Remembering Millie

Millie was an elegant, dignified lady that was part of Manila’s so-called 400, when women dressed conservatively – wearing the terno and those beautifully crafted evening gowns. She lent a gracious presence to any event, be it a diplomatic dinner or informal lunch with her friends. We remember this lady from when the family of her husband pioneered the expansive outlet for refrigerators and stoves in Sta. Mesa when Hotpoint, General Electric and Frigidaire were the only brands. She was Millie del Rosario, wife of former Ambassador Ramon V. of the Del Rosario Brothers.

One of their sons, Jose Mari, honed his business sense when he joined the staff of the Manila Hotel. Later he established The Paramount hotels, which is now the umbrella organization of the spread-out Microtel Hotels and Resorts, the latest being located on Coral Way Avenue corner Seaside Boulevard in the Mall of Asia complex in Pasay City. Here, the son, in an endearing effort to remember and pay a lasting tribute to his mother, opened Millie’s, a coffee shop with full dining service.  

He commissioned Cesar Gaupo, a designer, to put together Millie’s memorabilia, encased in glass display pillars that separate the coffee shop from the lobby. A glimpse of the style and glamor that were Millie’s is provided by her scarves, her little clutch bags, delicate fans, her scent (Miss Dior of Christian Dior), even her passports. There are sketches of her decorating the walls and most of all, the kitchen provides inspiration from the cuisines that she enjoyed during her many travels around the globe.

Microtel has an Italian consultant and a Filipino chef, Gino Santayana. Together they must have delved into Millie’s favorites which now delight their guests. There is the fresh shell fish salad with a generous mix of mussels, clams, scallops and squid, bathed in a light dressing of olive oil and wine. There are four types of pasta dishes to choose from, and the melt-in-the mouth, falling-off-the-bone baby backribs in their “secret” very flavorful marinade. The chicken parmigiana is tender and the pan-fried salmon on a bed of mashed potatoes with capers just about complete a very satisfying meal. Yet one must have a dessert of tiramisu, a truly Italian “finis” to a good meal. Pinoy food? Yes, they serve kare-kare, adobo, crispy pata.

Because the prices are so reasonable (one can get a meal for less than P500), this is a perfect stop after shopping in the mall or attending a convention. The hotel goes by the practical philosophy of economics and good hotel experience. It is part of the Windham chain based in the US and you can find a Microtel in many cities in the country, from Tarlac to Davao. 

Whenever we want to cook pancit (bihon, canton or mike) we would always go to South Supermarket in Alabang, because the deboned pork pisngi is always available there. It is one ingredient we can not dispense with. The store also offers eardrums (P99.95 a kilo) and sinsal (pork wrapper from the stomach of the pig) at P34.50 a kilo. Here the meat selection includes beef ribs for Korean kalbi, P150 a half kilo pack; lamb leg at P750 a kilo; French trim lamb rack (P1,300) and goat meat at P352.25. They’ve got Butterball and Norbest turkeys and the new Magnolia free range chicken. They also carry frozen vegetables and fruits like baby carrots, Brussels sprouts, mushrooms and mixed berries. For those who love duck, they have the all-duck meat at P877 a kilo.

Go, visit South. Venus in the fish section will give you a nice smile when you ask where their bangus and tilapia come from.

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