered chilicote folha (pork dumplings steamed in banana leaf) and mint meatballs with fresh mint and cilantro chutney; Colin Mackay concocted scrambled eggs with bacalhao and crisp potatoes and duck, ham and chorizo rice; Vicky Pacheco contributed salt cod in cream and clams and pork; Myrna Segismundo had seafood cataplana and arroz pilau; Ed Tuazon offered brochette of African chicken with piri sauce and almond crusted pork meatballs with spinach and Macau chorizo in spicy fejoiada; while Jessie Sincioco regaled with desserts led by serradura and batatada.

All these dishes and more will be on the menu at the following participating restaurants: in Metro Manila (until March 21)—Le Soufflé (Rockwell, the Fort and Citibank Tower), Pepato (Greenbelt), Café Bola (Cubao and Greenbelt), Chateau 1771 (Greenbelt), Portico 1771 (Serendra), Sala Bistro (Greenbelt), Restaurant 9501 (ABS-CBN Bldg); on March 1 to 15 at the Marco Polo Plaza in Cebu, and on March 11 to April 12 at the Marco Polo Plaza in Davao. Guests who order from the special Macanese menu in the Metro Manila restaurants and from the buffet at the Cebu and Davao venues, will get a raffle ticket. Winners go on a three-day/two-night Macau holiday package for two—airfare, 5-star hotel, transfers, daily breakfast in the hotel, and tickets to the Cirque du Soleil at the Venetian Macao.

The launch guests feasted on the chefs’ gustatory delights and on the mouthwatering portions passed around by waiters of caterer Cibo di M Signature Caterer, when the program, hosted by emcee David Celdran, began with welcome remarks by Macau Government Tourist Office-Philippines GM Narz Lim. The chefs were called onstage as cocktails continued, with live music by Eileen Sison and the Guarana. Also a chief participant of the event was Micky Fenix, editor of Food Magazine, one of the media partners of the affair. Other media partners are Lifestyle Network and Crossover 105.1 FM Radio. Air Macau is the festival’s airline of choice.

Bulletin Board

Marco Polo Plaza Cebu gets five-star accreditation. The Tourism Department recently rated this “luxury in the sky” the only five-star hotel in the Queen City of the South. Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano presented the plaque of recognition to Metrobank Group chairman George S.K. Ty, Marco Polo Plaza chairman Alfred Ty, president Rey Villar, and general manager Hans Hauri. The three-year-old property continues to attract guests with its unrivaled panoramic view of the city and its environs, superb restaurants, and top-class leisure facilities and amenities.

The Residences at Fairways and Bluewater Newcoast beckons. Boracay’s unique private resort destination combines 126 hectares of  tropical habitat, an exclusive white sand beach, an 18-hole par 72 world-class championship golf course and “The Residences” 196 luxurious suites. It has four complexes—Balaihara Villatels, Villas on the 9th, Sofia, Ysabel, Maria and Margarita and the Mulligan Golf Hotel, all providing first-class, fully appointed accommodations with breath-taking views of the surrounding hills, ocean and golf course. For more information on this popular property, call 706-0055 loc. 333 and 706-0970 or log on to www.quantumsuites.com.

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YOUR WEEKEND CHUCKLE:

A new police recruit was asked during the entrance exam, “sWhat would you do if you had to arrest your own mother?” He answered, “Call for back-up!”

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For feedback, I’m at bobz@pldtdsl.net