Kitchen gems from England

A good meal starts with a good kitchen. Knowing the Filipino’s penchant for food, I think that it is excellent news that MFI UK, Europe’s No. 1 integrated kitchen and bedroom retailer & manufacturer, recently opened its Philippine showroom at the Federal Design Expo on Pasong Tamo, Makati.

Her majesty, the Queen of England, was well represented that night as guests of honor Ambassador Paul Dimond of the British Embassy, MFI Director of International Operations Mark Magee, MFI International general manager Mark Curtis and Tessie Luz led the ribbon-cutting ceremonies.

The kitchen showcases were the epitome of kitchen elegance as guests positively marveled at their elegance — from the traditional designs to the modern ones. In keeping with tradition, each of the 14 showcases was assigned a ninong or ninang, who then ceremonially sprinkled colorful confetti to signify bountiful blessings and prosperity. The godfathers and godmothers were Carrie Bautista, architect Roger Villarosa, Lorna Quisimbing, arch. Andy Villarin, architect Robert Sac, Helen Ong, CPH general manager Paul Gill, Wilma Palafox, Tereret Liboro, Chit Almario, Gilbert Yu, Naty Pappas, architect Del Pantangco, Amalie Azanza and Jimmy Laya. Your columnist served as the evening’s master of ceremonies.

After the ceremony, everyone proceeded to the buffet table and partook of the fine food and even finer wine. Even though guests such as former beauty queen Evangeline Pascual, Helen Ong, Butch Bonsol, Nellie Bengzon and Minguita Padilla, among many others, graced the event with their presence, the star of the night was indeed MFI, as everyone was spotted examining the kitchen showcases with desire in their eyes.

Here’s to the success of the partnership between MFI and Federal Design Expo!

Oh Yes! Bachelors!

In the last episode of everybody’s favorite celebrity-lifestyle show "Oh Yes! Johnny’s Back," we featured lovely bachelorettes Heidi Ng, Caroline Lontoc, Ria Romero, Plinky Recto and Jenine Desiderio. Ladies will swoon in our next episode, as we exchange banter with some of Manila’s bachelors like Monsour del Rosario, Victor Consunji, Tim Yap, Richard Michael and Theodore Hopkins. It’s a date tonight, 11 p.m on RPN 9.

Be sure to catch it!