RADISSON Blu Hotel Cebu selected an oriental gourmet menu to mark the Year of the Sheep (of the Chinese lunar calendar). Media friends were treated royally to a perfectly spiced dinner by Chinese master chef Peter Yeung.
Among our favorite dishes that evening were pigeon, roast suckling pig, roast crisp duck, poached shrimp in Chinese Shaosing wine, braised pork rib in black pepper sauce, abalone, stewed assorted mushrooms etc.
Earlier, the plush celebration featured the traditional Lion Dotting ceremony, the colorful and noisy Lion Dance (to keep bad spirits away), and the tossing of the Yee Sang seafood salad which paved the way for prosperity in year 2015.
On the other hand, over at Waterfront Airport Hotel and Casino Mactan, what greeted us at the grand lobby was a Tree of Prosperity in blazing red-orange (the Chinese color of good luck).
To welcome us with a Happy New Year buss were sales and marketing manager Shelly Arciaga-Ding and marcomm manager the super efficient Hanski Garcia. We missed general manager Benhur Caballes who was indisposed.
The cozy Café Uno, manned by chef Stephen Del-Amen and his culinary team, had an infinite spread of delectable dishes, which made us initially undecided where to start. Kudos to the team for the varied Dimsum station and the main course section.
Of course, very much a part of the festivities was the vibrant, supercharged Lion dance, snaking its way to the café, where we had our lunch, to the lobby, and back again. It was such fun “teasing” the Lions!
Kung Hei Fat Choi, everyone!
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When balikbayan Theresians (St. Theresa’s College graduates) of high school class 1959, Eleonor Causin, Lani Vicencio, Lydia Pacaide-Juezan and Cherrie Duterte-Gross barged into town, from their home bases in Germany and the USA, it mobilized the local classmates to set into high gear a series of get-togethers.
There was a mini-reunion with the trio of Jane Young-Llaban, Lani Vicencio and Eleonor Causin. What followed was an all-Pinoy buffet lunch at Pino Restaurant with Lani Vicencio as honoree, and Patsy Yrastorza-Montilla, Rosie Veloso-Binghay and Jane Young-Llaban as joint hostesses.
The biggest soiree was held at Monina Pacheco-Ouano’s well-appointed home in Paradise Village, with the well-endowed Monina as gracious hostess. She even rattled off the menu: home-cooked shawarma by a son-in-law, luscious lechon, a chicken dish and freshly caught crabs! What more can you ask for?
While gorging on the food, the 14 classmates entertained themselves with updates, newsbits marked by occasional giggles and mild “shocks.
Of course, the long day ended with “pasalubong” distribution and a big question… “When do we meet again?”