CEBU, Philippines – The nightlife of many Cebuanos has changed since May last year. A French bakery, deli and wine shop has made many French culinary treats - wines especially - available in town and at very affordable prices. And, more, customers may enjoy what they have bought right in the place itself, in five-star ambiance that some customers call "really Facebook-worthy!" given that the place has wifi connection.
The success of the original La Vie Parisienne in Lahug, Cebu City, has prompted the opening of its second outlet, barely a year and a half since, at the Level 3, New Wing, Ayala Center Cebu. Its products are now more conveniently available to people, especially those in the mall. The mall outlet has the ambiance of a sidewalk café in the streets of Paris, only that here it is air-conditioned. And there's no extra charge for the seat (in Paris, prices are lower if customers drink their beverage standing up!). The best part is - customers can enjoy nearly the same French delicacies without paying airplane tickets, travel tax and, excuse me, the increases in MCIAA terminal fees!
I was born in an era where many foreign food and drinks could be had only if you travelled outside the country. At that time Hong Kong was the convenient destination and in the apartment where I stayed, 40 years ago, I lined up all the fruits I wanted to taste like persimmons, plums, dates, etc. I had such a wonderful time tasting so many new things, my beginnings perhaps as your favorite food writer.
Back to La Vie Parisienne and French food, my favorite author, Doreen Fernandez (Tikim: Essays on Philippine Food and Culture) writes that it "has become the standard, and anyone seriously interested in good food strives to learn about, experience, and taste it." And this French Bakery, Deli and Wine Library all rolled into one offers wonderful opportunities which I never had before.
Father Vladimir Rozeau blessed the premises of the outlet at the mall with French Consul Michel Lhuillier, Dr. Amparito Lhuillier, Louis Thevenin and Honey Thevenin. Refreshments were served. Appetizers (les amuse-bouches) were Tartelette Roquefort, Croizza, Smoked Salmon Toast with Crème Chantilly, Rillettes-de-Sanglier and Mini Éclairs Sale. However, I did miss my favourite, the Bonbon au Foie Gras.
The Mini tart was flavoured with Roquefort cheese, a sheep milk blue cheese from the south of France and it has a rather sharp taste and smell (one has to acquire the taste). The journey through the world of cheese is slow and only when you can savor the taste of cheeses like Bleu d' Auvergne Volcan and Melusine have you reached your destination.
The croizza is a hybrid between croissant and pizza invented by La Vie French Chef Adrien Guerrey. It is available in Classic, Bacon and Napoletana flavors. It can be paired with Shanpelino Sparkling Wines (grape, apple, strawberry, raspberry and peach) which are designed by Louis Thevenin to match the Filipino's preference for a sweet tasting wine with a bubbly taste.
The taste and smell of French food brought back memories to 1975, when I had dinner at Au Bon Vivant, the first French restaurant in Manila. The waiter served us a cup of rice and it was the cooked rice that I can never forget. It looked like beads of glass, not opaque or translucent but completely transparent and I been searching for it ever since but never found it again.