CEBU, Philippines - By January 20, the lobby of Mövenpick already resembled an Oriental bazaar - stalls were set up selling Chinese delicacies, decorative items, charms, and fascinating trinkets. Red paper lanterns were gracefully fluttering by the lamposts.
The festivities on January 22, the Chinese New Year Eve this year, kicked off with a spectacular dinner buffet at the resort’s Vanilla Beach Cafe, lobby, and beach area. The debonair Australian executive chef, Terry Styles, gave us a personal tour around the lavish hot & cold buffet stations, dimsum corner, carving section, & dessert spread. He pointed out that there was a thirty-something food selection for guests to choose from. Our personal favorites - five spiced flavored beef, all the dimsum selection, wok fried prawns, kung pao chicken, mango pudding, and sesame balls. By the lobby area, a set-up reminiscent of a Hong Kong sidewalk was in place, featuring hanging roasted duck, crispy chicken, and over a dozen lechon. The backdrop was a grandiose ice carving of a mighty dragon done by one of the in-house chefs.
After dinner, we all proceeded to the foyer for the dragon/lion dances and fireworks. The traditional dotting of the lion’s eyes was led by Klaus Graesslin (General Manager), Helmut Gaisberger (Director for Philippine Operations), Mike Acebedo Lopez (Director for Marketing Communications) and Executive Chef Terry Styles. After which, the dancers led us to the beach area, where guests and hotel staff released hundreds of paper lanterns into the night sky. It was a scene straight out of the Disney movie, Tangled.
Aside from a hearty dinner, lucky guests also went home with enviable prizes such as a Valentine’s dinner for two at Vanilla Beach Cafe, Sea’s, or Manny O’s. Consul Antonio Chiu of the Consulate of the Slovak Republic won a deluxe room for two. Meanwhile, Orly Cajegas of Cebu Daily News won a Fiesta Familia Sunday brunch for two.
Kung Hei Fat Choi! Xin Nian Kuai Le!