Brunch it out

Makati Shangri-La recently indulged its patrons to The Picnic, a big Sunday brunch that brought together the best of the best dishes of Shangri-La favorites: Inagiku, Sage Bespoke Grill and Shang Palace. It was truly an enjoyable eating experience.

But if you missed this incredible dining treat, no worries. The Picnic will be back on June 4, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.!

Executive assistant manager for F&B Andrew Zarzosa said, “We are delighted to introduce this unique dining experience to our patrons. We want families to enjoy a picnic-style brunch buffet specially curated by Makati Shangri-La’s international chefs.”

The hotel’s Mezzanine level will have interactive food stations all around. Experience Shang Palace’s signature dim sum like xiao long bao and hakaw plus other Cantonese favorites such as Peking duck, sweet and sour pork and hot prawn salad. Taste Inagiku’s 18 years of authentic Japanese cuisine featuring the richest noodles, tempura and a variety of the freshest sushi. Drop by Sage Bespoke Grill’s Butchery that showcases finest meats in the Josper grill plus charcuterie in a live station. Pair every meat with freshly made pasta and foie gras. Then there’s Grandma’s Kitchen, a heartwarming corner, which is reminiscent of a sweet old lady’s cottage filled with confections in every cupboard and drawer.

To be honest, during the recent Picnic, I enjoyed hovering around the seafood station for those Maine lobsters, which I ate both cold and cooked with lemon, garlic and butter! 

(For inquiries and reservations, call 813-8888 or e-mail [email protected].)

Dine & fly

Well-loved restaurant Din Tai Fung Philippines commemorated its first anniversary last year by creating the “Xiao Long Bao Day.” To mark the occasion, the restaurant rolled out its “Dine to Fly” promo, where a customer would get a chance to win a free trip for two to Din Tai Fung’s birthplace — Taipei, Taiwan!

Out of 50,000 raffle entries for the promo, the name of Dannie de Castro was picked last Feb. 8 and before she knew it, she and a friend were on their way to see the sights and sounds of Taiwan.

There are several places to visit in the “Heart of Asia” including  the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial, National Palace Museum, Raohe night market and Shilin night market for its famous pepper pork buns. Of course, a trip to the land of xiao long bao wouldn’t be complete without a trip to the first Din Tai Fung shop in the world, as well as the Din Tai Fung shop in Taipei 101.

It was at the Taipei 101 branch of the restaurant where Dannie came across some of the Din Tai Fung Philippines staff who had the pleasure of training at the original shop on how to make the restaurant’s exquisite dishes and how to serve them the Din Tai Fung way.

Din Tai Fung started as a cooking oil retail shop in 1958. By the early ‘70s, the brand dropped the cooking oil in favor of noodles and soup dumplings, dishes that have helped earn Din Tai Fung its globally recognized name with branches in the US, Singapore, Australia and the Philippines.

Through the years, the restaurant has mastered the art of creating the perfect xiao long bao. It has sold over two million of these  dumplings to date.

Strengthening business ties

Top local audit and tax advisory services firm KPMG R.G. Manabat & Co. (KPMG RGM&Co.), a member of KPMG International, hosted a cocktail celebration for its Japanese clients and the Japan business community in the Philippines with guests Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez and KPMG Japan chairman Tsutomu Takahashi.

Leading the local team was KPMG RGM&Co. chairman and CEO Roberto Manabat, who noted that the event aimed to highlight and further bolster the close economic ties between the Philippines and Japan.

KPMG RGM&Co. vice chairman, CFO and head of the Japan desk Emmanuel Bonoan introduced Secretary Lopez for his opening remarks.

“Japan is our largest trade partner. The Philippines has a trade surplus with Japan, which is also the largest Official Development Assistance donor to our country,” Lopez said.

For his part, Takahashi, who was introduced by KPMG RGM&Co. chairman and CEO-designate Sharon Dayoan, said, “The mission of KPMG is towards the growth and prosperity of Japanese companies, and to support cooperation and improve communication between KPMG Japan and other member firms.”

KPMG RGM&Co., which marks its 10th year of providing professional audit, tax and advisory services in the country, has lined up a slate of activities and events leading up to its grand celebration in the second quarter of 2017.

(Follow me on Instagram @pepperteehankee.)