All things Japanese in Astoria Ortigas

The opening of Minami Saki, a Japanese restaurant specializing in authentic and traditional Japanese cuisine, has topped the list of what’s new  at the ground floor of Astoria Plaza, a deluxe hotel located at Ortigas Center in Pasig. The newly opened restaurant is different from all the ramen and katsu craze restaurants in Metro Manila as it offers classic, authentic and traditional Japanese cuisine, created by Chef Kimito Katagiri. Signature dishes include aburisushi (slightly burned sushi tuna, salmon, eel, hamachi and lapu-lapu), kaki papaya yaki (grilled Japanese oyster in papaya with miso sauce) and soft-shell crab karaage (deep fried soft shell crab with ponzi sauce)— winning dishes that have all been seaso ned with Chef Katagiri’s extensive experience in the Japanese restaurants of five-star hotels.  Minami Saki owner, Astoria Hotels and Resorts president Jeffrey Ng, COO Vivian Ng and Michael Ng were joined by senators Grace Poe Llamanzares and Bam Aquino at the ribbon-cutting ceremonies.  Congratulations to Jeffrey Ng on his latest venture!

A great place to work in Cebu

Just how many Philippine hotels send 20 or more of its staff, from all levels, for training in the US, Europe, Singapore, Thailand, and elsewhere? Very few.  Since 2002, Plantation Bay Resort and Spa has annually invested on special staff development by sending promising staff for executive education at the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration in Ithaca, upstate New York. Typically, over 10 staff members a year are sent, from all departments of the hotel.  Employees are allowed to choose which courses to take, with the resort management shouldering all expenses for the staff’s entire two-week stay in New York. Plantation Bay general manager Nenette Castillon said the resort owners believe that “we can only provide the best service, if our staff are exposed to an international environment and given the chance to learn from people from all over the world.” Aside from formal training courses, Plantation Bay also funds exposure trips so staff can learn more about the hospitality industry in other countries, and absorb five-star standards from real properties.  Earlier this year, Plantation Bay sent its Filipino Executive Chef, Henry Abellana, for Culinary Training in Spain. Plantation Bay is the only top five-star hotel in the country which has a Filipino executive chef. Kudos to Plantation Bay director Manny Gonzalez for investing in his people!  Keep it up!

A sparkling Christmas from Robinsons Land Corp

Spreading the holiday cheer to its loyal clients and patrons is the country’s premiere real estate conglomerate Robinsons Land Corp. (RLC) with its Christmas tree lighting activities held at Robinsons Place Manila and Robinsons Magnolia. The indefatigable RLC president Frederick Go, Robinsons Malls general manager Arlene Magtibay and Manila mayor Joseph Estrada led the ceremony held at Robinsons Place Manila while Robinsons Malls vice president for Lease Lulay Alano, operations director for Luzon Irving Wu and Arlene Magtibay welcomed Quezon City councilor Vincent DG. Belmonte as the guest of honor at the tree lighting event held at Robinsons Magnolia.