Around the World in Small Plates

How do you get the country's best chefs under one roof? Call Cyrene dela Rosa. And that is exactly what the Lifestyle Network did.

At the Rockwell Tent last night, the Lifestyle Network hosted Around the World in Small Plates, a benefit dinner for I Can Serve Foundation where the chefs and food celebrities named in the photo above offered tasting portions of their specialties.

Cyril Soenen of Cicou, Claude Tayag of Bale Dutung, Him Uy de Baron of Nomama

Upon "arrival", you are given a "boarding pass" by stewardess-costumed attendants, with which you can go "around the world". Each chef/outlet had a booth with a flag drawn on the board with the chef/outlet's name, signifying which country his/her/its cuisine represented.

You could make your way through France, with Cicou's Chef Cyril Soenen serving this 'rougie duck liver' with mushroom risotto ... 

... then hop on to Japan for some ramen by Nomama's Chef Him Uy de Baron. The Kitayama beef (note: proudly Pinoy beef yan ha) was so tender. And, signature Him, the not-so-simple bowl of ramen was a visual delight as well.



Then across the ocean of people was China via Edsa Shangri-la's Summer Palace, which presented this spoonful of mushrooms and crab meat. So refreshing and juicy.

Proudly waving the Philippine flag were food guru Claude Tayag, who served adobong pugo (quail). In true Kapampangan fashion, the flavors were deep and lingering. Chef Ed Quimson also made us proud with his perfected Paella Tinola.

Chef Ed Quimson & his perfected Paella Tinola

Left: Cyril Soenen, Maryann Tayag, Nana Ozaeta (EIC of Food Magazine). Right: margauxlicious & idol Maryann

Then there was the "modern Filipino" fare of Purple Yam (all the way from Brooklyn, New York!) tandem Romy Dorotan and Amy Besa. This was Inquirer EIC Letty Magsanoc's favorite. I Can Serve Founder Kara Magsanoc-Alikpala asked, "Where is their restaurant?" Brooklyn, I replied. "Ang layo naman." LOL. Amy, meanwhile, gushed on how grateful she was to Chef J Gamboa. "They were so helpful. They sponsored us. Romy just taught his chefs how to make the salad and they helped us absolutely," she said of J's Thai chefs. (Azuthai, booth number 16, served my Salcedo Market favorite, Thai lechon kawali.)

Chef Carlo Miguel represented Italy with this avant-garde molecular Caprese salad.

Chef Carlo Miguel's "salad"

The Lifestyle Network of course had their own hosts cook as well, with Sabrina Artadi presenting a poached eggs concoction with olives and honey. I smelled the basil that came with her dish. "That's an aphrodisiac, you must have that." Sabi ko, "Eh di dapat may kasamang lalaki." And she replies, "Ah, problema mo na yun." LOL. Love her.

Lifestyle Network's Sabrina Artadi

The Pinoy Eats World team gamely played Around the World representing Korea with a Hummus 'Gangnam Style' concoction. I have to confess I did not understand the dish hahahahaah - my bad! - but I wished I started the 'around the world' tour with this because it would have made a fun appetizer!

I also spotted Gustare's Ginny de Guzman and Chef Gonzales, who is apparently starting a new show on Lifestyle Network.

But the star of the night was the lechon by lechon diva Dedet dela Fuente. ABS CBN news anchor Ces Drilon proved that she is as hard core in food as she is in news when I chanced upon her coming back to Pepita's lechon's booth demanding - very adorably - her lechon with truffled risotto. "I had the laing already. I'm back for the truffles!"

Ces Drilon (top). Dedet dela Fuente with Teddy Montelibano (bottom).

The lucky girl of the night was Troy Barrios, Managing Editor of FOOD, who also happened to be celebrating her birthday.

And of course the rest of us - friends of Cyrene - who were simply lucky to be present and to eat!

right: curator Cyrene dela Rosa

I failed to take photos of the beauties of I Can Serve but Mrs. Bettina Osmeña took the mic to thank all those who contributed to the event. I Can Serve Foundation has truly become a rock that helps in all stages - from raising awareness for prevention of breast cancer to bringing access to mammogram machines for those who cannot afford it to support groups for those who are diagnosed. Cancer can hit even the best of us and it is inspiring to watch these women who have survived pay it forward by taking up the cause and helping those who find themselves in a similar situation.

As a guest who ate well, thank you to those who made this event possible. Yo Lifestyle Network, make this an annual event please :)