Grand Wine Experience: Super Late Post

It's sad I haven't been able to blog since my last visit in Thailand. But the good news is, I've been able to attend the 10th Grand Wine Experience last November 19 and was even asked to write a few lines about it for F&B World Magazine's February 2011 issue. Quoting what I submitted:

"A decade after it was first launched, the Grand Wine Experience marked the milestone with a legendary evening at the New World Hotel in Makati. The first and still the most prestigious annual wine event, this time with the theme “Evolution,” was the brainchild of Ralph Joseph and rest of the Joseph siblings Bobby, Ronnie and Raymond. The wine selection was superb as usual with a sizeable representation of the Old World regions from France, Spain, Italy, Portugal and even Hungary. There were also champagnes, more spirits that debuted at the event and more food. The nightlong entertainment was provided by the Sabor Latino band.

From its humble beginnings, this event has been transformed into a not-to-be-missed with guests in a bigger number year after year. This year’s affair was again graced by Manila’s glitterati, celebrities, diplomats, VIPs from the hospitality and tourism industry, hotels and resorts general managers, restaurant owners, members of the different Chambers of Commerce & Industry, wine enthusiasts, food lovers, and culinary school owners. This wine spectacle’s success has proven its legacy in the young but fast growing Philippine wine industry."

This year's Grand Wine Experience is indeed something to look forward to.

P.S. This cheese was awesome!

La Pampa!

A bad photo of a very good wine. This was taken at La Pampa, apparently the first Argentinian Steak House in Hong Kong. If you are not sure what to order, the manager can always recommend what is best with either your food or your wine. If a bottle of red is your bet, Trapiche Malbec is a very nice one.

It is located on Staunton St, Soho, Hong Kong.

Club 1911 and more

Dinner and wine at Club 1911 at Soho, Hong Kong. Quaint, charming and very Chinese/Hong Kong feel.

Shek O Country Club -- beautiful scenery. An exclusive golf club and country club, they serve good food and good wine. (No denim jeans allowed!)

Lamma Island, Hong Kong

The pier


Fu Kee Seafood Restaurant (okay, don't laugh)



Our boat...

Last October 31, we sailed to Lamma Island, ate a feast and had a nice time.

Fu Kee has good food, cold beer, nice wine. All you need is company you like and you're set.

Fortant and Tears

While my friend and business partner was downing Fortant red wine, a glass each time last May 16 (a Friday night spent working), I told her about this article that alcohol is supposed to make traumatic experiences last longer as tested on rats. And she argued that she cannot understand why these scientific studies are done on rats when rats are different from humans. I wanted to answer the question but I figured I would just be dragging the matter.

Plato Platina

Check Out: Plato Platina
Location: Blue Wave, along Macapagal Ave., Pasay City
How to get there: Car/cab but if you're saving your cash for the good food and wine, take MRT, get off at Taft Ave. Station. Go down the stairs. Ride a jeepney to MOA and get off Petron Station. When I do ride a jeep, I sit infront (where I feel safer) so I can tell the driver to stop at Petron. You can also amuse yourself when he barks "MUWAH! MUWAH! MUWAH! to throngs of people coming down or from the mall. From Petron, you can walk to Plato Platina which is already visible from here.

If you love paella and would want something different, order the Paella Nero. Really tasty sticky rice with black squid ink and hefty chunks of meats, vegetables and seafood. If you're on a diet (trying to cut calories from food to make way for the wine), order the Three Season Salad or the PESCE DI ZAFFERANO IN PATATA CON PESTO or just ask for the "grilled fish with vegetables and white wine sauce" or simply "grilled fish." The pizzas are GREAT (really thin, crispy crust)!

This is also one place to have a lava cake which is baked upon order and served with Fiorgelato (yes, lovely ice cream).

I suggest you get wine to go with the nice meal. With an extensive wine list (I think all the decent wine producing countries are represented here), you might get intimidated with the wine/bar list. But don't be. All of them were personally picked by one of the owners who is a self-confessed wine fan. If you're not sure what to get, just ask the waiter to recommend. The bottle in the photo is good.

SML (P60++) is available should you want beer with pizza.

So since this is not a "new place" for me, I am writing about this book that I had a chance to read the first few pages of (inside the mood lighted Plato) while waiting for the owner of the book to finish her meeting. It's called "Thick Face, Black Heart" by Ching-Ning Chu. Very interesting non-fiction. It describes "Thick Face" as the shield that protects one's self-esteem from bad opinions of others while the "Black Heart" repsents ruthlessness which it is not necessarily evil (the author went on to illustrate the latter point with examples that made me agree that being ruthless is not necessarily bad). But I should really read first AS Byatt's "The Virgin in the Garden." Anybody got a copy?