The horsey set’s new delight

The one-of-a-kind Manila Jockey Club (MJCI) was the first horse racing club established in Asia, dahlings. It recently celebrated its 135th founding anniversary by launching a fabi world-class race track and turf club in Carmona, Cavite, and announcing the redevelopment of its existing 16-hectare property in Sta. Cruz, Manille.

MJCI’s magnum president Alfonso Reyno Jr., no less, presented the club’s impressive plans to hot namedroppables of the horse racing community and leading government and business representatives.

The soon-to-be-known San Lazaro Leisure Park was designed by renowned architects Recio and Casas. The new facility will be developed as an integrated horse racing complex that features world-class sports and entertainment facilities with an upscale residential subdivision. The park is only 36 kilometers south of Manille and is easily accessible via the Carmona or Southwood exit.

Senate President Franklin Drilon was the guest of honor at the affair. Other hotshots who definitely approved of what they saw included popular Senators Ed Angara and Manny Villar; Cavite Gov. Ayong Maliksi and Rep. Gilbert Remulla. Circulating during cocktails and chatting high finance were business heavyweights Edgardo Puyat-Reyes of Bell Telecom; dashing Rico Tantoco of Sta. Elena Properties; world traveler Joey Antonio of the world-class Century Properties; Philweb’s Antonio "Tony" Garcia; Fil-Estate Land’s Toti Carino; Putch Puyat, president of the MARHO horse racing association; plus many others like them too hot to mention.

The tres visible new guards mingled in another part of the grand ballroom of one of the world’s best hotels, the Shangri-La Makati, but where else, palanggas? Leading the pack was MJCI vice chairman, King Reyno and his wife, topnotch broadcaster Vicky Morales-R.; MJCI’s brilliant directors, Patrick and Chris Reyno; delicious looking high-style babes, Wendy Puyat and our fave columnist Celine Lopez; handsome dudes and achievers in their own right, Marco Antonio, Joel, Jippy and Robbie Tantoco; Joey Carpo; engineer Victor Consunji; Francisco Delgado; Jonjon Rufino; Miguel Villanueva; Trisha Rodriguez; and Lindy Castillo.

Hosts of the launch, dahlings, were PDI columnist Tim Yap; equestrian Toni Leviste; and that party scene stealer, vivaciously fun Tessa Prieto-Valdes whose famille, as one of the founding members in 1867, has had a long association with the club.

Informative videos detailed the club’s illustrious history and recognized the invaluable contribution of past club presidents, plus the charitable works MJCI has been undertaking through the years.

Check them out, dahlings. You’re in for a great surprise!

An event in itself

One hot evening, dahlings, the full moon radiantly shone on some 15 new restos all in one smashing place. Although it was a terribly humid night when the new Greenbelt 2 launched its yummy resto row in an al fresco bash, nobody seemed mind the heat. After all, with the evening sky as a giant awning, the sight of greens all over and sleek water cascading along the Greenbelt 2 walkway were enough to cool frazzled nerves. It was indeed a preview of what dining at this new destination will be like–busy yet relaxed, laidback but vibrant.

The selection of the restos is something the brilliant think tanks behind Greenbelt 2 should be proud of. Buffet tables, each representing one of the 15 new dining spots in the row, offered an eclectic mix of both local and international cuisine. As always, invitees had a calorie-fix hopping from one buffet table to the next, sampling a bit of everything and then going back for seconds to the ones they considered favorites.

The list of restos and cafes is a veritable "Who’s Who" of the best in dining and wining, palanggas. Check these out–Spanish cuisine from Hola! Mingoy’s; the popular Italianni’s; the excellent wine bar and Argentinean resto Magnum; Segafredo Espresso Bay, already a meeting place of the beautiful and famous enjoying coffee delicacies; superb Continental offerings from Soleil; Japanese food at the popular Sugi and Café Moderne.

While only the above seven restos were open that evening, others were still being hammered and painted for their coming unveiling. Leading the pack are NUVO with King of the Night Life Louie Ysmael and Souffle’s King of Chefs, Billy King; Bizu; Cena; Dozo; Gloria Maris; Masa’s; Pepato by Cibo’s Margarita Fores; Restaurant 12; Temple Bar & Restaurant; and Uva, slated to open in the coming weeks. As of this writing, most of them already have their cash registers ringing, dahlings.

While everyone enjoyed the sumptuous gustatory delights, no less than world-class, one-of-a-kind Nightingale Lani Misalucha belted out songs that rocked the grounds of Greenbelt 2. Enter the Latin groupie Sabor Latino whose rhythmic sounds had resto owners, invitees, and the Greenbelt 2 executives, shaking and swinging the night away. Lani paved the way for future performances at the Greenbelt 2, the first batch including Basil Valdez with Ryan Cayabyab, and Zsa Zsa Padilla with Louie Ocampo.

This exciting new dining venue envisions dining and entertainment around the park with tons of greens and open space. Dining here is already an event in itself.

All these, palanggas, are just a fraction of Ayala Land Inc.’s vision for the new Greenbelt, the first urban retail and entertainment destination in the country, naturellement.

Wines & Dreams

Heavy rains and horrendous traffic did not keep renowned Wild Vines’ Wines & Dreams Food Styling Competition from attracting finalists, judges and invitees in full force to the Pool Bar of Richmonde Hotel a new moon ago, dahlings.

All 10 finalists confidently presented their creations to the judges, enumerating their ingredients and preparation procedures. An important aspect of their presentation was their recommendation of which Wild Vines variant goes well with their creations. As these were individually presented, the judges only had the finalists’ name and the titles of the entries on hand.

The board of judges, palanggas, was composed of the hottest namedroppables from the culinary field, starting with everyone’s favorite author of the best-selling non-fiction book, In My Basket... the Cookbook, Lydia Castillo; Gene Gonzalez, owner of Café Ysabel and Gene’s Bistro, one of the more visible figures and contributors in the Philippines’ culinary scene; and chef Bambi Lichauco Jr., a Chef Instructor at the De La Salle University-College of St. Benilde.

The 10 entries were definitely the results of blood, sweat and determination. Each finalist gave his all to come up with his own creation. This made the judges’ job even tougher since they had to come up with only three choices.

Third place honors went to Athan Oconer, Commis II of Richmonde Hotel. His entry was called, Almond Sesame Crusted Cold Cuts, paired with the so good Wild Vines Blackberry Merlot.

Second placer was Dario de la Rosa, junior cook at Zucchini’s Grill & Vinotek. He named his entry, Smoked Salmon & Scallop Fantasy, which made use of Wild Vines Strawberry White Zinfandel.

The winner was Pedro Paluga, Commis II of Richmonde Hotel, with his entry called, Nutty Beef Roll, which used Wild Vines Blackberry Merlot.

Wines & Dreams is the fourth in a series of themed events sponsored by Wild Vines, naturellement, palanggas, in its quest to promote the goodness of wine and its perfect match with any kind of lifestyle.

Wild Vines will soon hold this year’s last event. "Watch out for it–it promises to be just as fun and exciting!" said top PR lady of Nancy Harel & Associates, Inc., Nancy Harel herself, dahlings.

Please drive sober and safely. Remember that speed kills!

Have a great weekend, palanggas. See you.