Utzurrum: Concerts and culinary journeys

WE MET world-class concert pianist Silvard Kool at the Cebu City Marriott Hotel Garden Café during the hotel’s, multi-birthday celebration for media honorees for the months of March, June, July and August.

He is so talented indeed, that then and there, he took our piano requests and played them straight-away! Thanks for “Some Enchanted Evening” Silvard!

FORWARD ladies pose with Beling (standing, fourth from right), with from left, Margy Sy, Angelina Escaño, Carmen Go, CVU, Corito Abalos, Helen Yap, Myrna Cruz Tan and Mariter Klepp. Seated from left, Terry Manguerra, a guest and Betty Young.

More photos here:

An international concert pianist and marine biologist by profession, Silvard’s music is inspired by his passion for the ocean and love for traveling. He has the unique talent of performing on the concert stage pieces he has never played before, and these he refers to as “freeflow” compositions. Two of these “freeflows” are Postcard from Cape Cod and Touched by the Sea.

Get ready to be moved by Silvard as he serenades you for brunch or dinner at the Garden Café. Be enchanted by current Broadway hits, Jazz, Ballads and original compositions from his albums.

Ongoing till Aug. 9, Thursday are various buffet offerings, Aug. 2, 7 and 9 (Tuesday and Thursday) – Italian cuisine, Aug. 3 (Friday) – seafood specialties, Aug. 4 (Saturday) – prime rib buffet and Aug. 5 (Sunday) – bubbles and brunch buffet.

Silvard will entertain brunch diners from 12 to 2 p.m., and dinner habitués from 7 to 9:30 p.m. For reservations, please call 411-5800.

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If you prefer Swiss Culinary masterpieces, head over to Marco Polo Plaza Hotel (MPPH) for the ongoing “Swissness From A to Z” food fest. Genuine Swiss gentleman and MPPH general manager Hans Hauri, who is as Swiss as chocolate and cheese, has seen to the meticulous details of this year’s (as in the past four years) gastronomic morsels, which has always spelled s-u-c-c-e-s-s!

The lunch or dinner culinary journey commenced last July 27 until Aug. 5. This is to coincide with Swiss National Day to be marked on Aug. 4, for which grandiose preparations have been made for the presence of Swiss Ambassador to the Philippines, Ivo Sieber.

So, are your gastric juices ready for Alpine air-dried beef, melt-in-the-mouth raclette cheese (uhhmm), apple strudel, zurich veal, plus everything in between? Pass by the lobby and be thrilled by a “live” William Tell (Swiss national hero) and Swissy the Cow (with a relaxing tan from beachcombing!).

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Here is another culinary trip. This time in our very own backyard Cebu, when Cebu Goes Culinary opens its doors to students and professionals.

The Hotel, Resort and Restaurant Association of Cebu (HRRAC), is behind this much-awaited event where the best in the field of culinary arts showcase their talent, creativity and skill. This will be held on Aug. 3 and 4 (Friday and Saturday), at the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) with the theme “Where Flavors meet Fun.”

The two-day activity which starts at 8 a.m. features the student and professional categories for which 300 have already signed up.

Some of the action-packed and visually-appealing, not to mention delicious treats are, Chef Wars (a regional competition for Visayas-based chefs, with the finals in Manila for the winners), Dream Team Challenge, Cake Decorating, Butter, Vegetable and Lechon (for the first time!) Carving, etc.

Be there, if you’re a foodie. Entrance is P100 for professionals and P50 for students.

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Was Martina “Beling” Gochinghai surprised when the members of Forward (Federated Womens Clubs in Cebu) “ambushed” her at her Crocolandia Garden Enclave in Talisay? If she was, she’s not telling!

Anyway, Crocolandia Foundation Inc. and Forward Inc., “conspired” to launch the Crocolandia Native Tree Garden and Forward’s Urban Native Tree Forest as a tribute to their beloved Beling, on her 84th birthday.

Why trees and gardens? Because Beling is a staunch advocate of environmental preservation and water sustainability and has been for the past, was it almost 20 years? And so it was but natural, that this affair was made for her!

Friends gathered around her at the ceremonial planting, then toured her forest glade and croc and animal farm, where everything is green and growing beautifully!

Then daughter Nellie (whose idea this was) led the ladies to the “green building” where a sumptuous vegetable lunch was served, guess what? Even her cake had mini-tree cupcakes on it. Happy Birthday, nature lady!