Unexpected pairings & other surprises

“Wine is one of the agreeable and essential ingredients of life.”

- Julia Child

Great wines are authentic reflections of the vineyard from which they come. This best represents Lagarde, one of the oldest wineries in Argentina, which was founded in 1897.

High school classmates Carlo Lorenzana Bobby and Tenchavez, the exclusive importers and distributors of Lagarde premier wines in the Philippines, partnered with The Tivoli of the Mandarin Oriental, Manila to host a special evening of wine tasting with the fourthgeneration owner of Lagarde Lucila Pescarmona Vineyards, and Argentine Ambassador Joaquin Daniel Otero. It was a night of impeccable pairings. pan-fried Served that night were foie gras with creamy polenta and port reduction; beef tartar cannelloni with beetroot carpaccio, arugula, summer truffle and balsamico di Modena; roasted Australian rack of lamb with herb crust, potato chevrefeuille and calamata olive jus; and The Tivoli surprise passion fruit mousse, lychee jelly and chocolate sauce (a magnificent dessert by chef Remi Vercelli). The sumptuous dinner was paired off with Lagarde’s finest high-end wines: Lagarde Cabernet Franc 2009, Henry Gran Guarda Blend No. 1 2007 and Henry Late Harvest Muscato Viognier 2010.

Capping the exceptional evening was Smart Infinity’s raffle of two units of the most sought-after smartphone today, the Samsung Galaxy S III.

Once again, the Mandarin Hotel, Manila, under the stewardship of GM Mark Bradford, lived up to its reputation as a choice for delectable five-star hotel menu offerings and exquisite food presentation. (For a taste of Lagarde, call Carlo at 0918-999- 0917 or Bobby at 0917- 891-3080.)

(From left) Bimbo Mills, Manny Estacion, Abe Licaros, Kit Aguado and Benji Picardo.

Javi Berenguer-Testa, Argentine Minister Jaime Goldaracena and Mandarin Hotel, Manila GM Mark Bradford.

Dolly Galang with Doctors Clare and Efren Palabyab.

( From left) Lawyer Nonoy Tan, Betsy Tenchavez, Lucila Pescarmona and Kate Gordon.

(From left) Marta Otero, your columnist, Lilibeth Campos and Argentine Ambassador Joaquin Daniel Otero.

(From left) Toti Santos, Bob Tenchavez, Paquito Tanjangco and Spanky Meer.

(From left) Manolita Morales, Marian Gonzales, Marilyn Teotico and Nene Bartolome.

(From left) Jake and Marite Lagonera, Carlo Lorenzana and Margie Moran- Floirendo.

(From left) Carlo Lorenzana, Solenn Heussaff, Nico Bolzico and Bobby Tenchavez.

(From left) Anna Tenchavez, Lagarde Vineyard owner Lucila Pescarmona, Bobby Tenchavez and Carlo Lorenzana.

Smart Infinity group: (from left) Irene Belmonte, Smart Infinity business group marketing services and support operations’ Ruth Coloma Taal, JC Fonte and Agnes Garcia.

Kazuko and Mario Basa Jr. with Hisai Goldaracena.

Pinky Tanjuangco and Maritess Pineda.

Medicare Plus director Archit Bartolome III and Philippines-Argentina Business Council chair Susing Pineda.

Lita Bato and Nini Licaros.

Jake Lagonera, Lito Lorenzana and Mar Salazar.

Bob and Betsy Tenchavez.

Ian and Marissa Fenton won a bottle of Henry autographed by Lucila Pescarmona.

Nini and Palmy Layug.