All the best for Café Ysabel

The five-star Marco Polo Plaza Cebu, led by its visionary general manager Hans Hauri, recently hosted the 30th anniversary celebration of Café Ysabel, which is a culinary landmark in San Juan City, Metro Manila.

Café Ysabel’s chefs Gene and Gino Gonzalez led the gathering of family, friends and colleagues who all wished nothing but the best for Café Ysabel. The lavish interiors of Marco Polo Plaza Cebu’s contemporary restaurant Café Marco, matched by the efficient service from the staff, complemented this revelry.

Congratulations to Hans Hauri and his team for hosting another successful event!

Memorable moments

Shared family meals are an essential part of parenting.  A sense of belongingness and security, nutritional guidance, learning to respect different opinions and tastes, good manners — the benefits of sharing breakfast, lunch or dinner are endless.

Food company Monde Nissin recently launched Famealy Matters, a compilation of more than 50 stories of everyday intimacy at the family dining table written by Francis  Kong, at the Grand Atrium of the Shangri-La Plaza Mall. 

It is really no fun eating alone. Call me old-fashioned but dining together beats asking someone how his day went through a mobile or online.

Gustatory pampering

Wine aficionados and connoisseurs enjoyed themselves immensely during the wine-pairing dinner at the Mandarin Oriental Manila’s signature restaurant The Tivoli. The dinner was held in partnership with Rougié, a French foie gras producer, and Philippine Wine Merchants. 

Mandarin Oriental Manila hotel manager Oliver Kreuzer and director of communications Charisse Chuidian warmly received the crowd that came to feast on the exquisite six-course meal prepared by the hotel’s executive chef Rene Ottlik and executive sous chef Remi Vercelli. 

Each course in the gourmet menu — with two of Europe’s prized delicacies, foie gras and mushrooms, as main ingredients — was complemented by fine Bolla wines from Italy.

Foie gras ice cream, anyone?

A Mad Hatter’s part

What better way to mark one’s first birthday than with a Mad Hatter’s tea party. Doting parents Hugo and Chat Lozano hosted one such themed children’s party for their daughter Patrice at Chef Jessie Rockwell Club in Rockwell Center, Makati.

Sharing in the joy at Patrice’s Wonderland were her elder brother Rocco, proud grandparents Dr. Ed Fores and wife Beng, relatives, and close friends with their little ones in tow. 

A magician, piñata, lively games and unique giveaways made the afternoon complete for both the kids and the young at heart.  

Happy birthday, Patrice!