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| Chef Mikel Arruiz and Juan Roca |
The “Flavors of Spain,” a
yearly culinary event, was now to be held at the new Hotel Vida at the Clark
Economic Zone in Pampanga. I was joined, together with Ms. Michelle "Mitch" Garcia, Fuego Hotels Marketing and Communications Manager, and her assistant
Ms. Victoria “Tori” Teves-Vicente, by a media group which included fellow
Business Mirror contributor Ms. Ethel S. Timbol (Dean of Philippine
Lifestyle Editors) and Ms. Norma O. Chikiamco (“Filipino Homestyle
Dishes” author).
The trip from Ayala Center to
the hotel took all of 2 hrs. and, upon arrival, we were welcomed by Korean
hotel owner Mr. Daesik Han and Gen. Manager Mr. Juan Roca. A
lunch featuring Spanish cuisine and wine, hosted by the Economic and Commercial
Office (headed by Mr. Javier Alvarez Casanova) of the Embassy of Spain and
prepared by Club Punta Fuego Resident Chef Mikel Arriet Arruiz (again
the star of this running fiesta) and his culinary team, awaited us at the SALT
Coffee Shop.
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| Clara Ole paella |
The set menu included fardelito
de berenjena relleno dequeso cremosogranizado de remolacha y aceite de
pistachio (eggplant stuffed with cream cheese, beet root crush and
pistachio oil), consome de txipriones, flotante de manchego, esfereas de
pimiento verde y crujiente oscuro (squids consome, idiazabal flotins &
black crackers), marmi-tako (tuna & potatoes stew), magret
de pato con peras al romero (duck breast with pears & rosemary) and,
for dessert, esferas de chocolate con limon (dark chocolate balls
with lemon). Also served was Clara Ole paella and country-style
pasta.
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| Claude, Norma and Maryann |
Come dinnertime, we were
joined at the coffee shop by fellow travel writer, artist, culinary expert and
Angeles City resident Claude Tayag and his wife Maryann Tayag.
After a sumptuous buffet, it was chitchat time, with yours truly and Ethel
regaling (or scaring) the others with our ghost stories. The equally
scared Norma also joined in with her signature Makati Medical Center elevator
ghost.
Our stories must have had their desired effect as Mitch and Norma
switched from separate rooms to adjoining rooms. They wouldn’t even let
me go until I accompanied them in the elevator (Norma is to blame here). Even
so, they were so scared to go to their respective toilets. I suggested
catheters.
Come breakfast (Filipino this
time) at the coffee shop, it was the same group all over again minus Ethel who
woke up with a fever (possibly “possessed” or sinapian by a
ghost?). She later joined us and the talk turned culinary with Claude at
the helm. Claude is the author of “Food Tour” and co-author of
“Kulinarya.”
Our breakfast talk soon extended into lunch and we decided to go
Asian and indulge in Korean fare which included the signature bulgogi.
As with all things in life, the good times never last forever and it was time
to pack up and go back to our respective homes, families and jobs in Manila.
However, to soften the blow of leaving, Claude did not let us go without an
early Christmas pasalubong of his signature Claude 9 inasal barbecue
marinade, Oriental sauce and pure crab fat. Now that’s la vida!
Hotel Vida Clark: 5414
M.A. Highway, Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga 2023. Tel: (045)
499-1000. Fax: (045) 499-0979.
Manila Office: UG-9 Cityland
Herrera Tower, 98 V.A. Rufino corner Valero St., Salcedo Village, Makati City.
Tel: (632) 840-1430. Fax: (632) 840-3589.
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