The night I got high on a 5-star Dinner in the Sky
‘Prince Albert of Monaco joined Dinner in the Sky to celebrate his fifth anniversary as prince. When he got down, he said that he wanted to go up again,’ says David Ghysels, founder and owner of DITS. ‘There was a marriage proposal on DITS,’ he adds. ‘The groom brought his fiancée up, blindfolded, and then removed the blindfold when they reached the top where he made the proposal.’
How does one prepare for a four-course, five-star hotel dinner served 150 feet above the ground as it is suspended from a crane for an hour?
I don’t know — and I was not prepared for the experience when I went on the inaugural “flight” of Dinner in the Sky (DITS) Philippines at Solaire Resort and Casino recently.
I don’t have vertigo and I’m not afraid of heights, but that one hour on DITS gave me a high I would never forget.
I was in high spirits — with the same adrenaline rush I got when I first drove a car, owned my first dog, and learned how to bike — as I enjoyed yummy vegetarian food.
Preparations of the meal before the flight(right). Simply yummy: Slow roasted baby pumpkin, Aji spice, red quinoa, edamame, and huacaina cream with chili con salsa(center). Charred baby corn elotes, sour cream, pico de gallo, piquillo peppers and pickled red cabbage(right)
Hang in there
“MMI has been bringing in concerts to Manila for many years,” said Rhiza Pascua, CEO of MMI Live, who shared with me her own experience when we got down from DITS. “I love unique experiences and eating, too. So when my husband, Angelo, and I experienced Dinner in the Sky in Belgium four years ago, we became interested in bringing this experience to Filipinos.”
When the Pascuas learned that Dinner in the Sky made it to Malaysia two years ago, they went there to experience it again.
And two years later, last April 3, the inaugural flight of DITS Philippines was held at Solaire Resort and Casino.
“We like the support that Solaire Resort and Casino offered,” Pascua added. “The hotel made a commitment that their top chefs would personally prepare the meals for DITS. We also really love the spot where DITS is now.”
Scouting for a location for DITS, the Pascuas had drones flown over the areas in Metro Manila they were interested in, even as far as Laguna.
But the spot across Solaire Resort and Casino was the one MMI fell in love with.
I was with Pascua on the inaugural flight at 5:30 p.m. and I saw up close how beautiful the sunset over Manila Bay really was. There was a second flight that evening at 7:30 p.m. and they said that the view of the city lights and skyline,150 feet above, was like no other.
“What makes the Philippine run different from the other places DITS has been in is that there is a new chef every two weeks,” added Pascua. “In the other locations of DITS, there is just one chef for the whole run.”
From left: David Ghysels, founder and owner of Dinner In The Sky, Author Kathy Moran and the view from where she sat, Rhiza Pascua, CEO of MMI Live, Lorenzo Manalang, VP for brand and marketing of Solaire Resort and Casino.
Most unusual
The sky dining experience has earned for itself a spot on Forbes Magazine’s list of the world’s Top 10 Most Unusual Restaurants.
“When we created Dinner in the Sky 12 years ago (2006), we didn’t imagine the success it would have,” said David Ghysels of Belgium, founder and owner of Dinner In The Sky, who was my seatmate for the experience. “At the start, we saw that people liked to go up in the sky lifted by a crane. But to stay up there for an hour and have a delicious meal made the experience extra special.”
Ghysels believes that it is the bonds formed between the guests who meet at DITS and the chef that make it truly memorable.
“In Brussels, where the DITS is held yearly during summer, there are guests who return the following year with the friends they made in the previous year on DITS,” added Ghysels. “That is what completes the experience.”
Ghysels recounted when Prince Albert of Monaco joined Dinner in the Sky to celebrate his fifth anniversary as prince. “When he got down, he said he wanted to go up again. He told us to come again the following year.”
There was even a marriage proposal on DITS, Ghysels recalled. The groom brought his fiancée up, blindfolded, and then removed the blindfold when they reached the top where he made the proposal.
Among the locations where Dinner In The Sky has taken place are the Strip of Las Vegas, the gardens of the King David Hotel, the Marina of Dubai, the hills of the Villa Borghese, the banks of the St. Lawrence River, the beach of Copacabana, Cape Town Bay, and the Petronas Twin Tower in Kuala Lumpur. Solaire Resort and Casino is its next stop, with diners enjoying a breathtaking view of the famed Manila Bay sunset.
Dinner to remember
A night view of the 7:30 p.m. DITS on April 3
As I sat on my seat suspended in the air, I focused on my meal to keep me from looking down. I held my cell phone a little more tightly as I took photos and videos of the view beneath my feet, making sure I did not drop it.
The vegetarian meal prepared by chef Hylton Le Roux of Waterside Restaurant was delicious that eating it made me forget how high up I was. I loved the main course of slow roasted baby pumpkin, Aji spice, red quinoa, edamame, and huacaina cream with chili con salsa — perfect for this high adventure! I was also told that all of the dinners in DITS include a vegetarian option. Great!
“As we celebrate our fifth anniversary, Solaire Resort and Casino brings you yet another world-class experience,” added Lorenzo Manalang, VP for brand and marketing of Solaire Resort and Casino. “Dinner In The Sky is a bold testament to our commitment to continuously give our guests memorable experiences that no other property in the Philippines has done before.”
The world-class meals will be prepared by three of Solaire Resort and Casino’s chefs, including chef Hylton Le Roux, chef Alan Marchetti of Finestra, and chef Norimasa Kosaka of Yakumi; followed by chef Kenneth Cacho, director for Culinary Arts of the International School for Culinary Arts and Hotel Management (ISCAHM), and Michelin-star chef Yves Mattagne of Sea Grill in Brussels, Belgium.
“I know that a crucial component of DITS is a fabulous meal,” said Manalang. “It is an experience to go up 150 feet and be suspended above land for one hour. And since Solaire Resort and Casino has some of the best restaurants in Metro Manila, what we offer is great food so that DITS becomes a truly memorable experience.”
David Ghysels, founder and owner of Dinner In The Sky; Stefan Kerkhofs, founder and owner of Dinner In The Sky; Tommy Lee, operation director of DITS Asia; Brian Corvers, managing partner of DITS Asia; Connice Lee, finance director of DITS Asia; Angelo Pascua, president of DITS Philippines; Bastian Breuer, vice president, food & beverage of Solaire Resort and Casino; and Lorenzo Manalang, vice president, brand & marketing of Solaire Resort and Casino
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Dinner In The Sky packages start at P9,990 and includes a four-course dinner, a view of Manila, and a once-in-a-lifetime experience worth dining for.
FAQs on DITS
Where can DITS Philippines seats be purchased?
Seats are only sold online at www.dinnerinthesky.ph.
Who can experience Dinner In The Sky Philippines?
Anyone above 13 years old with a minimum height of 145cm and a maximum weight of 150kg. If the guest is 18, the presence and signature of a parent/guardian is required.
Can guests bring their bags with them?
No. There are lockers where guests will be asked to leave their bags. They may bring cameras and cell phones.
Is there Wi-Fi at 150 feet?
There is no Wi-Fi and the 3G signal can also be a bit erratic.
What does the Dinner In The Sky Philippines experience cover?
It covers admission to Dinner In The Sky Philippines lounge, a seat on the Dinner In The Sky Philippines table and a four-course meal.
How many people can sit around the table?
Dinner In The Sky can seat a maximum of 22 people per session.
How long does each experience last?
The dining experience in the sky will take one hour. Guests are to register at the Dinner In the Sky Lounge at least an hour before the time of the session that they have bought.
What if I have to use the restroom?
All guests are asked to use the restroom prior to taking their seats — anyway, it is only an hour’s experience.
Is the experience safe?
Yes, it is. The table is built in Belgium with all drawings, calculations, and simulations tested by TÜV Rhineland, a global provider of technical, safety, and certification services. This obsession for safety is probably one of the reasons why the experience is now operated in more than 40 countries and got the official authorizations from some of the toughest countries in the world. Thousands of Dinner In The Sky experiences have taken place since its launch in May 2006.
How high does the table go?
The table can go up to a maximum of 45-50 meters or 150 feet.
