New chef in town

Photos by Pepper Teehankee on a Canon Digital Ixus

Roberto Cimmino’s photo courtesy of Edsa Shangri-La

Paparazzi, the Italian restaurant of Edsa Shangri-La, has a new chef! Meet chef Roberto Cimmino.

Paparazzi has been a favorite of mine since it opened. The hotel’s communications director Lesley Tan invited me to a launch that featured the new chef but I declined because I was abroad at the time. I never bothered to check it out. It was only when a fellow foodie friend Antonio Ressano Garcia, who is one of the hardest to please people I know when it comes to food, mentioned that the new chef’s cooking was actually very good that I decided to pay the restaurant a visit.

Roberto just came from the St. Regis Hotel in Shanghai, where he was chef de cuisine of its Italian restaurant, Danieli’s. The Italian Trade Commission in China cited Danieli’s as “the most authentic Italian restaurant in Shanghai” during Roberto’s time there.

Before moving to Shanghai, the 25-year-old chef was the chef de cuisine of Bene, the Italian restaurant at Suzhou Sheraton Hotel & Towers. Born in Marino, a city near Rome, from parents who were from Campania and Abruzzo regions, Roberto has always been interested in culinary arts. He studied hospitality management with emphasis on kitchen operations at Michelangelo Buonarroti in Fiuggi for five years and worked in restaurants in Rome, Lecco and Sardinia before his posting in China.

Roberto says, “My style of cuisine is simple sophistication. I deconstruct the dish to show ingredients in their purest form in order to elevate the gustative experience.”

True enough, Paparazzi’s food had not tasted this good in a long time! I had a field day ordering in this restaurant because everything in the menu sounded so good! 

I particularly liked the “36 Yolks” lasagna (homemade multigrain dough with hand-cut Wagyu bolognese, Parma ham, porcini, buffalo mozarella and parmesan). The manzo (chargrilled Wagyu tenderloin, braised Wagyu short ribs, beef truffle jus and morel) was another heavy main course, as well as the ravioli (handmade and filled with soft burrata cheesse, alla putanesca with anchovies, kalamata olives, capers, San Marzano tomato, fresh oregano and a hint of chili). Even the classic linguine vongole (linguini with clams) had an interesting twist when Roberto added cured sea weed. Word of warning: portions are big so order to share!

(Paparazzi is open daily for lunch from noon to 2:30 p.m. and for dinner from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. For reservations, please call 633-8888 extension 2922.)

Leg loving

Manila Bay Hosiery unveiled its collections for Leg Love by City Lady and Elements by Gold Toe. The company collaborated with Bianca Valerio, Ferdi Salvador, Ram de Vera and Pablo Cabahug.

The event showcased each line of Bianca, Ferdi and Ram, which designer Pablo created. The show opened with a burlesque-like dance by Bianca. This was followed by a parade of men in boxers and white shirts complete with Elements Play socks by Ram de Vera and Elements Classic by Ferdi Salvador. Leg Love’s Designer Series by Pablo Cabahug with intricate patterns and color ended the show.

Ferdi and Manila Bay Hosiery’s marketing manager Alaine Reyes welcomed the guests. Ten ladies were honored for their unique fashion sense in styling a whole outfit with Leg Love as their main accessory.

Special thanks to Triumph and Parisian for the lingerie and shoes used for Leg Love Couture Line and DAS shoes for Leg Love’s Designer Series.

Leg Love and Elements are exclusively available at select SM Accessories Department and select Watson’s stores. Also sold at their online site, www.leglove.net.

Mamma Mia! plays until Feb. 19

Due to the overwhelming demand, Mamma Mia! will run until Feb. 19 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ (CCP) Main Theater. Additional shows for the season are now on sale. Presented in Manila by Infinity, powered by Smart and Citibank, Mamma Mia! is backed by a soundtrack of ABBA songs.

Avail yourselves of the following promos of Cebu Pacific, Dusit Thani and Rustan’s and be a part of this theatrical experience. Cebu Pacific passengers will get an exclusive 10 percent discount on Mamma Mia! tickets. Log on to the Cebu Pacific website, Travel Services-TicketWorld tab, from Dec. 15 to Feb. 15 for booking and details (www.cebupacificair.com).

From Jan. 24 to Feb. 18, Dusit Thani Manila offers the Mamma Mia! room packages, which include an overnight stay, buffet breakfast for two persons at Basixx all-day dining restaurant, two orchestra tickets to the Mamma Mia! show, plus complimentary roundtrip car transfers to and from the CCP. A limited-edition original cast recording CD will be given away as a special commemorative gift to Club and grand room guests. For information, call 238-8888.

For every single-receipt purchase of P3,000 at Rustan’s Makati, Shangri-La, Alabang, Gateway, Cebu, Essenses, Red Tag and Newport Stores, customer will receive one raffle ticket. Rustan’s will draw 25 winners of tickets worth P5,000 each and 18 winners of tickets worth P7,000 each starting Jan. 18 till Feb. 8.

Groups of 20 or more can also get a 10 percent discount. Senior citizens also enjoy a 20 percent off. Avail yourselves of the other special promos from TicketWorld by calling 891-9999 or visit www.ticketworld.com.ph. Tickets are available at all TicketWorld outlets, selected National Bookstore branches, Robinsons Department Store (Galleria, Malate, Metro East, Festival Mall and Starmall Pampanga) and Ayala Center (Greenbelt 1, Glorietta 4 and Trinoma Mall Cinema Booths) and the TicketWorld office at 6793 Ayala Avenue, Suite 701 V. Madrigal Building, Makati City.

(Mamma Mia! is presented by Infinity, powered by Smart and Citibank and is brought to you by Lunchbox Theatrical Productions, David Atkins Enterprises, Hi Definition Radio and Concertus Manila. Major sponsors are San Miguel Premium All Malt Beer, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Ayala Malls, Ayala Cinemas, Cebu Pacific Air, Dusit Thani Hotel Manila and OOCL. Media partners include Radio High 105.9FM, Monster Radio RX 93.1, Crossover 105.1 FM, Yes FM 101.1, 90.7 Love Radio, 96.3 Easy Rock, 2nd Avenue, ETC, Jack TV, Rustan’s, The Philippine Star, Business World, Manila Bulletin, Philippine Daily Inquirer, ABS-CBN, MCA Music and clickthecity.com.)