A successful return for Swiss-PH gastrodiplomacy and the IBF Bazaar – Manila Bulletin | Rare Techy

Swiss chef Armin Amrein is in town to bring his brand of Swiss culinary expertise to the country with his culinary delights. Just this week, he teamed up with M Dining + Bar chefs Tippi Tambunting and Tom Bascon to create a six-course, 10-course meal, taking us to the Swiss Alps and farmers markets in Switzerland returns to the delicacies of the Philippines. its islands are as numerous as they are lost. “Tasting the Future Together” the Swiss ambassador dubbed the event, which is part of the celebration of 65 years of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Switzerland.

“It’s always a good sign when you interrupt a meal, it’s still quiet,” said Swiss Ambassador to the Philippines Alain Gaschen when he took the microphone late in the evening, noting the calm. of all and of great importance to him. dishes. He added that the idea was to bring Amrein to the Philippines long before the pandemic as a cure for Swiss and Filipino delicacies.

Starting a 10-course diet is not easy and requires a lot of determination. Food this long is hit and miss at Michelin-starred joints in Europe. If there are 10 lessons to prepare, maybe one or two will come out. This, however, is different.

Seeing the menu, I expected the first course, the fried Bacalao, to blow me away and win over the rest of the hors d’oeuvres. But it’s light, airy, and easy. I loved using it kesong flowers in a fern salad with a glass of Bourgogne Blanc 2020 that came with. I’ve run into Capuns a few times when I lived in Europe but I never stopped ordering every time I saw the menu. If you are a fan spätzle, this is easy compared to its Swiss counterpart, which is heavier. Perfect for winter we’re still in the middle of Manila’s wet holiday season. Fortunately, the winds are still there. The capsules came with a tiger and crustacean sauce that you’d want to sip from your plate, if you weren’t sitting right in front of the embassy. Stuffed octopus nuisance oh god, the duck and polenta didn’t leave my head spinning. This happens to me when the duck has too much fat. This is a lean and sweet bird. Went to Pirates several times before I finished my plate.

We washed our palates with grape champagne sorbet before being served a creamy Vacherin Mont d’Or ravioli with some chanterelles, as the German side of Switzerland calls it. pfifferlinge.

We washed our palates with grape champagne sorbet before being served a creamy Vacherin Mont d’Or ravioli with some chanterelles, as the German side of Switzerland calls it. pfifferlinge. Ah, yes. Good luck mentioning that. I was happy to see them on my plate knowing how hard it was to make. Chanterelles were out of season at the end of September but there they were, sitting elegantly on my plate on a wet November day. It was fresh and pleasant, like a European summer day. Chefs are a good source here, or they work magic.

Next came the grilled wagyu crab alongside a piece of foie gras and some potatoes. Swiss food. Must have potatoes. I’m happy to report, they are some of the best I’ve ever had. Washing it down with a glass of La Rioja Gran Reserva 904—a 2011 if I remember correctly—was a happy moment.

By now, most of us are stuffed but according to a wise Filipino, we have a different stomach for sweets. In my opinion, apple tart variations are some of the most boring desserts but that was me before I tried the black salmon crème brûlée soup served during our meal. The evening ended with a dark and white chocolate mousse that came with a taste of autumn through banana sorbet, some pineapple and rum. It’s a great way to use tart and acidic to cut through a heavy mousse.

Nothing was too surprising, and everyone left M Dining + Bar with a smile. I couldn’t help but think that this was gastrodiplomacy at its best—elegant, sophisticated, and exciting.

4,500 buyers at the IBF Bazaar

The organizers of the International Bazaar Foundation (IBF) Bazaar often refer to the annual event as “where the world comes to shop.” Why yes, it’s true! The world, through their office in Manila, brought luxury goods, which pleased Christmas shoppers.

Sen. Loren Legarda, the guest of honor of the event, thanked the organizers and supported their work. An advocate for small businesses and the arts, she said she enjoys visiting the many booths at the market. He also thanked the DFA staff for staying ahead during the pandemic.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the IBF Pamela Louise Manalo said that “the International Bazaar represents diversity and unity in our diplomatic society” but “at heart, the International Bazaar for a noble purpose-to give to those in need. .”

Ticket sales, ticket rentals, and donations from ambassadors will go toward IBF and Mission partners (SHOM) programs, including scholarships and life support. More than 4,500 people came to the World Trade Center on Sunday, November 20, to buy goods at one hundred booths and 42 selected countries. Also imported from the Philippines, selling jewelry, crafts and Filipino items.