Philippine Tatler recently unveiled the must-have 11th edition of the Philippines’ Best Restaurants Guide 2014. The fun and exciting happening was held in partnership with Wine Story and The Peninsula Manila.

“The Guide features 163 restaurants that have been thoroughly reviewed and evaluated by an esteemed roster of food reviewers. The celebration also marked another milestone as it revealed the first “Best of Awards,” which recognized six restaurants that excel in different categories,” said hardworking heiress and magazine publisher Irene Martel Francisco, dahlings.

Awarded this year’s Best Chef was Antonio “Tonyboy” Escalante of Antonio’s fame. Chef Colin Mackay’s Sala Bistro bagged Best Gourmet Comfort Food for its no-frills gastronomic delights. Vask, for its creative tapas, was named Best New Restaurant. Shangri-La Boracay Resort and Spa’s treetop Italian restaurant was hailed Best Resort Setting. Best Wine List went to top chef Tippi Tambunting’s M Dining. With 21 stations and a long list of wines from around the world, Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila’s Spiral won Best Buffet.

Guests were served exquisite wines plus yummy hors d’oeuvres, and superb cuisine, dahlings. There were artisanal cheeses, a pasta station, succulent dukka (dusted oven-roasted lamb rack with mint sauce—incredible!), prime rib-eye roast au poivre as well as decadent desserts. All of these were complemented with the finest Ronan Bordeaux 2009 and Château Carignan 2006, from Wine Story, naturellement.

My eagle eye couldn’t miss Wine Story’s managing director Romy Sia and Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts’ area manager, trés charmant Alain Borgers; The Peninsula Manila’s GM Sonja Vodusek-Vecchio and Solaire Resort and Casino’s director of communications, my palangga Joy Wassmer. Other guests who graced the event were German Ambassador to the Philippines Thomas Ossowski, CATS Motors’ Felix Ang, foodies Maricar and Alby Xerez-Burgos, and Grace and Lauro Baja, plus so many other gourmand and wine connoisseurs, dahlings.

Philippines’ Best Restaurants Guide 2014, the quintessential bible of gourmets and gourmands, is out now at your favorite bookstores and newsstands.

Alex’s birthday bash

Another blessed year for our palangga, society and environmentalist photographer Alex Van Hagen, who got a delightful surprise in the form of an exclusive birthday bash hosted by the ladies who lunch, palangga. The afternoon tea and heavy finger-food bash was held at the sprawling home of one of his closest pals at North Forbes Park.

As he walked in, friends honored him by raising their wine glasses and singing “Happy Birthday.” Après all the circulating was done, guests sat down and dug in to the yummies catered by Millie Reyes of that icon resto The Plaza.

Hostesses for this get-together were some of Alex’s beloved friends, led by no less than big-hearted party host and charity worker Nene Leonor, in full force with Manille’s equally fashionably women: Nini Licaros, Chit Salud, Helen Ong, Mellie Ablaza, May Neri, Mabel Abaño, Fortune Ledesma, Fe Ng, Agnes Huibonhoa, Karen Macasaet, Yoly Ayson, Baby Ortiz and Mimi Valerio.

Alex began a new chapter of his exciting, versatile life as a professional photographer in the company of his closest pals. Everyone had so much fun, the party lasted way past the designated hour. Thereafter, guests moved on to other happenings.

To my soulmate Alex, we can only toast to all that and once more wish you the best of health and prosperity and another blessed year with more eventful days to come. Cheers, palangga, from all of us!

Cathay Pacific’s milestones

Another new beginning for Cathay Pacific: The premier airline celebrated a company milestone at its “Hail and Farewell” event, dahlings, held at the Turf Room of Manila Polo Club.

And naturellement, the night’s affair was attended by esteemed namedroppables who all gave a toast to the carrier’s most notable and well-deserved achievements, as well as its hotshot executives, like regional manager Wilson Yam; outgoing Cathay Pacific Philippines country manager Martin Xu; and incoming Cathay Pacific Philippines country manager Alan Lui.

Gorgeous host Bianca Valerio announced Cathay Pacific’s recent win as World’s Best Airline in the annual Skytrax World Airline Awards. It was the fourth win for this world-class airline, “making it the only airline in the world to do so,” says Yam.

Xu was given a touching tribute by the Cathay Pacific Philippines team. “My three years in the Philippines have been fruitful and fun. Here, I learned that you can love the challenging times as much as you love the good times. I will surely miss everyone,” he said.

Finally, the flight team unveiled the Hong Kong-based carrier’s latest destinations—Manchester, England, and Zurich, Switzerland—which will start by December 2014 and April 2015, respectively. Cathay Pacific also moves from the chaotic Naia Terminal 1 to the pleasant Naia Terminal 3, at last!

“Our move to Naia Terminal 3 signifies more exciting times for our passengers. The Philippines is one of our most important markets in Southeast Asia and we plan better services for the needs of our customers,” said the amiable, new Cathay Pacific Philippines country manager Alan Lui, to the applause and approval of the VIP attendees, palangga.

Visit www.cathaypacific.ph