A gastronomic affair

Events platform Cross Cultures  hosted a collaboration dinner between three-Michelin-star restaurant Hertog Jan of Belgium and our very own Toyo Eatery.

Held at Toyo Eatery in Makati City, the intimate dinner had only 30 coveted seats, a request from Hertog Jan chef-owner Gert de Mangeleer to keep quality control in check.

The collaboration officially began with a trip to Malipayon Farms in Silang, Cavite where de Mangeleer and sous chef Jef Poppe sourced for local vegetables for their salad dish, “A Walk Through The Gardens of Manila.” Over 40 ingredients that included fennel, alugbati, baby amaranth, baby corn, carrots, sweet potato, mango, papaya, cashews and peanuts were handpicked for the event three days later.

Toyo’s chef-owner Jordy Navarra is a staunch advocate of Philippine produce and creates Filipino dishes using almost only local ingredients, a reflection of his heritage and memories. Navarra, who worked at The Fat Duck in the UK and Bo Innovation in Hong Kong, was the other chef who cooked that night. He describes his cuisine as being centered on the ingredients available in the Philippines.

Guests enjoyed signature Hertog Jan dishes like dimsum of butternut squash and langoustine, the crowd favorite aged and smoked duck, beetroot, cherries and licorice, and Guilty Pleasures “Snickers Bar,” de Mangeleer’s indulgence (he has a Snickers bar every day). These dishes were served alongside some of Toyo Eatery’s new dishes like relyenong pusit, tamban on malunggay, young corn and Sichuan buttons, and my favorite dish of the night — lightly grilled mackerel in grass-fed butter with semi-ripe guava and kamias. These were paired with wines from Sommelier Selection and free-flowing sparkling and still waters from San Pellegrino and Acqua Panna, officially distributed in the country by Werdenberg International.

The collaboration dinner was an exchange of cultures between Belgium and the Philippines, and also between two chefs who both share the common denominator of using modern techniques to highlight the excellent qualities of their produce.  

“Planning the menu was done over a period of time,” Navarra said. “When team Hertog Jan arrived, we talked about their plans with the products they brought over from Europe, and team Toyo just decided on what we felt best paired with the dishes from their menu. It was easy to decide on the menu because there was really good communication on both ends.”

(For more information, visit www.facebook.com/crossculturesbycheryltiu.)

(From left) Watsons’ Armalu Villapando, marketing director Viki Encarnacion, Loi Sanchez, Lance German and Liezl Badlis.

Members do get more

Do you have an SM Advantage Card (SMAC)?” That’s what we always hear whenever we pay at SM.

Watsons recently held the “Members Get More” event at the new Uptown Mall in Taguig City to reacquaint shoppers with all the advantages of owning (and renewing) their SMAC membership. Members can enjoy special prices on hundreds of Green Tag items at Watsons.

The Members Get More program gives shoppers more reasons to come back to Watsons by giving more rewards and exclusive privileges to card-bearing customers. Also included in the Watsons loyalty program are SM Prestige and BDO Rewards cards.

Cardholders who shop at Watsons will be entitled to “members only” promotions that allow them to earn more reward points, which they can also use to pay for their next purchases. They can also get exclusive freebies and easily join raffle promotions exclusive to members like the recently concluded “Make Your Summer Promo” where members got a chance to win a trip for four to any of five local summer destinations. Members will also be the first to be notified of upcoming deals and offers and can receive invites to exclusive events.

Watsons marketing director Viki Encarnacion said, “At Watsons, we want to make our shoppers special. So we make sure they enjoy perks of being a loyal customer every time they visit our stores. With the Members Get More program, they can get more savings, more points and even get exclusive prices simply by using their SM Advantage Card.”

Those who are not yet SM Advantage card members  can avail themselves the SMAC membership at any Watsons store nationwide to start enjoying the Members Get More program.

Charter Ping An chief general insurance officer Claude Seigne with Miss Universe-Philippines 2017 Rachel Peters and Binibining Pilipinas Grand International 2017 Elizabeth Durado Clenci.

Welcome to AXA, Binibinis!

Before the coronation night, the 40 candidates of Binibining Pilipinas 2017 were welcomed during a courtesy call at the corporate offices of AXA Philippines and its non-life insurance subsidiary Charter Ping An.

For nine years now, Charter Ping An has been the official insurance provider of the prestigious beauty pageant, sponsoring the full personal accident, medical reimbursement and travel insurance coverage of the candidates here and abroad.

Claude Seigne, chief general insurance officer of Charter Ping An, welcomed the candidates and shared some insights about how they can protect their future as early as now, by investing their earnings properly.

 The highlight of the event was the awarding of insurance certificates to the candidates. The candidates expressed their appreciation for the insurance coverage.

The sponsorship is a reflection of AXA Philippines’ firm commitment to empower its customers to live a better life through its full range of insurance products to suit their needs and lifestyles.

Giselle Villanueva and Kenny Yu.

In the ‘spirit’ of art

Art aficionados enjoyed their time at the Art in the Park at Jaime Velasquez Park, Salcedo Village in Makati City.

The fun vibe was elevated when GSM Premium Gin served special handcrafted cocktails at the event.

While guests enjoyed these refreshing concoctions, they also contributed in producing a unique art installation when they recycled used cocktail cups and turned them into an instant artwork that formed a rendition of the iconic Ginebra San Miguel logo of National Artist for Visual Arts Fernando Amorsolo. In addition to the art installation, visitors modernized a stencil artwork of the logo of St. Michael the Archangel by adding dashes of colors.

Assistant brand manager Giselle Villanueva said,  “GSM Premium Gin is about elevating taste by making people experience the finer things in life. Our presence at Art in the Park signifies that our brand appreciates art not just as a form of expression, but as a medium that can be purposeful. Through Art in the Park, we help grow local talent,  which is just the beginning of the greater things in store for the brand and for the art community.”

The GSM Premium Gin Cart at the event was a full-service mobile bar that offered guests premium gin in expertly crafted cocktails such as the refreshing Calamansi Surprise, Sweet Lemony Martini and Mango Paradise, plus the classic Gin and Tonic, prepared by the brand’s world-class mixologists.

GSM Premium Gin is an exquisite blend of botanical extracts and juniper berries, splashed with a tang of delectable citrus and blended with high-quality alcohol. It is a consistent Gold Quality Label awardee of the Monde Selection International Institute for Quality Selections. * 

(For more information, visit www.facebook.com/GSMPremiumGin or www.gsmpremiumspirits.com.ph.)

(Follow me on Instagram @pepperteehankee.)