Italian magic

‘I do’s’ in Cosmo Manille

Apres three years of being blissfully married in California and being blessed with a cutie-pie daughter, Kamea, popular businessman Tristan Trajano, the son of Norbeta vda. de Trajano and the late Edmundo Trajano, and eye-catching Monica Lorenzana, the daughter of Antonio and Olivia Lorenzana, will exchange "I do’s" anew, this time in church.

Their wedding, dahlings, will be witnessed by famille and friends on Dec. 14, 7 p.m., at the Manila Cathedral in Intramuros. The ceremony will be followed by what is expected to be a fun dinner reception at the popular Patio Victoria in Intramuros.

In-demand and beloved designer Randy Ortiz will design Monica’s all-piña embroidered wedding gown cut into panels, embellished with pleated geometric patterns on the bodice. It will also feature cut beads and Swarovski crystals matched by hand-embroidered metallic thread Spanish veil.

The memorable event will be superbly organized by those in-demand wedding coordinators, the creative tandem of Jacky Aquino and Suyene Chi-Sia, no less, palanggas.

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It was a night, dahlings, when the Main Theater of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) was filled to the rafters with gorgeous Italian music and magic. The audience delighted in the beautiful opening strains of Verdi’s Sicilian Overture, movingly interpreted by the one-of-a-kind Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) under the baton of world-class Italian Maestro Ruggerro Barbieri, to the resounding finale of Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme Paganini brilliantly executed by internationally-acclaimed pianist, Cecile Licad, palanggas, who was at her impeccable best.

And perfectly so, since the night was designated Una Notte d’ Incanto. The event was for the benefit of the Philippine Italian Association’s (PIA) Endowment Fund which finances all the group’s socio-civic programs.

Equally admired that night, palanggas, were renowned baritone Nolyn Cabahug and outstanding Vienna-based soprano, Camille Lopez. Superbly supported by the PPO, Cecile Licad, Nolyn Cabahug and Camille Lopez, gave a scintillating display of Filipino musicianship at its best!

Italian Ambassador Umberto Colesanti, the honorary president of the PIA, and his simpatica, fashionable wife, Señora Clara C., were among the distinguished invitees who packed the CCP for an entertaining Italian-inspired happening. Apres what seemed like endless applause, Cecile Licad thrilled us with three encores.

The platinum, gold and silver sponsors for the night, palanggas, were acknowledged with an elegantly set dinner. Italian and Asian cuisine fused in delightful harmony washed down by exquisite Italian wine.

The dinner venue, the CCP’s Silangan Dining Suite, had been breathtakingly transformed with hundreds of decorative lights layered on a billowing satin canopy spread across the entire ceiling. Such was the stunning effect of the makeover, palanggas, that CCP chairman Bal Endriga said he had to take another look because he did not recognize the place at first!

During supper, Ambassador Colesanti was heard saying, "I felt like I was spending an evening at a concert hall back home in Rome!"

The PIA’s successful benefit concert was made possible by the generous support of Rustan’s Marketing Corp.; the Mandarin Oriental Hotel; and as always, our reliable pal, Ralph Joseph’s Ralph’s Wines and Spirits.

Global Café

Good-looking Carlo de Santos Tanseco and his cousin, vivaciously-smart Reena Francisco, who are now creative partners, have worked together since they were kids. Whether it was creating gift wrappers for Carlo’s mom’s boutique and gift shop, or designing Christmas decor for a Figaro store, the cousins would use their talents in crafts and design.

Another passion the duo shares is food. After their travels, they share never-ending tales of what they had eaten, what makes them want to return to a certain city, market, or even a canteen in a shopping center!

Now, Carlo and Reena’s latest baby is a "gallery-esque" café/bistro at the ground floor of the breezy and lush Greenbelt 3. It is simply called Store Super... A Global Café, dahlings.

Carlo designed the super eye-catching interiors inspired by his many travels as a top design consultant for CITEM and various exporters and his buying trips for his store called Atmosfera at the Glorietta.

Creative Reena cooked up the menu based on her and Carlo’s favorites. The duo then personally tried and tested each recipe with their familles as willing "food tasters" every step of the way. Their desserts and coffee are very special as well so they commissioned super pal Millet Soberano to create special pastries with a "just baked" taste. Millet has created chocolate surprises and dream rolls that will make your eyes literally roll up to the sky.

Ably assisted by partners whose passion also lies in food and travel, dahlings, Carlo and Reena worked on the store design, layout, menu development, even dabbling in tropical drink concoctions. Theirs is certainly a passionate love affair with food and drinks.

Some of their excellent dishes are Spain’s popular Lentejas Soup consisting of lentils, bacon and green lentils, chorizo bilbao and stewed ham bone soup; the Thai- style Chiang Mai Chicken Wings served with sweet chili sauce and papaya salad; the superb Korean Beef Stew served with steamed rice and a side dish of bean sprouts, spinach, radish and kimchee; the popular England Fish and Chips which comes with malt vinegar, and pickled ginger; the exotic Lamb Biryani of India, curried baked lamb with basmati rice and raita and mango chutney on the side; Japan’s excellent, must to order Grilled Salmon Teriyaki with unagiri rice and pickled ginger.

Sampling their varied fare is like knocking your socks off from a gastronomic high! The cuisine is global but not with that overused word, "fusion." Thank goodness!

The menu has a United Nations theme–with good reason. You can say that the innovative tandem has been inspired to create dishes that are not only world-class but which confirm that we do have a small world after all.

Check it out, palanggas! This resto is on its way to becoming a Global Café superstar!

Good old-fashioned milkshakes

It hits your sweet spot when you think about it, dahlings, just the way you felt when you were a carefree kid. Now, your own kids can enjoy the same experience. At long last, there’s a place where you can satisfy your milkshake fix. It’s called Mr. Milkshake, naturellement, at the third level, Food Choices, Glorietta 4, Ayala Center and also at the second level of Corte de las Palmas, across TGI Friday’s, Alabang Town Center. It’s a perfect reason to hit the mall with your kids!

Classic flavors like chocolate, vanilla and strawberry can be enjoyed alongside flavorful twists like moi favorite Coffee Blast, Blueberry, and the best-selling Chunky Oreo. Unusual but exciting new flavors, palanggas, will soon be served. Check out Peanut Butter Banana, Chocolate Mint Chip and Butterscotch.

Mr. Milkshake also has its piece de resistance, the Homemade Brownie Ice Cream Sandwich which is definitely a must!

Mr. Milkshake has gained a steady following since its opening last summer. After all, something as yummy as this is just too hard to resist. Let go of yourself! Treat yourself and your famille to those yummy flavors.

Relive your childhood milkshake memories the good old-fashioned way! You’ll be back for more, I assure you, palanggas. I know I definitely will!

Rex is back

That world-class, super in-demand, stand-up comedian Rex Navarette is all set to have you rolling with laughter, palanggas, on Dec. 14 and 18, 8 p.m., at the Sylvia Lina Theater, De La Salle Zobel in Ayala Alabang, for the benefit of New Beginnings.

Tickets priced at P900, P750 and P500 can be bought at Ticket-World (tel. no. 891-5610 and MXN office, tel. no. 807-1298). Check Rex out, dahlings! You’re in for a real good time while helping a good cause.

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Leave it to one of our town’s hostesses with the mostest Nedy Tantoco to bring us the best in cultural events. And you can’t miss having your fill at the excellent Store Super... A Global Café resto and capping the week off with a yummy milkshake at Mr. Milkshake, natch!

Stay cool. See you!