'Too much champagne is just right'

Mark Twain once said that “too much of anything is bad, but too much Champagne is just right.” This was quite true with the overflowing champagne during the Moët & Chandon Benefit Dinner in partnership with CAV Wine Café in Taguig for the Virlanie Foundation. The dinner featured chef Markus Gfeller’s scallop carpaccio for starters, Chilean sea bass with orange glaze in toasted almond milk and Bobby Veal loin for the main entrée. We ended with Valrhona symphony chocolate variations with spiced banana as dessert. 

Moët-Hennessy brand ambassador Arnaud Mirey allowed us to appreciate this dinner more by describing how each variety of Moët & Chandon champagne was paired with our meal. The freshness and crispiness of the Moët & Chandon Brut Imperial Non Vintage perfectly matched the scallops while the firm and subtle herbal finish of the Moët & Chandon Rose Non Vintage suited the mushroom parmentier. The Moët & Chandon Vintage 2000 Blanc’s complemented the Chilean sea bass. The veal was paired with the Moët & Chandon Vintage 2000 Rose, having hints of candied fruit (like apricots, dates, and prunes). 

The six-course meal was rightly portioned whereas the champagne with full servings was abundant to make the night happy.

The return of Elite Manila

Bernard Hennet, Group CEO of Elite World S.A., the parent company of Elite Model Management, recently visited Manila to formalize the return of the Philippines to the Elite Model Search.

Hennet’s Filipino-Chinese partner for the local franchise is Victor Siasat who holds the Philippine market rights to Gold’s Gym, Gloria Jean’s Coffees, as well as distribution and manufacturing rights to Guess clothing and Mossimo athletic apparel and accessories. The visit was marked with an exclusive press and VIP meet and greet at the posh Establishment at The Fort. In attendance were fashion insiders that included top press personalities, models and fashion designers.

Suffice it to say, Hennet and his crew were impressed with the local potential for success in the Elite Model Search and were very enthusiastic about confirming the partnership for the re-establishment of the franchise in Manila.

Ateneo Law School Homecoming 2009

The Ateneo Law School Grand Alumni Homecoming hosted by Class 1985 was held as the Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati. This homecoming was quite significant as Ateneo is also celebrating its sesquicentennial anniversary (150th) this year. The over-all coordinator of the 2009 Ateneo Law Homecoming Organization Committee was lawyer Marivic Garcia-Guingona. 

This year’s honorees were the graduates of Classes 1959, 1969 and 1984. Nanette Inventor and The 8 Track Band provided entertainment but the highlight of the dinner was the grand raffle of one Audi A4 from PGA Cars. Proceeds from the sales of the raffle tickets went to the Ateneo Law Class of 1985 Financial and Legal Aid Fund for free legal aid to the indigent and assistance to deserving students of the Ateneo Law School.