An exquisite dinner
Dinners at The Tivoli of the Mandarin Oriental Manila are always stunning, to say the least. The recent dinner for Ambassadors and their spouses was replete with vivid colors of flowers of all shapes and shades, small decorative birdcages as candle holders, designer porcelain and stemware in various tints standing out against the satiny-sheen of the dark-colored tablecloth.
Service was, as usual, flawless and the menu of Stilton-pear ravioli with celery crème, foie gras crumble, Balik salmon and poached quail egg, and US Prime Angus Beef Tenderloin Wellington was simply divine. Thanks to the very capable hands of The Tivoli executive sous chef Remi Vercelli. Everything prepared at the dinner table at the Roxas Room was interesting — from the setting, special wines, flute and guitar music to the warm company of very close friends.
Coincidentally, Israeli Ambassador Menashe Bar-On and his lovely wife Eti were also celebrating their 37th wedding anniversary that evening. Congratulations to the lovely couple!
Indeed, a beautiful and delightful evening was enjoyed by everyone. Kudos to the superb team of Mandarin Oriental Manila F&B director Peter Pysk, hotel manager Oliver Kreuzer and communications director Charisse Chuidian!
A lovely christening
The historic San Agustin Church in Intramuros, Manila was the chosen venue for the baptism of Sofia Ines Garcia, daughter of Department of Foreign Affairs special assistant in the Office of the Undersecretary for Policy Hendrik Garcia and wife Marta.
Present at the intimate gathering were family and friends who were all delighted to witness baby Sofia being welcomed to the Christian community. A lavish reception followed at Barbara’s, a fine dining restaurant that serves sumptuous traditional Filipino and Spanish dishes.
Welcome to our faith Sofia!
GREETINGS
Happy birthday to our celebrators today, SGV founder Washington SyCip, Ana Litton, Perry Pe, Arsenio Bartolome III, noted dermatologist Dr. Clare Palabyab and Rene Banzon.
Advance birthday greetings to STAR’s Tanya Lara, businessman Jose Antonio Gonzalez, Pitang Tiongson, Dennis Valdes and Ben Farrales, July 1; wonderful lady Aida Cobankiat and China Bank chair Gilbert Dee, July 2; Zambia Consul Louie Ablaza, Vicky Veloso-Barrera, Viring Ongkeko, Tommy Manotoc and Edgardo Tordesillas, July 3; The Bellevue Hotels & Resorts managing director Patrick Chan, former Vice President Teofisto “Tito†Guingona, Peter Go Pailan and Johnny Velasquez, July 4.
So, how was your week?
(For comments or inquiries, please e-mail me at jjlitton@indanet.com.)
