Good on the taste buds, great on the eyes

MANILA, Philippines - Presentation is an important part of the dining experience. We eat with our eyes.” This statement, shared by top chef Heny Sison, reminds us that eating is as much a visual treat as it is a gustatory pleasure. Although some dishes don’t need to look good to taste good, it is generally a good practice to make food visually appealing.

The recent leg of the EAT Dining Festival held at the Alabang Town Center was different from the others I attended because it featured stylish table settings from a diverse group. The interesting designs created by The Philippine STAR’s Stephanie Zubiri, Leah San Pedro (wife of Muntinlupa Mayor Aldrin San Pedro), event stylist Henry Pascual, and radio DJ Grace Lee brought home the point that the enjoyment of food is enhanced by visual stimulation. All it takes is imagination.

DJ Grace Lee’s distinctly Asian table setting with bright red tableware reflective of her Korean heritage. “We like the basic, no excessive frills approach.”

I asked Stephanie Zubiri about her table design. “My table setting is all about the sea,” she explains. “I imagine a chic seaside house on a cliff, beautiful natural furniture, but still sophisticated and soft. The evening meal is full of the freshest catch: grilled fish and lobster; linguini a la vongole, steamed shrimp with saffron aioli... There’s coherence and harmony between what is served and how it is served. I like tables that can make you escape because every meal is a special moment.”

Stephanie shares that her family’s routine is to get together on weekends over food. Her family lives in Alabang, giving her a chance to visit Alabang Town Center often.” I love the home zone; it has a great concentration of home items: deco, plates, furniture,” she says. “I really enjoy Cyma, especially their open-air seating and their mezze platters and chicken souvlaki. CPK has great pizzas and salads. My faves are the spinach and artichoke pizza and Mediterranean salad, and Cibo for my favorite penne al telefono.”

For wedding stylist Henry Pascual’s table, the inspiration is typical Pinoy barrio scenery. With moss to represent land, and various miniature sculptures representing the usual characters you find in the rural setting, his setting can be described as a playful diorama.

“The table is just for the purpose of display, and the actual table setting should have less,” Pascual admits. But for us, the elements to be removed pose a dilemma since the table looks good enough as it is. For Pascual, who admits to “liking challenges and breaking rules,” perhaps one solution is to use a bigger table.

Formal yet relaxed table setting for Leah San Pedro, who balances spending time with her kids with work and being Mayor Aldrin San Pedro’s wife.

The table setting of DJ Grace Lee is distinctly Asian, the bright red tableware a reflection of her Korean heritage. We like the basic, no-excessive-frills approach, since this will allow diners to concentrate more on their food. Surely, the spiciest kimchi would be most appropriately served on dishes such as these.

Leah San Pedro likes sharing meals and spending time with her kids. As Mayor Aldrin San Pedro’s wife and a busy mother, she occasionally takes advantage of the convenience of takeout food.

Opportunely, the Alabang Town Center with its diverse restaurants is close to her home. She describes her table-setting style as “formal yet relaxed.” For us, this makes a great combination. We believe that even in the most formal settings, a diner must be relaxed enough to be able to enjoy his food.

Wedding stylist Henry Pascual’s table is inspired by typical Pinoy barrio scenery. With moss to represent land, and various miniature sculptures representing the usual characters that you will find in the rural setting, the table setting is like a playful diorama.