Waterfront Insular Hotel Welcomes the Year of the Pig
IT WAS my first time ever in all these years to join the Waterfront Insular Hotel’s celebration in welcoming the Year of the Earth Pig last February 5, 2019. And the Chinese New Year celebration was led by the towering GM Bryan Yves Sato Lasala plus his ever dependable ladies namely Sales & Marketing Manager Jennifer Romero and Marketing Communications Officer Eva Ces T. Gamalong, who all flashed bright smiles on their faces in welcoming the happy guests. Cafe Uno was transformed into an instant Chinese restaurant with Chinese lanterns, floral decorations and the required Prosperity/Money Tree. Oh yes, to complete the happy and special occasion, the traditional Lion & Dragon Dance was performed not only inside Cafe Uno but the whole Waterfront Insular Hotel compound itself to usher in good luck and prosperity in this New Year of the Earth Pig. Guests cheered and took pictures of the performers which only energized the Lion and Dragon dancers the more.
What a culinary feast Cafe Uno prepared for the special occasion. Cafe Uno’s buffet tables showcased a generous spread of Oriental Cuisine featuring six stations. Property Executive Chef Anthony Joseph Ante III or Chef Nino for short, was out to impress the merrymakers that included the Chairman of Philippine Sports Commission William I. Ramirez and former basketball idol and presently Sports Commissioner Ramon Fernandez, to have a great start for the Chinese New Year. Indeed, chef Nino has masterfully taken over the reins of the hotel banquet and restaurant.
Chef Ante holds more than a decade of work experience in a number of five star hotels and resorts mostly located abroad. He was working for the Hilton Trade and Convention Center in St. John, New Brunswick, Canada, before joining the Waterfront Group. “With his admirable culinary talent and impressive work experience, we at the Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao are hoping that Chef Nino will introduce new culinary delights for Mindanao’s food lovers and foreign visi-
tors as well. The appeal and success of his culinary offering in this New Lunar Year celebration launches Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao’s joyful and lucky start for the entire year,” says GM Bryan Yves Sato Lasala.
During the Lunar Year luncheon buffet I attended, Chef Nino had a 12-course culinary feast complemented with the utterly delicious Lechon Macau, Peking Duck and Pork Charsiu as main dishes. The other mouthwatering Chef Nino specialties included Salt & Pepper Squid, Stir Fry Beef and Bok Choy in Oyster Sauce, Kung Pao Chicken, Sauteed Mushroom with Tofu, Chili Crab, Sweet & Sour Lapu-lapu, Szechuan Fried Chicken, Deep Fried Pork Ribs, Pork Asado, Oriental Prawns with Lemon Sauce, among others. For dessert, diners had a good choice offerings of Tang Yuan, assorted Hopia, Mooncaes and Tikoy. Oh yes, celebrating her birthday with a complimentary birthday cake from the Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao was no other than our beloved Miss Marilyn Roque who came with her sister.
Honestly, discover the delicious dining options at Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao’s Cafe Uno’s buffet dining under the able culinary direction this time of Chef Nino. “Charm your beloved with the feel of rustic dining at the Cafe Uno this coming Valentine’s Day. It’s going to be one hearty feast I will prepare for you,” invites chef Nino.