Our town now has another first, the Imperial Ice Bar, which had an unforgettable extravagant opening bash. It was the latest venture from the people behind Opus, Republiq Club, Draft, Prive and Distillery. Present was Russian Standard Vodka founder Roustam Tariko, who jetted into Manille for this raucous shindig at The Fort Strip.
Co-owner Enrique Gonzalez and Bianca Valerio hosted the affair. They got the crowd heated up with sounds from DJ Nina Saputil while the smooth Russian Standard Vodka flowed throughout the happening, dahlings.
The bash saw the debut of the establishment’s signature cocktail, the “Imperial Diamond,” created by partner-mixologist David Dennis.
The luxurious drink infuses Russian Standard’s premium vodka, Imperia, with Tahitian Gold vanilla, blending it with 1986 vintage Krug champagne, wild hibiscus cordial, and Meyer lemon bitters. The US$30,000 cocktail is finished with 22-karat edible gold and a 1.25-karat flawless diamond, served in a Baccarat crystal glass. Hey, that’s what high-style boozing is all about, di bala, palanggas?
The crowd cheered when Gonzalez announced, “Our very first Imperial Diamond will be raffled off to one lucky lady tonight.” Roustam Tariko, the party’s guest of honor, drew the name from a fishbowl containing business cards. The lucky one was model Ornusa Cadness, who excitedly dashed to the bar. The cheers and applause grew louder when Gonzalez announced that “everyone else whose name is in the fishbowl would be getting pearl necklaces and other accessories, compliments of Russian Standard Vodka.”
Imperial Ice Bar is totally a new standard for our night owls on the fast lane.
More info? Call Imperial at 0917-5428831.
Mesclun at Linden
Ortigas Center in Pasig has another renowned landmark as the prestigious Linden Suites launched Mesclun Restaurant and Café with loads of industry partners and eye-catching faces socializing around.
The happening got on a roll when general manager Lawrence Wee and director of marketing Kathy Manuel-Salenga welcomed the guests. “Mesclun means ‘mixture,’ and the menu we created is a mix of local and international favorites,” said chef Katrina Kuhn-Alcantara. “[These are] creations inspired by my personal travels and experiences and collaborations with my team of talented chefs. It is a mix of what makes the old world classic and the new world refreshing. We are thrilled to offer the Ortigas business community and its residents a different level of dining experience now available in the heart of Ortigas.”
Après the remarks, guests dug into the yummy appetizers and superb signature dishes, which they drowned with Straits Wines.
The Linden Suites is at 37 San Miguel Ave., Ortigas Center, Pasig City. Mesclun Restaurant & Café is open 6 a.m.-11 p.m. Call 6387878; follow on Twitter @MesclunResto; visit www.lindensuites.com.
Ethan Allen and wines
Ethan Allen, the American brand of home furnishings, partnered with Forth and Tay, top fine wine and spirits merchant, for an indulgent night of well-aged drinks, “A Toast to Timelessness.”
Wine connoisseur Erik Kahn shared with the guests some of Forth and Tay’s fantastic flavors such as Essense de Dourthe (France, 2003); Opus One (US, 2007), and Sta. Rita Casa Real (Australia, 1995/1998) at Ethan Allen’s showroom in The Residences, Greenbelt.
The night was all about how good wine and classic furnishings complement the taste and lifestyle of today’s discerning urbanites.
“If there is a drink that is highly regarded as timeless and chic, it’s definitely wine,” said Melissa Valdez, Ethan Allen brand manager. “The drink has established itself in society and has traversed from one generation to the next, playing a role in history, but never has a glass or bottle of wine lost its relevance, reminiscent of how Ethan Allen has worked its way to suit our homes.”
Then everyone celebrated like there was no tomorrow, dahlings. It was truly a night of timelessness, with Ethan Allen’s eye-catching classic furnishings and Forth and Tay’s superbly aged wine collection, palanggas.
Ethan Allen is exclusively distributed by Focus Global Inc., a marketer of premium home furnishings and appliances brands such as SieMatic, Sub-zero, Wolf, Miele and Pella.
It is on Pioneer and Reliance Streets, Mandaluyong, and The Residences at Greenbelt, San Lorenzo Tower, Esperanza St., Makati. Call 6348587; visit www.focusglobalinc.com, www.ethanallen.com.
Filfest concert, Alabang
“In the past years several classically trained musicians have ventured into popular music and have developed a new genre of music infused with the repertoire and virtuosity of classical music training,” said Vicente Ayllon, chair of Insular and principal sponsor and benefactor of the Filfest Cultural Foundation, dahlings.
“Artists such as violinists Vanessa Mae and David Garrett, pianist Maksim and all-female string quartet Bond have successfully bridged the erstwhile disparate genre of classical and popular music through their unique arrangements and performance practice.”
Traditional concert halls in Europe and America, as well as MTV and the Internet, have presented these “classical crossover” concerts and have been embraced by a wide range of listeners from various backgrounds and age groups.
Filfest Cultural Foundation and Insular, with BMW and San Miguel Corp., join this worldwide craze by presenting “Rock Symphonies” featuring violinist Joseph Brian Cimafranca and the Manila Symphony Orchestra under the baton of professor Arturo Molina , on Nov. 17, 8 p.m., at the Insular Life Auditorium in Filinvest, Alabang.
Classical master works will be heard side by side crossover renditions popularized by violinist David Garret.
Check it out, palanggas, it will surely be a night of musical pleasures.
Call Marie at 0917-8177261, 0918-9419472, 5853823.
