FIFTY guests, mostly from the pharmaceutical and medical industry attended “Come Dine With Me” at the Sampaguita ballroom of the Cebu City Marriott Hotel.
The menu was transcontinental, ideated by Dr. Vivina Chiu Yrastorza in collaboration with the Marriott’s executive chef Chachpol Suaisom.
Every course in the menu represented a favorite gastronomic destination, hence: Bangkok, Paris, New York, Sydney and Milan.
To jazz it up the Marriott staff wore flight attendant outfits and collected boarding passes issued to every guest.
They indicated seats in a magnificently laid out table, adorned with masses of flowers that were mounted on gloaming golden candelabra dripping with crystal beads.
Marriott Cebu general manager Patrick Carroll welcomed everyone, but did not stay on. It was his birthday and had another appointment.
Dr. Vivina also greeted the elegant assemblage.
She mentioned Nico Velasquez, the hotel’s public relations officer, for thinking about the flight of fancy. He had the full support of communications director Frances Alfafara and sales supervisor Josef Chiongbian.
Ready for take off? In Bangkok it was pomelo and prawn salad with lime juice. In Paris it was seared foie gras and a lobster bisque blended with cream.
Off to New York for US tenderloin, and on to Sydney for those creamy scallops. In Milan was the three-pronged dessert—Mango pana cotta, lemon cheese cake, and chocolate lava.
The wines served throughout were excellent, best of all the Riesling specially chosen by Dr. Vivina. At the end of the dinner the Marriott’s sales and marketing director proposed a toast to Dr. Vivina for the whole idea.
Many have asked when’s the next one?