High fashion

Silk Cocoon had reason to celebrate as Washington Sycip and Jeannie Goulbourn hosted a cocktail at the outdoor patio of Cinnabar at the Renaissance Makati City Hotel. Goulbourn collaborated with New York-based artist Emily Cheng, getting inspiration from Cheng’s painting for the limited collection of barongs, shawls and ladies fashion.

Cheng, who is a niece of Sycip and currently teaches Asian Art History at the School of Visual Arts in New York, flew in to grace the event as well as launch her latest book called Chasing Clouds, A Decade of Studies.

Others spotted at the event were PAL president Jaime Bautista, Joey Cuisia, Oscar Hilado, STAR columnist Johnny Litton and Renaissance director of operations Sujeet Kumar.

The affair was an obvious success as the limited collection was sold out and other pieces were New York-bound for a series of trunk shows. Silk Cocoon is located at the ground floor of the Renaissance Makati City Hotel.

Succulent treats

La Régalade, meaning “succulent treat,” a fantastic French bistro established by chef Alain Rayé in Vancouver in 2001, has opened in Manila.

Rayé has earned Michelin star for his work in earlier restaurants while in France. He began his culinary apprenticeship at the age of 15 and at 18, he earned his toque and a national mention. In 1975, he opened his first restaurant in Albertville and gained his first Michelin star when he was only 24. In 1985, he moved back to Paris and started a restaurant named after himself. In 1992, he bought the restaurant La Belle Epoque in Chateaufort, where his dishes earned him another Michelin star. There he wrote his first cookbook, Une table pour deux. Four years later, he authored his second cookbook, La Régalade, based on the bistro dishes that had been regaling Vancouverites.

Among those who frequented his bistro was Perfecto “Bubot” Quicho, a former hotelier who in 1984 was named GM of Hyatt Regency Manila, the first Filipino to attain such a position in a five-star worldwide chain. A proposal was made to start another La Régalade in Manila. Rayé cheerily welcomed the opportunity, having long nurtured the desire to spread his wings to Asia. After supervising its opening and first few weeks, Rayé will hand over the reins to his fellow Frenchman Pierre Cornelis, the executive chef who will stay full time for at least a year to train local sous chefs.

La Régalade Bistro can seat 76 persons and has a bar that can accommodate a dozen more. It is open for lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. (closed Saturdays and Mondays) and dinner from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., Tuesday to Sunday (closed Mondays). It is located at 820 Arnaiz Avenue (formerly Pasay Road), Makati City.

(For reservations, call 750-2104 or 750-2105. Check www.laregalademanila.com)