A summer for wine lovers

There is a society in Cebu that is dedicated to oenology and crafted spirits, the Ordre Mondial des Gourmets Degustateurs and they celebrate their dedication with theme parties. Last April 30, 2009, the centrepieces were three types of wines, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon from Australia, Chile, France, Italy, South Africa, U.S.A. and New Zealand in “A Voyage of Wine Discovery, A Journey Around the World in a Wine Glass.”

Held at the Gustavian, located at the Paseo Saturnino (road leading to Maria Luisa estate, phone 3447653), your favorite food columnist immediately went to work, aided by my favorite, the Moet et Chandon Champagne. Food photos had to be taken to accompany this culinary accounting before the beautiful displays are ruined. 

At the Veranda were the meats and salads: Australian Beef Tenderloin, Australian Rib-eye Round, Lamb Chops, Salmon Steak, Assorted Sausages, Smoked Pork Ham in Sourdough Crust, Pan-fried Goose Liver on Brioche with Raspberry Glaze, Potato-Bacon-Caper Salad, Mixed Bell Pepper Salad and Caesar Salad with Smoked Chicken Breast.

Inside the air-conditioned Butcher Shop were the perishable food and the Cold Cuts display: Steamed King Crab Legs, Oysters, Gravlax, Smoked Salmon, Assorted Sushi, Homemade Cold Cuts Platters, Italian Meat Salad, Crab & Egg Salad and Shrimp Gazpacho in Shooter Glasses.

At the Lifestyle Lounge were the Assorted Cheese Platter with Crackers, Dried Fruits & Nuts and desserts like the Savarins with Fresh Fruits, Mango Mille Feuille, Climax Cheese Cakes, Fruit Skewer with Chocolate Sauce and English Trifle.

The Cabernet Sauvignon were served at the Lifestyle Lounge and select wines from seven countries were available: Australia-Tyrell’s Moore Creek Cabernet Sauvignon, Chile-Ventisquero Cabernet Sauvignon Gran Reserva, Italy-Leonardo Da Vinci Chianti

New Zealand-Tabuna Pinot Noir Hawkey’s Bay, South Africa-Bellingham Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot and the USA-Robert Mondavi Private Selection Cabernet Sauvignon.

Select wines of Sauvignon Blanc and Merlot, seven wines of each type from seven countries were also served; that’s a total of 21 labels to choose from. If this was a real wine tasting affair, your favorite food columnist would have tried each label because you have to spit out the wine before tasting the next brand.

But that’s wasting such precious liquid, so self-imposed limitation na lang, two each of Sauvignon Blanc and Merlot and four labels from the Cabernet Sauvignon selection. Total labels tasted were nine and this includes my old buddy, Moet et Chandon Champagne.

I had fewer difficulties with the food since I merely miniaturized the portions to taste. I went for the small claws of the

Alaskan king crab, some oysters, Gravlax then merely eyed that beautiful sushi. I skipped the salads, went for the Baked Mini Siopao, then to the Assorted Cheese Platter with Crackers, Dried Fruits & Nuts and was introduced to my favorite cheese that night, the Brie de Meaux. So creamy and very delicious indeed!

Then onwards to the Meats section, I tried the Pan-fried Goose Liver on Brioche with Raspberry Glaze, two sausages and proceeded very carefully to the Smoked Pork Ham in Sourdough Crust while ignoring the Australian Veal leg Bone-In. Time for some real small slices of the Australian Beef Tenderloin, Australian Rib-eye round,

and some Lamb Chops. Choices of sauces were the Béarnaise, Mushroom, Gorgonzola and Balsamic-Shallot Jus Sauces.

Whew! So much hard work for your Food Editor and yet, I still went back for the grilled lamb chops which I considered the best dish for that night.

Congratulation to the trio of Chefs, Herman Noyens, Dietmar Dietrich and Robert Lilja for the well executed food preparations,   Vice Echanson David Sharpe for the fine selection of wines and Bailli Delegue de Philippines Michel Lhuillier whose endless generosity had made the “Voyage of Wine Discovery” possible.