A sumptuous, imperial dinner

We were literally dining like emperors at the exclusive sit-down dinner held at Marco Polo Ortigas Manila’s Lung Hin, a contemporary specialty restaurant that features authentic Cantonese cuisine and the freshest of seafood.

Cocktails at the hotel’s Connect Lounge preceded the seven-course imperial set menu jointly prepared by the hotel’s Chinese executive chef Sunny Cheng and dim sum chef Pun Ka Ming. We couldn’t help closing our eyes as we savored bite after bite of the whole bird’s nest with fresh crab meat sauce and braised six-head South African abalone with goose liver. The food presentation was arresting; the taste of each dish matched with the finest of wines was simply heavenly. And what a view of the Ortigas skyline!

The dinner was doubly special as it was a surprise birthday party for our friend, EMotors Inc. president Beth Lee.

Guests went home with special tikoy and homemade X.O. sauce by chef Sunny.

The Oriental holiday merriment never ends at Lung Hin located at the hotel’s 44th floor. We thank Marco Polo Ortigas Manila general manager Frank Reichenbach and director for marketing communications Judith Los Baños for an absolutely wonderful evening.

Hope to see you there!

Greetings

Happy birthday to our celebrator today, Alice Briones.

Advance birthday greetings to STAR editorial board head Isaac Belmonte, Manny Maceda, Offie Recto and Babette Aquino Benoit, Jan. 4; megastar Sharon Cuneta-Pangilinan and Cesar Gaupo, Jan. 6; Tess Litton, Apa Ongpin and Tootsie Eduque-Marco, Jan. 7; Dr. Jaime Laya, Jan. 8; Wilcon Depot’s Lorraine Belo-Cincochan, Jan. 9.

Happy wedding anniversary to Paing and Mely Hechanova, Jan. 8. May you share many, many more cherished years together.

So, how was your week?

(For comments and inquiries, please e-mail me at jjlitton@indanet.com.)