THERE was a full moon sailing on the evening sky turning the sea and everything on sight to silver that night the Crimson Resort in Mactan held a fellowship dinner for the Cebu chapter of La Chaine des Rotisseurs.
“We chose the date of the full moon,” James Montenegro told Michel Lhuillier, honorary consul of France and Baili Delegue of La Chaine for the entire Philippines.
“Beautiful,” agreed Amparito Llamas Lhuillier, who heads La Chaine’s Cebu chapter. Most of everyone had complied with her request to wear blue jeans and white tops.
Imagine the ethereal glow of more than 80 persons so attired, on the terrace of the Crimson’s Azure Beach Club, overlooking the limpid sea, at times reflecting the moon.
Dinner was duly announced and everyone went to search a table, as it had been deemed free seating. As courses were served superlatives were heaped on the two chefs who had prepared it in tandem.
One was the Crimson’s executive chef Godfrey Laforteza III, while the other was Dale Talde, a Filipino-American celebrity chef who is based in New York.
Representing La Chaine’s Cebu board, aside from Michael and Amparito that evening were Dr. Nestor Alonso who came with his wife Joji, Dr. Vivina Chiu Yrastorza, and Winglip Chang.
Later on they were on the dais to present citations of appreciation to
the Crimson Resort’s general manager Kristopher Quadros, the Azure Beach Club manager Steffen Sulzer, and the two chefs who rated loud applause.
At the moment Amparito Lhuillier is in California on vacation, touching base with Monique and Tom Bugbee and the grandchildren. She’ll be back next week and we will learn what are the coming fellowship for La Chaine. The anniversary gala has been set for Dec. 9 at the Shangri-La in Mactan.
For tonight at 7:30 p.m. at La Tavolata Italian restaurant, Bibendum’s Margie Taylor informs us that Raymond Joseph is gathering a group to introduced the Pirramina wines. Mark Conroy will speak on what wines make the best pairings for the varied courses served.
All set to open to the public on July 26 is the Pig and Palm restaurant of Carla and Chris McKowen at the MSY building of their parents, Carlos and Mariquita Yeung, in Cebu Business Park.
Partnering with them is Jason Atherton who operates three Michelin-starred restaurants in London. Reason why he has come to Cebu is that his wife Irha is from here. They reside in London with their two daughters. They’ll be in Cebu often.