Cebuana socialite opens own fine dine restaurant

CEBU, Philippines - Cebuana socialite and philanthropist Amparito Llamas-Lhuillier opened a fine dining restaurant to add up to the choices of the growing dine-out customers in Cebu.

“There is a [growing] market for fine dining in Cebu,” said Lhuillier in an interview adding that although the Lhuillier Group of Companies already operate several restaurants, she intended to open up her own to take advantage of the growing market.

Casa Amparito recently opened located at the old Pino Restaurant in Lahug, this city. Lhuillier said she registered for sole ownership of the restaurant and registered it under the Amparito L. Lhuillier Inc.

The two-story fine dining restaurant offers international cuisine, as well as take-out counter to accommodate consumers who have limited time to enjoy the “fine dining” serving and ambiance.

Lhuillier operated her own brand of restaurant in the 1980’s, the “Amparito’s Continental Cuisine, which was a 70-seater restaurant along Mango Avenue.

“We were always full then, so I want to bring it back,” Mrs. Lhuillier said who readily accepted her husband Michel’s challenge of revamping the old Pino.

She said “Casa Amparito” is joining the handful of good fine dining restaurant choices in Cebu.

Apart from the other businesses of the Group, which she is now hands-on in the financial operations, she said her passion for offering good food is what drives her to open up the 100-seater “Casa Amparito.”

Casa Amparito also serves as another venue for Mrs. Lhuillier’s philanthropy. The restaurant employs a handful of her scholars from the Amparito Llamas-Lhuillier Foundation.

As a businesswoman, she said she believes in investing in good people, “as they are the key to any business venture’s true success.”

She said the restaurant will carry her own signature brand, and quality of food, ambiance, and Cebuano’s well known consciousness in prices, are being carefully put in place.

Investing into good restaurant, she said could not only give additional business revenue for the group, but will also provide Cebu with good food outlet facilities, aside from the mainstream restos.

It is now high time for Cebu to offer the “best” in fine dining service, as it is becoming a world class business and vacation destination.

The Amparito L. Lhuillier Inc., invested about P3 million to renovate the old Pino restaurant.

She said she also invested on a good management team, tapping the service of Chef Dino Guingona, who is very successful in his profession having worked at the Ritz-Carlton in San Francisco, White House Hotel in United Kingdom, and others.

“Casa Amparito menu promises unique and exotic flavors including stuffed crocodile and ostrich steak while keeping the Pino best-sellers such as crispy pata, laing, and tenderloin steak,” Guingona said. – (FREEMAN)