You are invited to a party!

And the festivity, the Soirée Beaujolais Cebu 2008 will be held on Saturday, November 29 at 7:00 pm, Cebu Grand Ballroom, Marco Polo Plaza Cebu (Nivel Hills, Cebu City, phone 253-1111 (www.marcopoloplazacebu.com). This celebration is organized by the Les Amis de la France (French Cultural Institute and Language Center), Le Club (The French Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines), Department of Tourism and M. Lhuillier Philippines.

It is all about culture, that "totality of socially transmitted behavior patterns, arts, beliefs, institutions, and all other products of human work and thought." And during this event, it is all about the grandeur of French culture, with emphasis on the subject which your favorite food columnist likes best, the food and the wine.

Last November 5, a press conference was held to formally launch the Voyage en France, a series of cultural activities to underscore the best segments of French culture with the presence of major sponsors headed by Honorary Consul Michel Lhuillier of the République Française and Bernard Flour, President of Le Club (celebrating its 20th anniversary).

Highlight of the celebration will be Beaujolais Nouveau; a red wine produced from the Gamay variety of grape. Processed using carbonic maceration (whole berry fermentation, grape or must is pressed after only after three days) and this method reduces the extraction of the astringent tannins from the grape skin making it fruity and easy to drink. One wine expert describes the Beaujolais as "the only white wine that happens to be red." Add the marketing wizardry of Georges Duboeuf and the rest of the world began to herald that the "Le Beaujolais Est Arrivé!"

Not all wines from the Beaujolais region are nouveau; there are 12 main appellations (geographical indications) of wines in the Beaujolais region. This include the Beaujolais AOC, the Beaujolais Blanc & Beaujolais Rosé, Beaujolais-Villages AOC and the Cru Beaujolais. Under the latter classification, there are 10 Beaujolais Crus (meaning growth place) like the Brouilly Régnié Chiroubles, Fleurie, Saint-Amour, Morgon, Moulin-à-Vent, Juliénas etc… so many wines to study! Buy na lang a ticket to the Soirée Beaujolais Cebu 2008 and some of these wines will be served.

Lunch followed at the BLU Bar and Grill and Chef Luke Gagnon and staff, as usual, were very conservative in preparing a finite number of dishes, from appetizers to desserts. Only 25 dishes were served and each and every dish has to be tasted by your favorite food columnist so proper culinary accounting could be made.

Two and half hours to finish lunch; this is definitely very hard work! Excluded pa my favorite French cheeses and no wine to aid digestion and my beloved followers know about my self-imposed restrictions. Some of the dishes that were exceptional were the Soufflé AU Comte (Comte Cheese Soufflé) with the Tapinade (Olive Spread), Ratatouille, Confit De Canard (Preserved Duck) and my old favorite, Le Negre (Flourless Chocolate Cake).

As envisioned by the management of Marco Polo Cebu, headed by my good friend GM Hans Hauri, this Voyage en France starts on the 22nd of November until the 5th of December with the Parcours Culiniare, a two week culinary journey of the finest French cuisine with guest Chef Marc Aubry at the Café Marco.

During the same period, an Iténéraire Cinématographique (French Film Festival) at El Viento will showcase some French Films from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm for free viewing. These films are definitely not available from your favorite torrent sites or your friendly pirate sources.

Tickets and reservations for the Soiree Beaujolais Cebu 2008 are available at the Marco Polo Plaza Cebu (phone 253-1111 local 8245, Gustavian (#1 Paseo Saturnino, Maria Luisa Road, Banilad, phone 344-7653), Gustavian Ayala Center (The Terraces, phone 231-0758) and Les Amis de la France (phone 232-1311).

Vive La France, Mabuhay Philippines!