The grandeur of newly opened Casa Ibarra is perfect pride for memorable events

In the evening of November 21, 2017, the Ibarra’s Party Venues and Catering Specialist opened its fifth and grandest events venue in Metro Manila.  Unveiled is the impressive Casa Ibarra that stands out as a majestic structure in MOA Complex, Pasay City for its modern Filipino architectural and interior designs. 

(Click image to visit the Facebook account of Casa Ibarra)

Casa Ibarra is perfect venue for the ceremonies and receptions of weddings, debuts and grand birthdays, corporate events, anniversaries, and baptismal celebration. Casa Ibarra offers a wide selection of glorious food. They have menu featuring the Filipino pride as well as menu for Western, Mediterranean, Oriental, and Spanish cuisine.

Homage to Monet, an 11 x 3.5 meters artwork of French-Filipino artists Olivia d’Aboville.

The lobby features the delicate beauty of the Homage to Monet, an 11 x 3.5 meters artwork of French-Filipino artists Olivia d’Aboville that greats the arrival of guests entering at the elaborate porte-cochere. This specially commissioned artwork virtually welcomes visitors to Casa Ibarra. The artistic masterpiece was inspired by Claude Monet’s famous Water Lily series wherein he depicted the lovely beauty of lilies on the pond of Giverny, France in his over 250 paintings in the course of 30 years, many of these are framed and exhibited in prestigious museums and private collections.

Homage to Monet radiates romance, blushes of color and inspires serenity.  It is consists of eight panels and used 365 meters of Philippine silk textile handwoven in Palawan and Aklan for over 3 months. The fabric was custom-dyed using Shibori technique, one of Olivia’s signature textile techniques. So far, this is the largest artwork she has done. 

Casa Ibarra’s main centerpiece is the 600 sqm Sala de Amor on the second floor. Imagine the celebrant or the newly married couple walk down the grandiose staircase with steps that dramatically light up one by one as she or he walk down the stairs between those majestically lighted onyx pillars.

Sala de Amor is the grand ballroom of Casa Ibarra. It can accommodate up to 350 persons. Inside is another masterpiece featuring those gorgeous capiz chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. The chandeliers are made up of about 20 thousand pieces of Capiz shells.  The room was built by around 200 workers who meticulously installed and completed everything in over a year and half.

The interior of Casa Ibarra was designed by KM Professional Interior Design with the concept of a modern Filipino home using clean lines and local materials that include wood, raffia, Capiz shells, T’nalak weave, and others, creating a warmth that compliments with the bright interior of lightly-colored walls.

For smaller events, Casa Ibarra has two smaller rooms on the ground floor, the Alegria and the Hermosa function rooms. Each can accommodate up to 140 persons. The two rooms can also be combined to accommodate people up to 280 persons.

(Click image to visit the Facebook account of Casa Ibarra)

On the upper floor is the open air porte-cochere’s balcony with a panoramic view of the district and to catch a sight of starry nights or moonrise at night. Al fresco cocktails can be serve here. It is a perfect place for a wedding ceremony. It can accommodate a maximum capacity of 80 persons. The architectural design is perfect for those intimate and memorable photo shoots.

Casa Ibarra has 11 parking slots allotted for the couple or celebrants and their families. Other guests may use the parking area beside Casa Ibarra for a fee.

Aside from hosting events and parties with foods, Casa Ibarra also provides off-site catering services for parties and corporate events all across the metro and provinces.  Yet, even international clients that are searching for great food and service. 

 

Typical Casa Ibarra’s package starts at about P133,000.00 all-inn. This already includes numerous amenities but all still customizable to the client’s preferences.

Ibara’s banquet sales associates are also knowledgeable about many fine details in the events, such as church schedule or the duration of a ceremony.  They assist a client from the point of preparation all the way to the end of the event.

You can find Casa Ibarra at Lot 17 Coral Way, CBP1, Mall Of Asia Complex, Pasay City.  

For more about Casa Ibarra’s, you can contact them at (02)986-1107 / 994-9448 or by cellular phone at 0916-586-8897 & 0908-866-2467. 

Send email to bqt_casaibarra@ibarraspartyvenues.com.ph.

Visit its website at http://www.ibarraspartyvenues.com.ph/venue/casa-ibarra/.

 

Revitalized Tutuban Center reopens Central Mall and Prime Block

The newly renovated Tutuban Center of Divisoria Market, Manila is now open again for a renewed shopping experience.  The front building of the main mall has been remodeled, repainted, and restored its main entrance’s  vintage design and to conserve the heritage value of was left after of the 19^th century’s  central train station. It still has the feature of brick walls and retained those century-old wrought iron pillars that would serve as your guide to the food court

Tutuban Center opens 

9:00 AM every day

The place is among the historical spots of Manila and a memorable place to  any one of us who might had been shoving elbows and pushing butts to win a bargain hunting adventure.  The small plaza fronting the Tutuban Center still features the controversial statue of Gat Andres Bonifacio erected by the National Historical Institute (NHI) in 1971. The monument was meant to mark the site where Bonifacio supposedly was born on Nov. 30, 1863 to which some critics pointed out was an error because he was actually born in a house on Calle Alvarado, in Binondo district, not in Tutuban of Tondo, Manila according to Manuel Artigas when he wrote the first Bonifacio biography published in 1911.  When Bonifacio was born, there was no railroad station yet in Tutuban at the time as the Manila-Dagupan Railroad Co. (later became the PNR) started operation only in 1882. 

 

Over the years, much of the railway operations were closed as a result of devastation from World War II, typhoons, volcanic eruptions, and neglect.  The Tutuban Central Station stood idle and later transformed to become the Tutuban Centermall being that the building stood in the center of trading and bustling business district of Manila. Tutuban Centermall was closed to business after a fire hit the building in early morning (past midnight) of September 5, 2012 and lasted for 24 hours.

 

When the Ayala Land Inc. acquired in 2015 major stakes of the holding firm that owned and developed the Tutuban Centermall, it started the restoration and renovation of the building of what is now the revitalized Tutuban Center.  Some improvements were done inside, such that the cluster of stalls and alleys are now well organized, spacious and tidy, picnic tables are placed in the food courts, very clean toilets, and good air-conditioning facilities and lightings are provided.  Outside the building, an additional 150 parking slots has been built in its CMRecto paid parking area. The pedestrian and vehicular circulation across the development were also enhanced. 

With all the improvements and well-preserved vintage façade and color, the Tutuban Center is now again one of the top shopping destinations of Metro Manila.

In the Prime Block building, a cluster of stalls in level 3 introduced a well organized merchandize zoning where shoppers will find everything they want and need in each area.  There is the Anding’s Toys and Flowers which offers so much more. Anding is a big store that it occupies 18 stalls and offers almost everything, wonderfully varied items from party favors, garden accessories, and holiday decors. 

Other stalls in the Prime  Block also offers the long-time popular items of latest RTW, costumes, sleepwear, footwear, bags, fashion accessories, fabrics, patches, beads and other trimmings.

General  merchandise stores offer a wide array of home and personal items, hardware, cookware, school supplies, bath and toilet accessories, linens, curtains, home care and tools, and other household products.

Entrepreneurs and small business enterprisers can also get their supplies of cosmetics, personal care, grooming kits, spa and salon needs.

For your party and for the party planners, you can still find here that one-stop shop for colorful gift items, wall and table decorations, toys and games, and costumes accessories.  Just in time for the Halloween and the Yuletide season, even for the upcoming New Year celebration, the love heart’s days of February, wedding, children party, corporate launch or party, or any get-together or party celebrations.

Chocolate & Wine Festival now on-going in Newport Mall, Resorts World Manila

PRESS RELEASE

Newport City celebrates chocolate & wine with a decadent month-long festival

Megaworld Lifestyle Malls and Newport Mall is celebrating the decadent duo of chocolate & wine with delicious pairings, chocolate carvings and more at its Chocolate & Wine Festival this October.

Bar 180's limited time offer for the Chocolate Creations is a trio of delicious desserts, each with their own special wine pairing.

Chocolate Creations, paired with wine

Newport Mall’s Chocolate Creations are even more delectable when paired with wine! Available from October 1 to 31, 2015 this collection of chocolate desserts can be enjoyed with a glass of vino at participating establishments. The list is posted at the Chocolate & Wine Gallery at the ground floor of Newport Mall from Oct. 1 – 12

Deconstructed Peanut Butter Praline, paired with a Montes Late Harvest Riesling.

Among the not to be missed pairings this year is a trio of chocolate desserts and wines from Bar 180 – there’s a Deconstructed Peanut Butter Praline, paired with a Montes Late Harvest Riesling, the Mary Jane Cake, which has Raspberry Jelly and a Dark Chocolate Ganache, to be enjoyed with a glass of Montes Alpha Syrah and the interesting Chocolate Soup (a rich combination of dark and milk chocolate) topped with walnuts and pistachios, which is paired with a Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon.

Mary Jane Cake with Raspberry Jelly and Dark Chocolate Ganache, paired with a Montes Alpha Syrah.

Other chocolate desserts one can try at the festival is Crisostomo’s Madrid, a ChocoMani cake garnished with chocnut candy, drizzled with fondue and topped with mint leaves and their GatoNegro Cabernet Sauvignon. Johnny Kahuku’s Hawaiian Volcano Lava Cake is a luscious spiced dark chocolate cake with raspberry that one can have with a glass of their Barefoot Sauvignon Blanc White Wine.

Chocolate Soup with Walnut Croquant and Pistachio Nuts, paired with Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon.

For a twist on the typical buchi, Johnny Chow is offering an orange marmalade infused dark chocolate buchi and their Alexis Lichine & Co Cabernet Souvignon or Merlot.

Peanut butter and chocolate fans should definitely stop by The Italian Market for their Humble Pie, a peanut butter and dark chocolate pie made even yummier with vanilla ice cream and a glass of Fantini Farnese Montepulciano D'abruzzo.

Chocolate ice cream is also represented through Mr. Kurosawa’s Chocolate Jelly with Cream, chocolate ice cream mixed with anglaise and chocolate coffee jelly topped with whipped cream, chocolate powder and syrup. Mr. Kurosawa also offers a Yellow Tail Australian Wine Merlot.
 

Other delish chocolate dishes include TWG’s Chocolate Macaron, Villa Del Conte’s Praline Balls (choose from nine delectable flavors!), FIC’s Tsokolate, a rich full-flavored ice cream inspired by the tsokolate eh and Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf’s cakes.

Chocoholics can also enjoy an indulgent chocolate buffet and Chocolate & Wine Pairing Night on Oct. 22, 6PM at Impressions in Resorts World Manila. Guests can purchase tickets for P1,500 and enjoy a wide selection of chocolate desserts, cakes, dark and white chocolate fountains and more.

 

Chocolate & Wine Market

From Oct. 1 – 4 and 15-18, chocolate and wine lovers should get their wallets ready as Newport Mall’s Plaza at the second floor transforms into a Chocolate & Wine Market.

Guests can check out chocolate treats from Nestle Kitkat and enjoy eating them at the Kitkat benches scattered all over Newport City. Chocoholics can also satisfy their sweet tooth with chocolate desserts and wine from Café Maxims, indulge in pralines from Villa Del Conte and try chocolatey caramel apples at American Caramel Apples.

More chocolates will also be available from Food Bin, Pipers Pan, Yellow Sprinkles, Picole, Unit 16 Sweets, MedChef, Mio Gelati, Choco Atbp., Coldstone, Kimbee, Snack Box, Hattendo, Frost & Fill, Barris Chocolate and Momilo Mio.

Chocolate & Wine Gallery

This year’s Chocolate & Wine Festival also allows guests to enjoy the fusion of food and art. At the Chocolate & Wine Gallery open from Oct. 1 -12, guests can check out beautiful chocolate paintings and sculptures from Marriot Hotel and Resorts World Manila Food & Beverage, see wine selections from the Philippine Wine Merchants and learn all about wine & chocolate pairing from the pairing guide.

Guests can also enjoy their chocolate and wine with wonderful performances at the Chocolate, Wine and the Arts showcase, happening 6:00 PM on October 2 to 3, 2015 and on October 16 to 17, 2015.

The Chocolate & Wine Festival was created by Megaworld Lifestyle Malls and Resorts World Manila, and sponsored by Nestle Kitkat, the Philippine Wine Merchants, Villa Del Conte and Gallo Wines.

For more information on Newport Mall’s Chocolate Festival, please call the Megaworld Lifestyle Malls Concierge at 709-0888, 709-9888 or 09178380111 or Resorts World Manila at 836-6333 and 908-8833 or visit www.megaworldlifestylemalls.com

SININGSAYSAY - Philippine History in Art at the Gateway Gallery, Araneta Center, Cubao

Alumni Association (UPAA), and the Araneta Center Inc..The Siningsaysay is the joint project of the University of the Philippines (UP), the UP Alumni Association (UPAA), and the Araneta Center Inc..

 

The art exhibits of 30 large-scale paintings highlights Philippine history and culture as depicted by the artistic illustrated views of our respected and highly-recognized UP artists in our time. 

Their works tell us the story of the Philippines from the time it was occupied by pre-historic settlers down to the rediscovery of our archipelago by the western explorers, Spanish colonization, US and Japanese war, and the many struggles, atrocities, recovery,  development and progress through the years  till the recent years, some of which were ... (read and see more photos here)

15 of 31 participants passed the 2014 New Big Food Entrepreneur Taste Test

After attending the free seminar on How to Develop Your Business Food Ideas during the  startup of Food Entrepreneur Weekend last October 25 (Saturday) in the Mercato Centrale of Bonifacio Global City (BGC), Taguig City, thirty-one aspiring food entrepreneurs finally set their tables  on November 7, 2014 (Friday) for the first step to winning the  3rd Next Big Food Entrepreneur  contest organized by the Mercato Centrale, the country’s premier night food market.

The list of 31 contestants

The participating food entrepreneurs presented their food creations vying for a win in the food taste test.  Each of them served bite-sized portions of their dishes to a judging panel composed of select lifestyle and food media practitioners, food bloggers (that includes us), some entrepreneurial consultants, and the Mercato Centrale’s partners that include Our Awesome Planet, Unilever Food Solutions, MasterCard, Globe MyBusiness, Entrepreneur Magazine, Yummy Magazine, Go Negosyo, Solar’s Second Avenue, and WhenInManila.com, with support coming from Mercato vendors and management. Sampled are different combinations of savory dishes, artisanal food, pastries, and desserts. Some food creations were inspired by foreign cuisine but presented with Filipino twists by using some locally available ingredients or by catching the Pinoy taste and the ways the foods were introduced and served. I was amazed by the creativity of the participants in coming up with their own recipe. However, I was more fascinated upon realizing that most of the contestant food entrepreneurs were inspired by Pinoy tastes and food culture. It must be of what they learned from the earlier seminar that Pinoy flavors, ingredients, and food performers were the most trending and popular in those years of Mercato Centrale's food market experience.

Helping find the best food entrepreneurs this year was a big challenge not only to the competing contingents, but also to the panelist of judges who sampled and rated the food entries presented by each of the aspiring food entrepreneur.  We sampled more than a hundred food entries in less than two hours. Most of the judges were not able to sample a bite of all the stuffs presented due to time pressure.  In my case, I missed to taste the food entries of two participants due to time constraint despite observing discipline to limit myself to take only two bites for each entry so I could speed up my review and to avoid my guts from getting filled too much halfway in our race against time. However, the said two contestants passed the Taste Test because the got favorable votes from those who have tried their dishes. I managed to try their dishes after the contest and agreed their food creations deserved to win the test.  We, the food tasters-con-judges, were asked to rate the food entries on the following criteria: 25% for Creativity, 25% for Taste, 25% for Presentation, and 25% for Marketability, or a total of 100%. 

Finally, after tallying all the score cards at the end of the search, 15 entrepreneurs won the votes of judging panel. The winners automatically became qualified to the final round of the competition, which is to sell their best food creations for over four weekends in the Midnight Mercato, Bonifacio Global City on November 14 & 15, 2014 and on November 21 & 22, 2014,  and at the Banquetta, CCP Complex on November 28, 2014 and on December 5, 2014. The ultimate winner of the contest will get PHP 100,000 start up capital, a rent-free stall in Mercato Centrale for six months, and will be featured in Entrepreneur magazine, Yummy magazine, The Philippine Star, WhenInManila.com, Globe My Business Digital, and Our Awesome Planet.

The 15 finalists who made it to the final round of the competition are the following (in alphabetical order):

1. A Guy’s Flan

2. Bakmi Nyonya

3. Bigorots

4. Cubano

5. Dirty Fingers

6. Home of French Toast

7. Hunger Buster

8. Let’s SuTuKil Atbp

9. Mad Wraps

10. Mr. Pallman's Sandwiches

11. Naughty Nachos

12. Siowarma Twist

13. Tiya’s Kitchen

14. Turrone de Manila Cafe

15. Up in the Clouds

 Related posts:

• Your Chance To Become The Next Big Food Entrepreneur Is Back!
• TheNext Big Food Entrepreneur 2014 start up in BGC
• Free Seminar on Setting Up Your Food Stall Business at Mercato Centrale