Sunday, June 22, 2008 Authentic Spanish lifestyle brands, specialties
A TRADE fair of authentic Spanish lifestyle brands and a gastronomic celebration of delectable Spanish specialties will delight Baguio residents all day on June 28 until noontime of June 29 in celebration of this year's Filipino-Spanish Friendship Day.
Aptly dubbed "Buen Provecho", the event is presented by the oldest chamber of commerce in the Philippines, Camara Oficial Espanola de Comercio, Industria y Navegacion en Filipinas, Inc., more popularly known as La Camara, and The Manor at Camp John Hay, in cooperation with Le Chef.
The Feria Espanola (Spanish Trade Fair) will start at 10 a.m. near the lobby area of The Manor. Exhibitors will sell Spanish olive oil, cheeses, sardines, chorizos, canned vegetables, wines, Cava (Spanish champagne), and many other products at prices lower than those in supermarkets and malls. Throughout Saturday (June 28), there will also be free cooking demonstrations by guest Chef Reggie Aspiras and free seminars on Spanish wines by wine authority, connoisseur, and columnist Sherwin Lao.
A delectable gourmet dinner at 7 p.m. on Saturday at The Suites at Camp John Hay will be the highlight of the celebration as Chef Reggie waves her culinary wand to produce a sumptuous spread of specialties from Spain, with the support of Le Chef's Billy King and his expert kitchen assistants.
Cocktails will be served at the foyer area of The Suites, with free-flowing Spanish wines and Cava, highlighted by a tapas (finger food) buffet of montaditos, pinchos, and tartaletas. Dinner will feature these favorite Spanish classics-Fabada, Paella Valenciana, Paella Negra, Fried Seafood with Gazpacho ad Aleoli, Slow Roasted Angus Beef Belly with Roasted Peppers, Garlic Potatoes, and Saffron Aleoli, among many others. Fresh fruits and Spanish cheeses will cap the gustatory celebration. Tickets to the dinner and cocktails are on sale for only P1,000 each at the La Camara Secretariat in Makati and at The Manor's Le Chef in Baguio.
A flamenco guitarist and a bevy of attractive flamenco dancers will provide entertainment during the dinner, and ticket holders also get the chance to win valuable gift items from Spain, brought in by La Camara and some of its sponsors.
Chef Reggie Aspiras was featured last year in La Camara's series of food festivals showcasing culinary masterpieces from the various regions of Spain. She underwent specialized training at the Escuela de Cocina de Juan Altimaras in Madrid, where she later became an instructor, and under Luigi Giusti of La Arrabiata, Madrid. She was Chef-Consultant and Philippine Food Representative for Madrid Fusion 2006. She hosts a TV program, writes a weekly food column, and runs the Reggie Aspiras School Culinary Arts at Shangri-la Plaza Mall in Mandaluyong. She also recently launched her own book on recipes.
Le Chef's Billy King, a native of Ireland, studied and worked all over Europe, the US, and Asia. At Le Chef, King has found his kingdom and is in his element, as evinced by the restaurant's success, and his culinary offerings always give gourmets from the lowlands more reasons to drive or fly up to Baguio.
