A date with Italy’s finest

Spending precious time with friends is something to look forward to as you get to catch up with each other’s activities and reminisce on the good times  you’ve shared.

A perfect venue for an intimate gathering like this is Caruso Ristorante Italiano, a fine dining Italian restaurant under the brilliant leadership of owners Emilio Mina and Dario Gardini. The restaurant, with its elegant interiors and warm ambiance, is a venue of choice of local and international luminaries who want to experience the rich flavors of the world-renowned Italian cuisine. 

National Book Store founder and chairman and STAR columnist Socorro “Nanay” Ramos, National Book Store president Alfred Ramos and wife, vice president Presy Ramos, Swatch Philippines president Virgie Ramos and Ilocos Sur Gov. Chavit Singson were among the recent patrons of this fine dining restaurant.

Indeed, Caruso Ristorante Italiano knows how to make intimate gatherings more remarkable and memorable.

Way to go Emilio, Dario and team!

(Caruso Ristorante Italiano is located at LRI Building, Bel-Air, Makati City. For inquiries, call 895-2451. Check out its branch at Station 2 in Boracay.)

The exquisite Chilean wines

BestWorld Beverage Brands Inc., together with Luis Felipe Edwards (LFE), one of the biggest wineries in Chile, hosted a successful wine dinner at Café Ysabel. 

LFE was awarded the Chilean Wine Producer of 2012 at the prestigious International Wine and Spirits Competition. For every Café Ysabel canapé, savory meat course (duck and angus beef medallion) and lip-smacking dessert, there is an equally exquisite LFE wine that will match it. 

Spotted at the affair were LFE director for Asia Pacific and the Middle East Nick Tullett, BestWorld Beverage Brands Inc. president and general manager Edna Diaz, Café Ysabel owner chef Gene Gonzalez, Dusit Thani Manila F&B director Gilbert Uy and Chilean Embassy deputy head of mission Fernanda Vila. 

Cheers! Chefs on the rise

Talented Cebuano media personalities showcased their culinary expertise as they participated in the recently concluded “The Great Media Cookout” sponsored by the five-star Marco Polo Plaza Cebu (MPPC).

Café Marco, the hotel’s signature outlet and the fifth best restaurant in the country, served as the cooking platform of Honey Jarque Loop, Dr. Nestor Alonso II, Tonee Despojo, Ann Marie Tan, Alexis Yap, Noel Villaflor and the Buenaviaje brothers Doyzkie, Edd and Reymond, with each one showing off impressive cooking skills.

Meanwhile, guests were graciously welcomed by MPPC’s visionary general manager Hans Hauri and were treated to a gastronomic feast of delectable dishes specially prepared by the aspiring media chefs.

Congratulations to Hans and the diligent Marco Polo team for another successful culinary fest!