Pleasant memories at The Marriott

In March 7, 1998, Cebu City Marriott Hotel opened its hospitality business in Cebu City and 15 years later, last March 7, 2013, it was time to celebrate its crystal anniversary.

Invitations were sent out from the offices of GM Bruce Winton and PR Manager Charlene Go to Marriott Hotel’s friends and guests to join in the celebrations. I do not know what happened but I never received my invitation. Fortunately, SMS messaging and emails were sent for appointment reminders and I was able to participate in the festivities.

It was a cocktail party held at the newly re-invented Sampaguita Ballroom and live cooking stations were found all around the venue. It is a formidable task to try all these food offerings but I always consider it a sacred duty to be able to inform and entertain my beloved readers.

I skipped the salad bar and went to the noodles section, freshly grilled Mighty Mo Burger Patties and the live cooking station preparing the calamari and the Thai spring roll. I moved on to the roast section with the chicken then, to the Prime Rib at Live Carving Station. The beef was good, the roast chicken better but the best tasting dish in my personal opinion was surprisingly the spring rolls.

Entertainment began with hosts for the evening, Ms. Ruffa Gutierrez and Jiggy Cerna, and a song interpretation of Habanera from the opera “Carmen” by my good friend, Chacha Blanco Arquiza (murag Maria Callas!).

Rare are the times that Cebu City residents actually stay in the Cebu City Marriott Hotel unless they have to accompany friends and relatives. Two years ago, I did stay in Marriott Hotel Manila to attend a wedding and a room was booked by a sister, Dr. Firelli Alonso-Caplen who calls Marriott Hotels, excuse me, her home in her travels around the world.

Most of the time, we go to Marriott to attend a business or social function and our group, La Chaine des Rotisseurs has held many memorable celebrations there because they have an accomplished Chef, the kitchen facilities, function rooms and the service staff to accommodate the meticulous requirements of this gourmet society.

In 2011, the Chaine dinner had the Shagadelic Short ribs (Natural Root Beer Braised Black Angus U.S. Short Ribs, Glazed Fennel, Vanilla Potato Sauce and Sweet Potato Croquette). I also recall two exceptional dishes, the Japanese Pumpkins, serving vessel for seasonal seafood (2009) and an extremely delicious appetizer, Citrus marinated Ocean Trout with a salad of rock lobster and Beluga caviar cream (2007).

Nice ending to the 15th year of hosting by Cebu City Marriott Hotel was that your favorite food columnist finally won a prize during the raffle portion of the celebrations. [email protected]