Summer of 2012

Summer has ended and this year, Cebu had experienced a different kind of summer. The temperature was certainly higher mixed with some rain and chucks of ice falling in Pinamungahan. It is actually called a hailstorm but we never cared about it because it had never happened before.

To celebrate the closing of summer, members of Cebu’s fourth estate trooped to the Acqua, Italian restaurant of Shangri-la’s Mactan Island to join a Dinner Degustation sponsored by Titania Wine Cellar (http://www.titaniawinecellar.com/ ) featuring the wine selection of Baron Philippe de Rothschild.

It was in high school that I have heard of the name Rothschild and how the banking dynasty was established because Amschel Moses Rothschild had five sons installed in five main European financial centers. Do you remember the Rothschild monetary gains after the Battle of Waterloo? But it was another battle (World War I) that brought Philippe to the family’s vineyard in Pauillac and at age twenty, manage the operations of Chateau Mouton Rothschild Vineyards.

Fast forward to 2012, your favorite food columnist began his culinary journey with a selection of canapés (Brie cheese with chives on toasted rye bread and Salami with artichokes on bruschetta) with a glass of Pol Clement Brut, France. And a second glass, but the humidity was not tolerable in the reception area so I took refuge inside the dining area and finished a third glass.

Dinner began with the Ballotine of Poultry served with Rucola leaves, Caramelized nuts, Granny Smith apples and Red pepper coulis. This was paired with Cadet Sauvignon Blanc Baron Philippe de Rothschild, D’OC., 2009, Languedoc, France. Nice opening!

This was followed by Seared Sea-Bream fillet on Spinach Tagliolini, Crustacean velouté scented with vermouth, served with Cadet Chardonnay Baron Philippe de Rothschild, D’OC., 2010, Languedoc, France.

Now, this is what I call a perfect match; the complex flavors of the vermouth enhancing the velouté sauce producing wonderful fish flavours and a delicious pasta. The chardonnay was just what the doctor, I mean the chef, ordered, gentle finishing touches to a great dish. The pairing was indeed a kind of culinary earthquake, excuse me, with an intensity of 8.5!

Lemon Sherbet with a dash of Limoncello was then served followed by the main dish, Beef Tenderloin wrapped in bacon, mashed potatoes with roasted garlic and zucchini, served with basamico demi-glace. It was paired by the Carabas Rouge Baron Philippe de Rothschild, 2007, Languedoc, France. The wine was too complicated for my taste and there are just too many grape varieties for my uneducated palate to dissect.

Closing the dinner degustation was the Chocolate soul, Hazelnut dacquoise with crémuex of chocolates with orange ice cream. A Muoton Cadet Rose Baron Philippe de Rothschild, 2010, Bordeaux, France was poured to complete the wine pairing.

I look forward to the summer of 2013. I predict the season is going to be much hotter, not because of changing weather conditions but because of incoming elections in May. I hope and pray that we will have a peaceful exercise of this very important democratic privilege.