“Happiness is the longing for repetition” — Milan Kundera
A 10-day grand festival featuring the food and culture of the Czech Republic was held at Basix, the all-day dining restaurant of the luxurious Dusit Thani Manila. Lovers of great cuisine were treated to a gustatory feast of Czech cuisine by Prague’s very own pride and award-winning chef Vladimir Salansky.
On hand to welcome the guests were Czech Republic Ambassador Josef Rychtar and Dusit Thani Manila GM Prateek Kumar.
Basix, the home to various successfully held diplomatic festivals, showcased Czech favorites that included south bohemian headcheese with spring onion and Czech vinegar, fried ham roll with fresh horseradish and Znojmo cucumber basket, chicken a la pheasant and piquant beef goulash with Carlsbad dumplings.
Congratulations on a successful gastronomic festival!
Unmistakably Louis Vuitton
Manila’s veritable who’s who in society and most fashionable set recently made their way to the opening of Louis Vuitton’s newly expanded store at Greenbelt 4. The milestone event was spearheaded by the dynamic Louis Vuitton team composed of Asia Pacific president Jean Baptiste Debains, GM for Micronesia and the Philippines Edouard Faure and Philippines country manager Rhea de Vera-Aguirre. A set of Louis Vuitton trunk doors opened to guests who excitedly entered the party venue that was reminiscent of an airport runway — a whimsical “World of Flight” with all the hot air balloons and vintage model airplanes.
Prominent guests such as Kit Zobel, Doña Bea and Don Jaime Zobel were among those who graced the elegant affair and rediscovered the brand’s exemplary spirit of travel, artistic tastes and contemporary luxury. International performers DJ Simon Washford and DJ Janva provided superb music to the event. French magician Stefan Leyschon entertained guests with his amazing illusions while mixolologist Joseph Boroski, from New York, made especially designed martini concoctions. Highlighting the opening was the special preview of the latest additions to the highly popular Empreinte collection. Congratulations!
A much-awaited Christmas bazaar
The Zonta Club of Manila I will hold its Christmas bazaar today, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., at the ballroom of the Hotel InterContinental in Makati City. The annual bazaar is known for its good mix of products, from international designer fashion items, jewelry, religious icons to wines and pastries. All major credit cards will be honored.
Photo shows (seated, from left) the organizing committee’s over-all chairperson Dr. Baby Perez Sison, co-chair Baby De Jesus, secretary Cynthia Cruz and Zonta Club of Manila president, lawyer Daisy Arce; (standing, from left) first vice-president Nene Pe Lim, second vice-president Fely Umandap, co-chairpersons Nida Lopez and Letty Calma, with assistant treasurer Sol Dizon and co-chairperson, lawyer Gina Geraldez.
It’s always best to do your Christmas shopping early. See you there!
Greetings
Happy birthday to our celebrators today, STAR president and CEO Miguel Belmonte and Guatemala Consul Mellie Ablaza.
Advance birthday greetings to golf enthusiast Alex Prieto, Nov. 28; Rep. Gilberto Duavit, Nov. 29; Andre Navato, Nov. 30; 2010 PCS Best Dressed Women of the Philippines awardee Salome Uy, Jorge Bernasconi and Naty Golez, Dec. 1; Wilcon Builders’ Depot president William Belo, Let Aguado, Patty Rebano, Ruby Chua, Bheng Aguado and Cita Schmid, Dec. 2; Albertito Lopez and STAR’s Catherine Angeles, Dec. 3.
Belated birthday greetings to STAR’s Igan D’Bayan, Nov. 23.
So how was your week?
(For comments and inquiries, please e-mail me at jjlitton@indanet.com)