Grey Goose Gastronomique

Manila’s lifestyle set graced the launch of Grey Goose Gastronomique, an extraordinary dining experience paired with premium spirits and complemented by fabulous entertainment.

At the event, held at Blackbird restaurant in Makati City, guests indulged in premium spirits and a dinner by chef Colin Mackay.

Prior to dinner, Grey Goose cocktails — like Citronique, Cucumber Fizz, Cosmopolitan and Dry Martini — were served to guests at the restaurant’s garden. Canapés served included home-cured gravadlax pumpernickel and dill sour cream; spicy Mulwarra beef tartare on sour dough toast; herbed goat cheese, green olive and pickled chili crostini; miang of prawn, Scotch quail egg with coconut chili sambal; and Tiger prawn tempura with jalapeño and caper aioli.

The dinner fare had ahi poke with crispy rice; hot smoked ocean trout salad with pickled beetroot, green apple and wasabi horseradish cream; crispy crab and salt cod cake with pear and celeriac remoulade and tarragon anchovy aioli. The main course of butter and bacon roasted lobster with creamy porcini and truffle oil polenta was paired with chilled Grey Goose VX. Dessert was an Earl Grey and orange flower crème fraiche, strawberry sorbet, citrus crumbs; petits fours; and after-dinner Vittoria coffee with lavender shortbread.

The evening also served as the formal launch of Grey Goose VX’s entry into the Philippine market. Inspired by the heritage of Grey Goose creator and maitre de chai François Thibault, Grey Goose VX establishes a new standard in luxury spirits.  Thibault has created a unique, new expression of Grey Goose — one that draws from past tradition, and expertly marries a hint of precious Cognac with Grey Goose vodka to create something truly distinctive. Grey Goose VX is best enjoyed neat or on the rocks in a fine snifter glass. It can go with a choice of either black olives or white grapes to appreciate its rich character and complex nose, with hints of white fruit blossom, plum, apricot, light citrus and wild honey, followed by a long, lingering finish.

During the launch, Grey Goose VX, which stands for excellence, also recognized individuals — lovers of life, leaders in life — who best exemplify the ideals of the brand. Honorees included Lesley Anne Tan, Shangri-La at the Fort director of communications; Raul Manzano, Metro Society Magazine editor-in-chief; Marc Tagle, Bridgestone Philippines president and CEO and Aston Martin Manila chairman and president; and Monchet Olives, Philippine Realty & Holding Corp. and lifestyle curator of Casa Mercedes.

(Visit www.greygoose.com.)

A garden affair

It was an affair to remember as the newest concept bar Jardin Garden Club formally opened its doors to the public with a grand launch. This concept bar is located at the Remington Hotel at the Resorts World Manila Complex.

Exclusive resident DJs played the entire night until early morning, keeping the guests lounged in their private couches while being entertained by magicians and LED dancers.

The guests were welcomed with free-flowing drinks and Filipino street food like fish balls, squid balls, inasal and barbecue — signature dishes of Jardin. I really liked its grilled chicken inasal and pork belly.

Jardin also has an outdoor area with a lighted musical fountain and a nature fix provided by the vertical garden.

Fitness, friendship & fun

LiFE Yoga — the newest yoga studio that promotes a holistic lifestyle through yoga, nutrition, art and music — believes that fitness should be fun and best shared with others.

In line with that belief, LiFE, together with Kundalini teacher Marissa HarNadh and Flow Arts Philippines, created a one-of-a-kind Yoga Pool Party at the Palace Pool Club in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

It was a day full of exciting and varied movement activities for fitness-minded attendees. The morning kicked off with a unique dance-infused Warrior Flow led by Ryan Camarillo, an Ashtanga-Vinyasa teacher who specializes in alignment and asana modification. The Warrior Flow was performed to the live beats of DJ Katsy Lee, an internationally acclaimed DJ. After the energetic yoga session, participants enjoyed a healthy lunch at Café Naya and enjoyed a dip in the venue’s pool.

In the afternoon, Flow Arts teachers and the participants were led to a poi spinning class — an ancient Maori dance art that uses weighted ropes to create geometric patterns set to music. The participants then split up into two groups with one learning under multi-prop dance artist and teacher Mic Callo, and the other group headed for the pool to learn basic stand-up paddle boarding under Paolo Soler of the Philippine Surfing Academy.

The party concluded with a Kundalini Yoga class under HarNadh, assisted by Moshe Reyes and Rosan Cruz.

(LiFE Yoga is located at 2/F 8 Forbestown Road, Burgos Circle, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. Visit @life.yoga on Instagram.) (Follow me on Instagram @pepperteehankee.)