Before I attended a big party at the NBC tent last week, admittedly, the only thing I knew of the French were French toasts, French Fries, French poodles, and French kisses ! ! !
Thank God, I attended the Soiree Beaujolais 2005 affair, so now I am "a little" better informed.
At exactly a minute past midnight of every third Thursday of November each year, millions of cases of Beaujolais Nouveau are consumed in bars and cafés all throughout France.
Not all cases are unloaded within French boundaries, a lot more are opened in far off places all over the world proclaiming: "Le Beaujolais Nouveau est arrivé!" (The Beaujolais Nouveau has arrived).
All over France and elsewhere, people wait with abated breaths to sample this young red wine.
Traditionally, the young Beaujolais wine produced from the first yield in the Burgundy region of France was poured out as a reward for the workers who flocked to the area to help in the harvest. This wine of varying fruity aromas is meant only to be enjoyed not swirled, sniffed, or critiqued as one would do with red wines aged in oak barrels.
French communities celebrate Beaujolais Nouveau, making it the biggest and most successful French wine event globally.
This merry-making came to Manila half a world away as Le Club French Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines brought this harvest festival dubbed Soirée Beaujolais 2005.
Le Club French Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines is a non-profit organization founded in 1988 and its goals are to promote French business in the Philippines and Filipino business in France.
Originally designed for the French or French–speaking representatives of French business concerns in the Philippines, it now welcomes Filipino members and other non–French speaking members whose business activities could help Le Club FCC attain its goals.
Anyway……Soiree Beaujolais 2005’s theme this year was "La Pyramide du Louvre" and the decor in the Tent was inspired from the famous Louvre Museum with replicas of immortal art works such as Venus de Milo and Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa.
As usual, there was a spread of charcuteries and cheeses flown directly from France. Ummmmm. Hotel Mandarin Oriental provided the catering services for the rest of those ooo la la specialties and pastries.
The tent was not only decorated spectacularly, the sounds that evening was provided by The Manila Symphony Orchestra II (MSO) and that added to the ambiance as they played music by French composers, along with the Alliance Francaise-sponsored show directed by Rico Labayenas.
Johnny Litton and Pat Evangelista emceed and conducted the traditional raffle with handsome prizes (someone whispered to my ears that the prizes were worth more than Php700,000), including a world Business Class Manila-Paris-Manila round trip ticket from Air France KLM with a 17-day free use of a Peugeot 307 HDI car. How come I never win in raffles like this!?!!
I would have settled for the other prizes such as a World Business Class Manila-Paris-Manila round trip ticket or a South Sea Pearl Jewelry (though I may not wear it at all) or a vacation package to Miniloc Island; or a classic antique Chinese furniture or Corkscrew in sterling silver, carabao horn and red garnets from Artebylis, etc. etc. etc.
Still, I enjoyed the wines which were flowing …. and the buffet with all those lovely cheeses (brie, camembert, and gruyere …no queso de bola nor kesong puti, this time). The ham really tasted yummy with French bread and mustard; juicy pork loin; and legs of roast chicken with the minimal of sauce. My goodness! No one seemed to care about the bird flu scare.
Thanks to the Executive Committee of Le Club French Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines; Philippe Gauthier (its president), Michel Hermelin,Bruno Vergnes, Bernard Flour, Jean d’Orival, Olivier de la Bernardie, Anna Whitehouse, Jean Jacques Bresson, Henri Ortiz, and Hélène Ratier.
The celebration was a su-c-c-e-s-s. We all enjoyed the wines that combined so well with the "eats"…..
Merci .
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By the way, in case you still haven’t finished your Christmas shopping and it is food that you want to give this Christmas, you may want to check out the kitchen of Ed Quimson and Michele Dee-Santos.
Michele has sugar glazed ham (sliced) for as low as Php 350 per half-kilo. Other wonderful tasting products are her pates made of Chicken liver, tinapa, sardines, and mushrooms. On melba toast, these pates will melt in your mouths….and your family and special friends would welcome receiving any of these well-packed food items.
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Also, this Christmas season, if it is kare kare, Callos, lengua Sevillana, barbecue spare ribs, beef caldereta, chicken inasal, ensaymaditas, and/or toffee cake that you are craving for, and I assure you will truly have a Merry-Eating Christmas.
Do not forget to place your orders at least a week in advance.
Enjoy as you prepare all the goodies for your loved ones this yuletide season. …. And in case that becomes difficult, remember there are "the professionals", and they are only a phone call away.
See you soon…
