A Mexican fiesta, a taste of Australia in Cebu
December 25, 2003 | 12:00am
The Cebu chapter of La Chaine de Rotisseur, the city’s eminent gourmet club, celebrated one of its many themed informal parties with a mariachi fiesta at the popular, guaranteed-to-have-fun bar-resto Tequila Joe’s in the heart of the Ayala entertainment center.
On hand to welcome the active members and their guests, who came in black and wonderfully complied with the specified dress code, were Tony and Grace Lozada and Cheling and Susan Sala.
The waiters, who were also dressed in black and donned huge colorful sombreros, and seemed to have extra pairs of eyes and hands that were ready to serve, made the rounds with trays full of a variety of chilled margaritas in salt-rimmed glasses.
Civic leader Stella Bernabe and art collector Lydia Alfonso were more than pleased with the traditional and classic concoction, while true gentleman Choy Sala opted for the blue margarita as Chaine’s bailli Amparito Lhuillier and her husband Michelle shared their exciting experiences on their most recent trip to Europe.
The dinner kicked off with the house specialty Mandarin chicken salad, which consisted of an oriental tea-smocked chicken with hoisin plum dressing. This was followed by blackened lapu-lapu with mashed potato and sautéed spinach. The baby back ribs, basted with a rich bourbon agave sauce, and served with grilled corn with cayenne butter and house fries, elicited olés from everyone.
The dessert, interestingly named the bombe, made with layers of chocolate mousse, almond meringue and ganache, icing coated with dark chocolate and drizzled with caramel sauce, was the coup de grace.
Towards the end of the evening, Tony proudly introduced his only daughter, Sarah Lee, a graduate of hotel and restaurant and institutional management from the De La Salle University-College of St. Benilde, who meticulously prepared the menu to perfection, as mom Grace beamed with joy.
Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Ruth Pearce and Lapu-Lapu City Vice Mayor Norma Patalinghug were the guests of honor at the recent food festival dubbed "A Taste of Australia" at the Shangri-La Mactan Island Resort’s Garden Patio.
Guest executive chef Simon Beaumont whipped up a unique variety of Australian delights that included pumpkin and shrimp salad, marinated mushroom with pink peppercorn dressing, kangaroo prosciutto with melon, Australian lamb cutlets, kangaroo sausages, blackened Tasmanian salmon with honey roasted yams, emu satay and more than a dozen more exotic but sumptuous dishes.
Among the property’s valued guests present were corporate lawyer Danny Deen and his lady-with-style Zeny, wine connoisseur Dondi Joseph and his wife Corinne, likeable couple Michael and Joanna Lhuillier and Gigi Gullas and his publisher-wife Eva.
Enjoying the delectable desserts, such as pavlova with caramelized mango and strawberry rosella, were the members of the tourism industry, led by Department of Tourism regional director Dawnie Roa, tour specialist Alice Queblatin and British Airways’ Janet Alfafara.
The competent Shangri-La team, headed by perfectionist general manager Desmond Hatton, Maggie Garcia, likeable Neil Rumbaoa, Jaja Chiongbian and Dexter Cheng, were overly pleased with the success of the event.
On hand to welcome the active members and their guests, who came in black and wonderfully complied with the specified dress code, were Tony and Grace Lozada and Cheling and Susan Sala.
The waiters, who were also dressed in black and donned huge colorful sombreros, and seemed to have extra pairs of eyes and hands that were ready to serve, made the rounds with trays full of a variety of chilled margaritas in salt-rimmed glasses.
Civic leader Stella Bernabe and art collector Lydia Alfonso were more than pleased with the traditional and classic concoction, while true gentleman Choy Sala opted for the blue margarita as Chaine’s bailli Amparito Lhuillier and her husband Michelle shared their exciting experiences on their most recent trip to Europe.
The dinner kicked off with the house specialty Mandarin chicken salad, which consisted of an oriental tea-smocked chicken with hoisin plum dressing. This was followed by blackened lapu-lapu with mashed potato and sautéed spinach. The baby back ribs, basted with a rich bourbon agave sauce, and served with grilled corn with cayenne butter and house fries, elicited olés from everyone.
The dessert, interestingly named the bombe, made with layers of chocolate mousse, almond meringue and ganache, icing coated with dark chocolate and drizzled with caramel sauce, was the coup de grace.
Towards the end of the evening, Tony proudly introduced his only daughter, Sarah Lee, a graduate of hotel and restaurant and institutional management from the De La Salle University-College of St. Benilde, who meticulously prepared the menu to perfection, as mom Grace beamed with joy.
Guest executive chef Simon Beaumont whipped up a unique variety of Australian delights that included pumpkin and shrimp salad, marinated mushroom with pink peppercorn dressing, kangaroo prosciutto with melon, Australian lamb cutlets, kangaroo sausages, blackened Tasmanian salmon with honey roasted yams, emu satay and more than a dozen more exotic but sumptuous dishes.
Among the property’s valued guests present were corporate lawyer Danny Deen and his lady-with-style Zeny, wine connoisseur Dondi Joseph and his wife Corinne, likeable couple Michael and Joanna Lhuillier and Gigi Gullas and his publisher-wife Eva.
Enjoying the delectable desserts, such as pavlova with caramelized mango and strawberry rosella, were the members of the tourism industry, led by Department of Tourism regional director Dawnie Roa, tour specialist Alice Queblatin and British Airways’ Janet Alfafara.
The competent Shangri-La team, headed by perfectionist general manager Desmond Hatton, Maggie Garcia, likeable Neil Rumbaoa, Jaja Chiongbian and Dexter Cheng, were overly pleased with the success of the event.
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