IT WAS no ordinary night last Saturday, July 8, at the E-Bar. The E-Bar is located at the roof top of The Pacifico Boutique Hotel along A. Velez street near the rotunda here in Cagayan de Oro.
The rain was pouring, and the breeze was cold. But what made the night exciting was the presence of the The Italian Food Specialists Inc. team led by their Visayas-Mindanao Sales Manager Massimo La Magna.
What made the night warm were the invited few who enjoyed the good times with the staff of The Pacifico owner Eleonor Pabayo and with Italian Food Specialists Inc. staff Hanna Dacua, Sheena Lorono, and Anna Mae Cajita.
They made sure the night became warmer when Italian wine flowed like river and Italian cheese and cold cuts were served generously as if there was no tomorrow.
"I welcome the wine loving Kagayanons to my place. Thanks also to the The Italian Food Specialists Inc. management for making my place as a venue to launch their products here in Cagayan de Oro," said Pabayo in her brief greeting to her guests.
Italian Food Specialists Inc. (TIFSI) sales manager Massimo La Magna, who is from Palermo in the Island of Sicily in Italy, introduced the different kinds of Italian wines to the guests which included Brady Pharma executive Ramesh TK.
Brady Pharma is the sole distributor of Thiocell, the premium whitening supplement. He was in town for a meeting with his clients and check in at the The Pacifico Boutique Hotel. He was so impressed by the wines offered to the guests that he bought one dozen for his trip back to Manila.
La Magna distributed glasses of different kinds of Italian wines to guests. The wines included Pinot Nero (Natale Verga), Bella Pianco (Pesca), Bella Bianca (Apricot and Peach), Premitivo, Merlot, and Chianti Classico.
Cold cuts like salami, Pharma Ham, and Mozzarella Cheese were also served.
TIFSI was created by Antonio M. Reina in 2007. As an Italian based in the Philippines, his goal was to share his love of his beautiful country of Italy through the importation of some of its finest food products.
The company is based in Mandaue, Cebu. It has branches in Bohol, Iloilo, Davao City, Siargao, Boracay and Manila.
Aside from wine, cheese, salami and ham, the company also sells Italian products like beer, beans and legumes, coffee, cooking wine, cream mix, dairy products, dry goods, flour and wheat, grilled items, herbs, rice, cooking oil, olive oil, olives, pasta, salt, tomato, new pasta sauce, truffle products, mineral water, sparkling water, and vinegar.
TIFS store and office here is located at the PRBP, Pride Rock Business Park Unit C 12 near the National Statistics Office in Gusa. They accept wholesale orders and can deliver their goods to their customers.
Individuals can also shop at their store from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
(biantanjack@gmail.com)