The Nobu Experience

It was delightful to see world-renowned chef Nobu Matsuhisa  in Manila once again for “The Nobu Experience,” a one-night culinary affair at his restaurant at City of Dreams Manila.  This was his third visit to Manila since his restaurant opened in 2015.

Chef Nobu made Manila his last stop after his month-long promotional tour to key cities around the world to visit select Nobu hotels and restaurants in London, Milan, Munich, Paris, New York, Melbourne, Perth and  Kuala Lumpur. He received the GQ Lifetime Achievement Award at the British GQ Food & Drink Awards last year.

Guests interacted with the famed chef, who enjoyed the delicious pass-around dishes and the many buffet options including dishes that were prepared a la minute in live stations.

(Fromt Left) Sake cup buffet featuring salmon toro. Fresh seafood, meats and vegetables for charcoal grilling at the robatayaki station. Manila prawn cocktails.

The dinner was prepared by Nobu Manila head chef Michael de Jesus and head sushi chef Kirika Oi with their team. There were a lot of Nobu’s Japanese-Peruvian fusion food to choose from.  Hors d’oeuvres served included Japanese yellowtail sashimi with jalapeño, Bigeye tuna sashimi salad skewers in Matsuhisa dressing, Tachiuo (swordfish) dry miso on endive, Lapu-lapu new-style sashimi, and Japanese octopus tiradito. 

Hot canapés were also superb, which included my favorite creamy spicy rock shrimp, black cod butter lettuce with crispy kataifi (shredded phyllo pastry), Nobu mini-tacos (King Crab, tuna, wagyu, salmon avocado and pork), Chilean sea bass with jalapeño miso, mixed seafood ceviche with quinoa, and miso-braised short ribs with tofu crema.

Meanwhile, the teppan table featured Nobu-style wagyu pastrami sliders and wagyu gyoza with spicy ponzu sauce. The robatayaki station grilled assorted kushiyaki skewers like beef, chicken, chicken skin, squid, baby octopus, leeks and shiitake mushrooms. Also served that night were Nobu specialties like Sake cup sushi, Kumamoto Australian oysters with Nobu sauce, Norwegian salmon toro nanbanzuke, Japanese uni shooter sake and ponzu (which I must have had eight of), Manila prawn cocktail, and seared Norwegian salmon with karashi su miso.

(From Left) Rock shrimp tempura cocktails. Fresh Fin de Claire oysters with special Nobu sauces. Nobu tacos.

Dessert included Chocolate bento cake, Mini-miso cappuccino, Nobu-style halo-halo consisting of shaved ice from either fresh fruit-infused Fiji water or fresh coconut water, and sake-infused yuzu, raspberry and blueberry sorbets.

Incidentally, that day was also the birthday of City of Dreams’ beloved vice president for public relations Charisse Chuidian, and no less than Chef Nobu himself was there to sing for her as the staff presented her with a birthday cake!

Chef Nobu also signed copies of his book Nobu: A Memoir for some guests. I was lucky that he gave me one of these, my fourth signed Nobu book with his personal dedication, which I shall treasure forever.

(For inquiries or reservations, call 800-8080, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.cityofdreamsmanila.)

Discover the World of Women

Cristalle Pitt.

The SM World of Women Exhibit, in partnership with photographer Niccolo Cosme of Project Headshot Clinic, recognized empowered women who achieve their dreams and aspirations. The diversity of feminine beauty and brains was the subject of the exhibit organized by SM Supermalls at the SM Mega Fashion Hall.

Cosme said, “I am very fortunate to have been able to photograph these empowered women with stories that speak of resilience, joy and endless dreams. We can always learn a thing or two from women. Mabuhay ang kababaihan!”

SM Supermalls senior vice president for marketing Jonjon San Agustin said, “We honor women’s power, strength and countless achievements. Women are the doers and dreamers. They are strong, accomplished and wise beyond their years.”

The project featured 31 inspiring ladies who have made a difference in the lives of Filipinos through their chosen advocacies. Among them were Miss World 2013 Megan Young, HIV awareness and safe sex education advocate Angel Jones, Entrepreneur of the Year Philippines’ 2017 Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Rissa Mananquil-Trillo, ‘Warrior princess for peace’ Honey Sumndad-Usman, and mother-daughter celebrity beauty experts Dr. Vicki Belo and Cristalle Pitt.

Rissa Mananquil-Trillo.

Five women, whose portraits were also part of the exhibit, were recognized as the winners of the #WorldofWomenAtSM digital promo as they gave the best answers on what it means to be an empowered and independent woman. Ma. Corazon Lacambacal, mother and cancer survivor, emphasized the importance of living a fuller life with confidence. While pharmacist Mica Flor Catanghal believes empowered women exude strength of character. Dr. Stephanie Justine Espallardo, social media strategist Carla Cabral and engineer April Joyce Zaide also won prizes for their answers.

Other SM World of Women participants included Abbygale Arenas-de Leon, Maria Lourdes Bernadette Zaragoza-Banson, Kassy Pajarillo, Raizelle So, Gelli Victor, Jing Castañeda, Katrina Gumabao, Dinah Salonga, Bambina Olivares, Sheena Vera Cruz, Lynn Pinugu, Kai Lim, Jessica Kienle Maxwell, Gang Badoy Capati, Roxanne Ang-Farillas, Angel Guerrero, Pinky Yee and Sheila and Milka Romero. *

 (For more information, visit SM’s official social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.)

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(Follow me on Instagram @pepperteehankee.)