I was invited last April 15, 2013 by a friend to attend
Sofitel Philippine Plaza’s tribute to Moms this Mother’s Day. The event was
started off by a fabulous fashion show featuring top celebrity mothers and also
Spiral’s Master Chef’s paying homage to their mother’s cooking. The Chefs will
be featuring their personal favorites of their mother’s signature dishes.
The first collection was of Pia Gladys Perey fresh from the
L.A. Fashion week and followed by an international Formula racer driver and
designer Mark Bumgarner.
The collections also highlighted celebrity mothers
with their daughters and sons. Tacloban councilor Christina Gonzales-Romualdez,
model and journalist Georgia Schulze Del Rosario, Patti Betita, Marica De Mesa, Maggie Wilson and others. I saw Rhian Ramos and Giselle Toengi-Walter on the list but wasn't able to catch them there.
Executive Chef Eric Costille presented his mom Caludine's best dish a fusion of French and Italian cooking.
"Rabbit cocotte with rosemary and olives, gratinated parmesan plenta". "My ancestors came from Italy and migrated to France early 1900s. My mom was born in France bu at home, the food was Italian. Rabbit is as popular as chicken in Italy and France.
My mom serves it with polenta and I have fond memories of her cooking it for us during our family reunions on Sundays says the executive chef.
Chef de Cuisine - Western Anne Cecile Degenne prepared her mother's version of "Paella" It's a traditional rice meal from Spain. She said that having been raised in Bordeaux she used to spend all her summer holidays in Spain where many of her mother's family lived.
To relive their fond memories of the country, her mom cooks paella when she missed Spain. "She taught me all the secrets in making a good paella at our outdoor kitchen during the summer" Said Chef Cecile. "It is the same paella that I'm making now in Spiral."
Indian Chef Halim Ali Khan presented his childhood's favourite dish "Egg Biryani". Biryani is a typical rice dish from India.Chef Halim relates that "As per tradition in Muslim, his mother, Habetuh always emphasized on food for special occasions." She makes this dish unique by her masterful use of garam masala with basmati rice, egg and ghee which is also very nutritious and flavorful rather than heavy or rich.
Japanese Chef Hiraoki Yamaguchi is preparing "Nikujaga" a japanese beef stew considered by the Japanese as comfort food. This is because it evokes a strong feeling of nostalgia with memories of their mothers making it for them. Nikujaga is a dish that has potatoes, thin beef slices, onions, ginger, dashi soup stock, sugar, sake and sesame oil. As the saying goes, "ofukuro no aji" meaning "Mothers Flavor"
Her mother always told her that drinking Jasmin tea is a beauty secret in her family passed on from China because it makes the ladies beautiful. A god anti-oxidant, good for slimming, reduces fat and cholesterol absorption.
There were also some other chefs like the Executive Chinese Chef Mok Chee Wah who presented his mother's signature dish "slow cooked chicken with Chinese herbs wrapped in lotus leaf" and our very own Filipino chef, Jojo Babierra who is also Sofitel's Chef de Partie who highlighted Goat Caldereta, which reminds a lot of his childhood and also his comfort food.It has been a while since I've been into Sofitel's spiral, I rarely visit the place now that it's a far from my work place. But I guess i missed out a lot since they renovated. I will post another and my experience in dining at the newly renovated spiral. :)
The Mother's Day brunch on May 12., 12:00 noon - 3:00 pm is set at Php 3,250++ for adults including free flowing champagne and mojitos (12 noon - 2:00 pm) and for children 5 years old to 11 years old at Php 1,600++, kids 4 years and below free.
For reservations, please call Spiral at +632 832 6988 or email at H6308-FB12@sofitel.com
SPIRAL
Plaza Level, Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila
CCP Complex, Roxas Boulevard Pasay City, 1300, Metro Manila, Philippines
Official Website: www.SpiralManila.com SPIRAL's Facebook: SPIRAL MANILASPIRAL’s Twitter: @SpiralManila
Email: FBReservations@SofitelManila.comTelephone: +632 832-6988 or 551-555 Loc. 6988
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