A grillin' good time in Cebu
La Chaine des Rotisseurs’ quarterly events are always awaited with much anticipation by its members, who enjoy great dining experiences and fun fellowship.
This time around the 11-hectare breathtakingly beautiful Plantation Bay Resort and Spa in Mactan was the venue of choice. The invitees gladly came in colorful outfits of green, yellow and blue to adhere to the Brazilian-themed party.
The evening started with a reception at the Savannah poolside that featured hors d’ oeuvres accompanied by sparkling champagne. The hands-on general manager Efren Belarmino greeted members and their guests. He was joined by Delegue Philippines’ Michel Lhuillier and his lovely wife Amparito, who incidentally is the Bailli de Cebu.
During the brief program that followed, two dedicated members, Marissa Fernan, vice president for marketing of SM Prime Holdings, and Elvira Luym of the Cebu Arts Council, were elevated to the rank of officers. Afterwards everyone was escorted to the Orion Beach for the “Rio by the Bay” sumptuous dinner buffet. For starters guests savored the smoked salmon, chicken liver mousse, Brazilian empanadas and a variety of salads such as red beets, kidney beans and chayote with lemony hot sauce. The hot entrees consisted of baked red snapper, Brazilian chicken stew and apricot-stuffed pork roast. The carving station featured grilled Brazilian chuck eye, while the seafood grill station had prawns, rock lobster, salmon and mussels.
Michel Lhuillier and Efren Belarmino The lip-smacking desserts such as caramel custard, Food for the Gods, coconut and mocha cakes, mango jalousie, Caipirinha mousse and Chocolicious had invitees going back for seconds. What an exciting ending to a Chaine masterpiece.
Between courses, the guests were entertained by the in-house staff of the resort with their spectacular dance numbers — moving their bodies to the passionate sounds of the samba a la carnival in Rio. Some members gamely took to the stage and joined the dancing.
“We are most fortunate to have such beautiful surroundings by the sea, under the stars with fantastic entertainment,” said Bailli Amparito Lhuillier.
Kudos to GM Efren Belarmino, executive chef Vinz Karlsen, executive sous chef Henry Abellana, and assistant F&B manager Jimmy Martinez. Artistic director Paige Ginete was likewise recognized for her creative input that made the critical difference. Accepting the well-deserved ovation were the respective service and kitchen brigades for a job well done.
As the saying goes, “all good things must come to an end” and thus, this astonishing event of good food and fine wines ended with a promise of many more such evenings in the coming months.
