LOOK: Duck Adobo Over Puff Pastry, a Guava Charlotte Dazzled at the French Chamber's 2023 Gala
It was a celebration of the vivid cultures of the Philippines and France.
(SPOT.ph) "We celebrate tonight the best of France and the Philippines," said Her Excellency Marie Fontanel, French Ambassador to the Philippines at the 2023 edition of the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s annual Gala, held at Sofitel Manila. Titled Rendez-Vous, the event was an evening of enchantment for all the senses—the taste buds, in particular.
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Here's what went down at the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry Gala 2023:
Six Courses of French + Filipino Flavors
Guests were treated to an exclusive six-course menu by Bettina Arguelles, Executive Chef of Sofitel Manila (the hotel's first female Executive Chef, to be exact!). Clear French and Filipino influences were present throughout the six courses—and happily so.
"I wanted to tie in ingredients, techniques, or flavours from either cultures that will resonate with the diners from both sides of the fence," Arguelles explains in an exchange with SPOT.ph.
The chef honored Bicolano kinunot na pagi with the Bacalao Rilletes—a distinctly Filipino take on rillettes infused with moringa (that's malunggay for ya), bamboo shoots (an indigenous Filipino ingredient), and smoked salmon roe. "[It's also] an ode to our pre-colonial cooking techniques and hunting and foraging."
The Foie Gras au Torchon followed, pairing slabs of foie gras mi-cuit and a foie gras macaron (!) with a pineapple-ginger compote using Tagaytay pineapples. A port wine gelée, crumbled pain d'Epices, and walnut crumble make for a warming, carrot cake-esque combo that surprisingly works with the buttery foie.
Continuing on the Franco-Filipino route, the Sofitel team served the Duck Adobo Façon “Vol-au-Vent”—where slow-cooked duck adobo comes cradled by a puff pastry shell. "I tried a whimsical approach to the humble 'adsilog' [adobo silog]," Arguelles explains, with pickled quail egg halves representing the typical itlog na maalat. Pickled baby vegetable atsara and truffle garlic puffed rice contribute a subtle crispness to the mix.
The star of the night? The Fillet de Boeuf "Bulalo", which paired Prime USDA Beef tenderloin with roasted bone marrow (cue heart-stopping richness), a rich slice of potato gratin, and baby vegetable atsara. "[It]s play on bulalo steak, but instead of gravy a classic sauce Bordelaise," says Arguelles of the dish.
A selection of cheese followed, highlighting the diversity of cheeses in France. Each cheese has a different origin, and with it, a distinct personality: think gooey Brie from the Brie Region of northern France; pungent-nutty Ossau Iraty from the French Pyrénées; buttery Comte from the the Jura Mountains, sharp and pungent Fourme d'Ambert from the eastern valleys of the Auvergne Mountains, and ashed St. Maure de Touraine from Touraine.
To end the night, the team brought out the Pink Guava Charlotte, with bright tropical flavors in a light-as-air medium. "[It highlights] the humble local fruit and elevates [it] into an elegant dessert," Arguelles tells us. Petit Fours—including a memorable Calamansi Yuzu Meringue Pie—sealed the deal.
"I wanted to showcase that Filipino flavours can compete in the stage of world cuisine," Arguelles relays. We’re all for the way the sweet and savory plates merged French and Filipino cultural heritage into a cohesive union, much like the alliance between the two countries.
The French Chamber of Commerce and Industry Gala 2023
Going by the theme "Rendez-Vous," this year's edition was held at Sofitel Manila, with esteemed guests that include CCI France President Jacques Christophe Branellec, French Ambassador to the Philippines Marie Fontanel, Sofitel General Manager Olivier Larcher, and more.
The stage, too, was filled with spirited performances—including that of Cebu's Sinulog and Mindoro's Pandanggo sa Ilaw by the Sindaw Philippines Performing Arts Guild, as well as a chairlesque performance. It also shone the spotlight on local corporations that have shown their commitment to sustainability and given the Le Trophée Bleu: Sustainability Business Awards.
About the Gala
The French Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI France) holds their yearly gala to commemorate the "longstanding friendship, economic development, cultural exchange, and diplomatic ties" between France and the Philippines, highlighting collaborations between the two in business, economics, and more.
For more information, check out CCI France Philippines' website.
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