L’Opera sings anew

Metro Manila’s premiere Italian restaurant L’Opera hosted an evening of bittersweet emotion as it bid a fond farewell to Greenbelt through an intimate despedida party. That particular corner in Paseo de Roxas was home to L’Opera for 10 years. This was where the establishment earned its loyal clientele by serving the best Italian cuisine to be had locally. 

Exquisite Italian cocktails and hors d’oeuvres were served – bruschettas of smoked salmon, proscuitto di Parma en mango, mortadella asparagus, crostini mushrooms, fagotini, caprese, the fantastic dry beef bresaola stuffed with rich gorgonzola en walnuts, Italian meatballs, maccheroni boscaiola and homemade Italian gelato. Wine flowed freely, care of Premier Wines, and coffee concoctions from Illy were served throughout the night.

The final party was not a swan song. Loyal followers and those new to the varied and superb tastes of the restaurant have reason to rejoice because L’Opera will open once again in Fort Bonifacio.

Watch out for it!

Miracles in our midst

Author Bunny Villarosa Reyes launched her Little Book of Miracles & Answered Prayers at the Turf Room of Manila Polo Club, which was elegantly decked out in black and white. Bunny spent 13 sleepless months with 89 contributors to come up with 4,000 minutes of taped interviews and hundreds of e-mails to produce the 544-page tome with 189 stories about actual personal miracles granted to Filipinos by God.

Bianca Araneta and Tricia Chiongbian hosted the evening’s talk show program. Three contributors – Tessa Prieto-Valdes, Mike Deakin and Gina de Venecia were interviewed that night to relate their stories and involvement with the book. Gina de Venecia recounted to a visibly moved audience the tortuous road to healing after the death of her daughter KC.

Rene Barbier wine flowed throughout the evening as guests were treated to Lancome and Kerastasse giveaways. Raffle prizes included two signed photographs from renowned underwater photographer Gutsy Tuason, Just Jewel gift certificates and a flat screen TV courtesy of HSBC Visa. The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) was a major sponsor of the event.

Contributors seen at the event included Carissa Cruz, Bea Lhuillier, Myrna Yao, Fr. Dave Clay, Ising Madrigal-Vasquez, Nena Vera-Perez, Mercy Tuason, Christian Espiritu and former Finance Secretary Titoy Pardo.

Beneficiaries of the book are SVD Mission Office, Mula sa Puso Foundation, Apostolate of Our Lady Queen of Peace, Home for the Angels and the Association of St. John Ma. Vianney (St. James the Great Parish Unit). 

The book is available in paperback and the limited hardbound edition at A Different Bookstore, Ink & Stone, Fully Booked, Bibliarch and selected National Bookstore outlets.

For your eyes only

Branded Lifestyle presented the latest collection of Calvin Klein eyewear at Nuvo in Greenbelt 2. TV host Avi Siwa’s Kingpin models showed the latest Calvin Klein sunglasses and wearing clothes designed by Kate Torralba.   

The "Calvin Klein Collection" is quite bold but softly sculpted to enhance its very modern design while the other collection, the "cK Collection" is more vibrant, hip and youthful.

The event was hosted by Ines Cabbarus and organized by Amanda Griffin and Karen Grupp, collectively known as "Fatally Femme".  Others seen at the launch were Sabrina Artadi, Bob Lehman, TV host Cito Beltran, Bryan Doviak and Albert Martinez.

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