Peter Borg (Simply Salacious, London) + MBKRS Awards 2012 results - Episode 53

This week, we have a fresh new mix by veteran British DJ Peter Borg.   We also have a full report on the Oscars of Manila's restaurant industry, which we organize and host every 2 years and that just took place at the end of November. Like most good DJs, Peter was exposed to music at a very young age and worked in radio (Choice FM) before he was old enough to get into clubs.  After holding residencies at Surrey Mansion, Mayfair, Rouge, The Saint, and Cafe de Paris, he started his Simply Salacious brand in 2004, the name behind some of London's most talked about parties held at a number of venues including Ministry of Sound, Area, and Babalou.  Peter has also mixed music on radio stations such as Pressure Radio, and most recently on Kiss FM, when he was approached by founder Gordon Mac to join his new project Mi-Soul. More on Peter Borg music at facebook. We hope to have Peter in Manila in early 2013.  Here's a little something to warm-up to. * * * MANILA’S RESTAURANT INDUSTRY CELEBRATES ITS VERY BEST A near-full moon shone over Enderun Colleges Culinary Center on the night of "The Oscars of Manila’s Restaurant Industry", The MBKRS Awards 2012.  The large hall of the center’s atrium was packed to the brim with chefs, restaurateurs, hoteliers, media and other guests, waiting with bated breath to hear the results that would be announced that night.  30 award categories, 150 nominees, and a panel of over 100 judges—these are the key elements in this prestigious awarding ceremony that recognizes excellence in Manila’s dining scene. This year’s awards were held on November 27 to a record crowd. Before the ceremony began, guests mingled, munched and sipped on fabulous food and wine sponsored by some of the best restaurants and beverage companies in the city.  None other than the honorable secretary of tourism Ramon Jimenez Jr. opened the awards with an inspiring speech.  Jimenez urged restaurants to constantly strive for excellence, all the while maintaining “focus” and “consistency”.   Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez addresses the restaurant industry (left). With organizers Elian and Ines (right) The MBKRS Awards organizers Ines Cabarrus and Elian Habayeb—authors of the bestselling coffee-table book Manila’s Best Kept Restaurant Secrets who also hosted the event, were joined on stage by celebrity presenters who helped hand out the night’s prestigious awards: Metro Society Managing Editor Georgia Schulze del Rosario, popular blog When in Manila’s Vince Golangco, Ministry of Mushrooms Founder Marco Lobregat, Pinkerton Ice Cream’s Alexandra Rocha, Jim Araneta of Global Beer Exchange, Tina Pamintuan of L’Incontro, Enderun’s Hospitality Management Director Bobby Horrigan, Mercato Centrale Co-founder Vanessa Ledesma, The Comedy Cartel’s Noel Gascon and Victor Anastacio, Juice.ph’s Spanky Enriquez, Melissa Gecolea of ANC, and actors Janice de Belen and Johnny Revilla, who are both starring together in the upcoming thriller Strangers.  The independent auditing firm SGV & Co witnessed the announcements and checked whether the results from the survey tool QuestionPro are consistent with the winners announced. Ines Cabarrus with ANC's Melissa Gecolea Multi-award winner Malu Gamboa roots for her brother The list of winners is as follows:   Awards by Cuisine Best ITALIAN RESTAURANT: Va Bene Pasta Deli Best FRENCH RESTAURANT: Brasserie Ciçou Best SPANISH RESTAURANT: Terry’s Selection Best JAPANESE RESTAURANT: Sugi Best CHINESE RESTAURANT: Hai Shin Lou Best CONTINENTAL CUISINE: Sala Best THAI RESTAURANT: People’s Palace  Best FILIPINO RESTAURANT: Abé Best MIDDLE EASTERN RESTAURANT: Hossein’s Persian Kebab Best KOREAN RESTAURANT: Kaya Best INDIAN RESTAURANT: New Bombay Indian Cuisine Best CENTRAL EUROPEAN RESTAURANT: Old Swiss Inn Best SPECIALTY CUISINE: Corner Tree Café Specialty-based Awards Best STEAKHOUSE: Elbert’s Steak Room Best BISTRO: Sala Bistro Best RESTO/BAR: M Café Best ENOTECA: Cav Best WINE LIST: Barcino Gourmet Best BURGER JOINT: Charlie’s Grind & Grill Best DESSERT, ICE CREAM AND CAKE SHOP: The Cake Club Best NEWCOMER: Wildflour Café + Bakery Hotel Restaurant Awards Best HOTEL RESTAURANT: INTERNATIONAL BUFFET: Spiral (Sofitel) Best HOTEL RESTAURANT: FINE DINING: Impressions (Maxims) Best HOTEL RESTAURANT: SPECIALTY: Shang Palace (Makati Shangri-La) Best HOTEL BAR: Salon de Ning (Peninsula) Individual Achievement Awards Best EMERGING TALENT: Martin Wisniewski Best CHEF: J Gamboa Best RESTAURANT GROUP ENTREPRENEUR: Annabel Wisniewski LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT: Juan Carlos de Terry Chefs Cyrille Soenen, Juan Carlos de Terry, and J Gamboa Attending the event were a veritable smorgasbord of the movers and shakers of Manila’s restaurant scene.  The night’s big winners were of course Juan Carlos de Terry, together with his wife, Mari de Terry, Best Chef J Gamboa accompanied by his vibrant sister Malu Gamboa, Chef Robby Goco, winner of two awards Chef Cyrille Soenen, Colin Mackay who swept the awards with wins for all his restaurants, and Martin Wisniewski, who also bagged three awards, one of them on behalf of his mother Annabel Wisniewski. Marco Lobregat, Xandra Rocha, and Chef Colin Mackay   Georgia Schulze del Rosario with Ines (left).  DJ Wendell Garcia (right) Martin Wisniewski, Elian Habayeb and Alexander Jentes Other notable guests included Margarita Fores, Chef Chris Locher, Chef Sau del Rosario, Chef Philip Golding, Chef Paul Huang, Chef Adrian Cuenca, Claude Tayag, Las Flores’ Uri Singla and Dani Aliaga, Raj Sadhwani, Murray Hertz, Hossein Sohrabi, brothers Alexander and Markus Jentes, The Mandarin Oriental’s Javier Berenguer-Testa, Madonna English, Chiqui Mabanta (winner for Best Specialty Cuisine), CJ Juntereal, Baby Imperial and Coco Anne, ANC’s Boyet Sison, Chef Kerwin Go, Raymond Toledo, Monica Llamas, Katheryn Eckstein, Jean Fernando, Dale Pagkalinawan, Christoper Lacson, the lovely Michelle Pamintuan and Cristina Cu, Belarus Consul Annette Ablan, wordsmith Krip Yuson, Michelle Pantoja-Picornell,  Bamboo Bike advocate Bryan Maclleland, and photographer Wesley Villarca, and many many others. Bobby Horrigan, Corner Tree Cafe's Chiqui Mabanta, and Vanessa Ledesma “It keeps getting better and better every year!” exclaimed Margarita Fores, who won for Lifetime Achievement in 2010.  And this sentiment absolutely rang true as guests constantly sang praises for organizers Ines and Elian, and stayed on into the night to enjoy the wonderful food and endless libations. There is only one way to move from here…onwards and upwards, and till the next MBKRS Awards…2014! Mandarin Oriental's Javier Berenger-Testa congratulates Chef Robby Goco for his Best Burger Joint win The MBKRS Awards are inspired by the coffee-table book Manila’s Best Kept Restaurant Secrets and celebrate bi-annually excellence in the city’s dining scene.  For more visit www.mbkrsawards.com and like www.facebook.com/mbkrsawards to get real-time updates.  Fresh Lumpia by Kabila (top). Huevos Cabreados by Cova (bottom) Sarah Rosser and China Yoo's choice bags the prize   Spanky Enriquez and Melissa Gecolea with Makati Shangri-La's Michael Golden Whitehead (left) Malu Gamboa with Las Flores' Uri Singla and Dani Aliaga (right) Kath Eckstein mixes up Don Papa cocktails   The infinitely talented Claude Tayag (left) The classically trained Ian Padilla (right) Michelle and Tina Pamintuan Denise Celdran cheers her favorites on   People Asia's Ana Gonzalez with ANC's Boyet Sison (left) Kasbah's Madonna English with Anne De Kiskisan and Romain Rivierre Janice de Belen with her lovely daughters The MBKRS Awards team: Rey Moraga, Ines Cabarrus, Elian Habayeb, and Francesca Trinidad facebook.com/mbkrsawards