Thursday, May 31, 2007 Magsaysay: Club openings, spa eating By Jo Magsaysay Whatever
WAGYU Burger is touted as the most expensive burger in the Philippines because it is made from kobe beef! Kobe, the seaport in Honshu, Japan, is where the beef comes from voluptuous, beer-guzzling cows, pampered and massaged, enjoying the sybaritic pleasures of a resort and spa. With no doubt, is a delightful insinuation that shareholders and guests of Hilton Cebu Resort and Spa will be luxuriating and stimulating all their senses when they come for a short visit or extended stay.
“Kindred spirits” or so Tourism Secretary Ace Durano referred to himself and Hilton’s high-powered chief Manny Osmea both sharing a “God-centered philosophy” in appreciating beauty and order, in performing services to people and country, and both of them sharing youthful good looks. Ace has the engaging smile, the adorable retrousse (tip-tilted) nose of a kid fresh out of high school; Manny, the cheerful face and the twinkling eyes of a naughty little boy with a secret. Not so secret actually is his pride to be a grandfather five times over. His wife Gina who admits to being 51 years old but looks an incredible 31 is slim and lovely with the winning charm of the flight stewardess she used to be. This info we gathered from Tourism’s Aurora Dawn, Dawnie Roa, who seems to be everywhere, knows everything about everyone from power people down to the snot-nosed, homeless ragamuffins roaming the streets that she occasionally scoops up to settle them in child centers.
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A stunning aura of victory emanated from Governor of Cebu Gwen Garcia when I gave her a huge hug of congratulations. One would think she would look haggard and exhausted after the punishing schedule in the campaign trail but she apparently thrives on controversies and challenges for she is actually glowing. A tiny person in a clinging wraparound jersey, she belies the fact that she is a gigantic achiever so now that she has been given a new mandate we look forward with great expectations and prayerful hope that her dynamic and compassionate governance will focus on economic and social reforms that cry out in our province.
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What about the Wagyu Burger? I’m glad our gracious hostess, the unlikely looking lola (God’s grace) Gina Osmea urged me to try at least one which was absolutely meaty and tasty I forgot my diet. Would have asked Gwen and Gina more questions but the crashing, blaring, rattling and screeching musical instruments were mind-shattering. (Sorry, guys, this old biddy is allergic to rock). Besides there was a fashion show of resort wear going on…belly-buttons and bikinis…so who cares about boring questions and answers?
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A healthy option was offered by the graduating class of ICAAC (International Culinary Arts Academy of Cebu) of Jeremy Young which I accepted with no hesitation at all. There has never been any ifs-and-buts about it; Jeremy and his ICAAC have always presented a marvelous new world of adventure into culinary arts like no other because each time is different and unique in its creativity. A Relaxing Evening of Spa Cuisine turned out as it promised that “healthful eating is not boring and bland food but about controlling the balance and maintaining it.”
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Painstaking research for this ICAAC final culminating event has been made by Fatima Tan (Mrs. Jeremy) Young. Oh yes!
Jeremy has gone and done it: finally met and married the perfect girl for him. A beautiful wisp of a girl with the exquisite features of and a young Madonna, and skin like the golden smooth texture of honey, Fatima has a smart head on her tiny shoulders. Artistic too, her feminine touch in the sunshiny coat of yellow paint in the salle a manger echoing the bright yellow napery, the gurgling fountain and happy flower faces afloat in the basin of the small rock garden at the doorway, the collage of spices, star anise, peppercorns on the invitations and in the radiant smiles in Jeremy himself who is absolutely blooming.
Being carried away by young love, I must fast forward to Fatima’s interesting bits of info about Spa being derived from the Latin phrase Salus per Aquum meaning health through water, the therapeutic and holistic treatment from fresh food and beverages, the restorative elements of nature and spa cuisine and in the radiant, a connection between nature and health by linking diet and environment.
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The pre-prandial beverages, drinks before dinner, were practically oozing vitamins: the anti-oxidant lemon grass tea (the lowly tanglad has been elevated to aristocratic gourmet heights), the aromatic fennel seeds with watermelon juice so rich in Vitamin A, calcium, phosphorous and potassium; beta carotene from carrot juice to detoxify poisonous effects of alcohol; fiber and Vitamin C from honeydew, cranberries, oranges; yoghurt, fresh milk and curdamon to aid digestion supplies Vitamin B, C and proteins. If for the beverages alone, I’d be squeaky clean and healthy. (Although Nestor Alonso, Mayen Tan and Chef Anders of Waterfront Hotel believe a dash of Vodka in their Sayan Garden - a concoction of soda water, mint leaves and lemon slice – is pure ambrosia). Speaking of Chefs, Chef Christian Purisima who his swapping his toque with a politician’s multi-purpose hat now that he has been elected as Mayor of San Ildefonso, a town in Ilocos Sur. Speaking of swaps and switches, Adolfo Lopez has come a long way from being a butcher in Cotobato to become the executive sous chef of Shangri-La Mactan Resort and Spa. Aissa dela Cruz is always Aissa, and we all bonded happily together.
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Column space being always my problem, I must reach out to shake hands with the new graduates of ICAAC: Jezebel Christopher Onque, Andrew V. Manila, Endika Isidro L. Kangleon, Jupiter A. Hermosilla, Lester V. de Leon, Caroline Jean Sy, Antonio L. Roa, Charydette B. Hermosilla, Derrick Z. Veloso, Leonardo C. Ruiz III, Tabitha Lois G. Denoyo and Rita Franchesca D. Sabaldan. Congratulations for preparing and serving dinner as healthy as it was heavenly. It was so perfect.
My body, mind and spirit has become one as I embrace the holistic treatment from Ayurvedic cuisine to Zen meditation which will surely fill up my column next week. Promise.
