CEBU, Philippines - For years the Tinderbox restaurant has been an address of choice for both locals and visitors alike who seek good food and suave service in understated surroundings. That was about the proper order of things until recently when it's owner Marlene Mondoñedo took over its operations and transformed Tinderbox into one of the city's most gastronomically exciting dining places..
Take the recent Bastille Day dinner celebration which featured Paris-trained Farah Tolentino Ylagan as guest chef.
The petite, multi-talented chef masterfully prepared an 8-course meal which showcased the best of French cuisine.
As most lovers of good food know, the history of French Cuisine is as interesting as the tastes it embodies. The dishes are part of the most distinguished cuisine in the world and they possess an elegant culinary style which is associated with artistic preparation.
Farah, a graduate of the Hotel and Restaurant Management at the Centre Europeen de Management Hotelier International where she finished at the top of her class, outdid herself in the execution of the dishes. With her keen sense of taste and smell, she is able to recognize subtle nuances in flavors, allowing her to explore bold new flavor combinations and make them work.
With great food comes excellent wines which are an essential part of French dining. The Tinderbox presented their finest selection of wines such as Chateau Bouteilley, Guillot Sauvignon Blanc, Gustave Lorentz Pinot Blanc and culminated with the fortified Port Wine which was served alongside the gourmet cheese Tete de Moine.
As the evening came to a close we were one in saying that the dining experience was glorious, the service impeccable, and the ambiance deliciously elegant. Such are the pleasures... only at Tinderbox.