Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino bags top awards in Cebu Goes Culinary ‘08

Victory is not attained unless you work your way through it – it requires a lot of hard work.

Teamwork and a lot of hard work were Waterfront Cebu City Hotel’s secrets when it regained its culinary glory after being declared over-all champion by the Hotel, Resort and Restaurant Association of Cebu during the recently concluded Cebu Goes Culinary, a biennial competition of the different hotels and resorts in the VisMin areas. WCCHC was declared champion of the competition in 2004 but lost the crown in 2006 to another establishment. This year, the hotel’s culinary brilliance was again tested, and this time around, it finally redeemed the crown.

At the helm of this endeavor are general manager Marco Protacio, F&B director Sarah Mascariñas, F&B service manager Carlo Sainz and of course, executive chef Joerg Walter. The team strived to come up with distinct culinary standards for them to achieve perfection. Months before the competition, the kitchen became a hot spot, an area where the team held brainstorming sessions to develop gastronomic delights that are not only pleasing to the palate but pleasing to the eyes, as well.

The hotel’s entry to the Table Setting Showpiece, which earned a Gold with Distinction award, the event’s highest recognition, was GM Marco Protacio’s brainchild – a Spanish inspired set-up with black and red as dominant colors: black mat, red roses, black fan with flower prints, red candle holders, black and red table napkins, and gold utensils to complete the ensemble. “He has always been a hands-on GM,” shared marketing communications manager-rooms Maebelle Varron, “He makes sure he sees the action within the area of his responsibility.” The service team composed of Leo Luche of Mizu, and Randy Lumuntad and Keith Nadela of La Gondola also contributed to making the table setting display an award winning creation. Protacio, in a press statement, said he believes that excellent food quality and service should also come with creative brilliance.

On the pastry side, Ananias Osorio III and Wilhelmina Baobao were all smiles when their creations reaped Gold awards in the One Three-Tier Wedding Cake display class and Creative Cakes display class. Other categories that earned Gold awards for Waterfront Cebu City Hotel were in The Dream Team Challenge, Flower Arrangement and Battle of Baristas categories. WCCHC also took home nine silver awards, four bronze and three diplomas. 

Varron, who joined the Waterfront Cebu City team just recently, shared she discovered how the F&B division team worked closely with each other and how other departments have contributed also to the success of the said endeavor.

Indeed, two heads are better than one. But more heads, and minds, working for a common goal means gold!