Ito Curata: The consummate host

‘I relish the opportunity to make my friends happyon their special day.’

If ever Ito Curata would get tired of his day job as a couturier, he could certainly thrive as a party organizer. The art of entertaining is so part of Curata’s skill set that the man can easily write a book on the topic.

“I probably got the knack for entertaining from my mother and her relatives. In Batangas, they enjoyed get-togethers so much, they would find the slightest excuse to throw a party!” Curata says.

Already known for their social events in San Francisco, Curata and his partner Bob Miller decided to continue their tradition of entertaining in Manila. At present, the couple hosts dinners of eight to 10 guests several times a week and throws two parties, consisting of about 50 or more people every couple of months.

It was no wonder then that when Allure editor and PeopleAsia editor-in-chief Joanne Rae Ramirez’s  birthday approached, Curata asked her if he could throw a party for her — and he relished every moment of the planning process. Curata recounts, “We came up with the concept 10 days before the actual event. We wanted to have a theme that would encourage people to dress up. The Oscars had recently concluded and we both  thought it would be a great idea to have the Academy Awards as a theme.”

Once the theme was established, it was up to Curata to organize the party. “It is important for people to have fond memories of the party. In the beginning, I thought of using tarpaulins with the Oscar theme as a photo-op display but eventually changed my mind because it has been done once too often. Bob and I did our research and we found a company that could fabricate large display structures in a short amount of time. It was there that I ordered a seven-foot Oscar statue. It made perfect sense to do so. Watching the Academy Awards, I noticed that they had the same set up during the red carpet portion of the show.”

Speaking of red carpet, a last-minute snafu occurred when the suppliers delivered a red carpet that was too narrow and dark to be considered “Oscar-worthy.”

“The carpet was delivered in the morning of the party. I took one look at it and knew that it just would not do, so I went to Shell Canvas and purchased 10 meters of red industrial carpet material.” The entire set-up turned out to be quite the success, as all throughout the evening, guests would have their photos taken next to the giant statue.

The excitement of the party was further amplified by the inclusion of an informal contest. “We thought it would be a great idea to have a ‘Best Dressed’ and ‘Star of the Night’ awards for the evening,” Curata explains. “A lot of our friends thought it would be fun as it gave them a bit more incentive to look great!”

Winners of the “Best Dressed Couple” award were Suzette and Manny Lopez who arrived in matching black and white ensembles. The “Best Dressed Female” award went to Linda Ley, “Best Dressed Male” award went to lawyer Rene Puno and the “Star of the Night” award went to Suzette Hahn-Lopez.

Apart from the lovely background music provided by Bojo Luzentales, much talked about was the sumptuous international buffet that Curata planned. So intent was Curata in making sure his guests were properly fed that he actually cooked some of the entrées himself. “I had experienced working in a Japanese restaurant during my college days in San Francisco. That stint was wonderful for me as it not only enhanced my skills at cooking, but also gave me confidence about my ability to create flavorful dishes. At home, I usually create a fusion of Californian/Italian fare. Nothing fancy, just simple home cooking. For Joanne Rae’s party, I contacted a tried and tested Thai chef for many of the dishes. For the roast beef and paella, I reached out to Neil’s Kitchen. I come from Batangas and the ‘fiesta feel’ runs strong with me so for this special evening, I wanted to add my own touch to the menu by preparing the turkey, pasta carbonara and rumaki myself.”

Naturally, a number of ladies came to the event wearing Curata creations. Birthday celebrant Joanne Rae Ramirez wore a light gold matte silk gazar gown reminiscent of Best Actress winner Jennifer Lawrence’s Oscar’s gown, Dr. Nik Lombos wore a chocolate brown sequined column number with black taffeta detail and lawyer Rene Puno’s better half Ann Puno wore a black lace, one-sided ensemble embellished with sequined tassels. Mayenne Carmona wore a bustier gown similar to one Ito created for Sharon Stone.

“Parties are great opportunities for people to connect,” Curata explains. “For a party to be successful, one may be wise to invite interesting people who can liven up the event with good, meaningful conversation. Food and wine need not be expensive but must be well thought of — a combination of tastes that people would remember you for. The ambience, lighting, physical arrangement and music must fit the theme of the party. In this case, apart from the Oscar statue and red carpet, I had the musicians play Academy Award nominated/winning movie themes. But most of all, a good host must make sure that everything gels well. That means working both the back and front of the rooms. Hosting a party is not as easy as people think. During my events, I constantly check on the small things — is there enough ice in stock, is there enough toilet paper in the bathroom, are the members of the kitchen staff mindful about handling the food carefully?”

When asked what is the one essential component that separates a good party from a great one, Curata has this to share, “As a general rule for any endeavor, if one is to do anything in life, it has to be done well. In the context of throwing an event, a host has to love what he/she is doing. Once the love is there, it will show throughout the event. I love throwing parties and connecting with people. I relish the opportunity to make my friends happy on their special day.”