Toasting a Verdant Spring

The French go all the way or not at all. Thus, the cocktails at the Clipper Lounge of the Mandarin Oriental and the gala dinner which followed at the ballroom were imbued with the style and elegance fit for the opening of "French Spring in Manila".

Toasting the verdant spring with champagne directly flown from Paris were Ambassador and Mrs. Umberto Colesanti, Ambassadors Theo Arnold, Tomas Rodriguez Pantoja, Preciosa Soliven, Fr. Pedro Galende, Krip Yuson, Letty Syquia, ranking French Embassy officials Franck Herbert, Kostia Sakow and Loi Daniel, former Ambassador Isabel Wilson, Beth Day Romulo, National Artist for Painting Arturo Luz, Ma-an Hontiveros, Tito and Marit Yuchengco and scores of other guests from government, diplomatic, art and social circles.

In the ballroom seated at impeccably set round tables were the Mialhes Alan and Edouard, Didi Dee, Virgie Moreno and National Artist for Dance Leonor Orosa Goquingco. Among the table-hoppers were Ethel Soliven Timbol in a fetching "Frenchy" gown, Tony Rufino, Ramon and Josie Sy, and the visiting couple Marcel Jouve and painter Lily Yousry who came for the launching of her book "100 Resorts in the Philippines, Places with a Heart" co-authored by Dominique Gréle.

Tata Poblador seemed to have charmed at least half a dozen French men that very evening, including famed trumpeter Alain Brunet. Seated at separate tables were Federico de Blas, Gigi Montinola, ambassadors’ wives Lena Hakansson and Ulricke da Silva, Carlos de Carvalho and Paz Yuchengco.

The entree, namely, roasted pigeon breast in crepinette wrapped in savory cabbage, celery potato mash, braised vegetables and truffle jus, was made possible by the pigeon meat which, like the champagne, was flown from Paris.

The rest of the superb menu consisted of goose-liver parfait and smoked duck breast with meschun salad tossed in raspberry dressing/ grape fig relish/oven-roasted seabass topped with tomato campote set on capellini pasta and mussel-infused saffron sauce/ cranberry sorbet/whipped Brie de Meaux with mache lettuce in walnut dressing and black peppered spiced plums/peach parfait served in chilled raspberry soup with amaretti biscuit/coffee or tea/friandises.

After that repast fit for royalty, or at least, for the most fastidious epicure or gourmet, the entire assemblage witnessed an extraordinary concert featuring six contra-bass players who produced the most inconceivable sounds from their instruments.

Before the lustily applauded performance, the occasion’s gentle and genteel host, Ambassador Gilles Chouraqui, who was introduced by PR for Cultural Affairs Martin Macalintal, gave a profoundly meaningful speech that underscored the close ties, particularly cultural, binding France and the Philippines. Let’s drink a toast to them!