MANILA, Philippines - MICHEL AND AMPARITO Lhuillier celebrated their 44th wedding anniversary with an impromptu Sunday luncheon at Novo Bistro. That?s the latest restaurant they have added to their string of upscale dining places in Cebu City.

The chain started with Hola España on the road to Maria Luisa Park (Cebu?s Forbes Park). Then came Gustavian along the same road, which has a northern European ambience.

Pino, which specializes in Filipino food, opened last year in a palatial setting. It has expanded by way of turning the wine cellar into a steak house aptly called Wagyu.

Novo Bistro is popular for its piano music. It can also be used for functions, up to 50 seated and more standing.

For their wedding anniversary, Michel and Amparito chose the ground floor and opted for a buffet. A favorite target was the specialty of the house: Casoulet, which is similar to cocido. It has duckling, varied sausages and pork fillets on a kidney bean stew.

Michel and Amparito say that next year, their 45th anniversary, will be a big celebration. Everyone in emerald green? Emeralds are for 45th year, but Amparito quickly quipped, ?Diamonds are a girl?s best friends.?

Fashion czarina

A week later, still at Novo Bistro, Vivina Chiu Yrastorza led the Happiness Group in a dinner to honor Viring Romoff, whose birthday it has been recently. Present were glamorous Millie Sembrano, Dr. Generosa Sanson Solano, Ben and Tina Ebrada and Milagring Borromeo.

Virginia Romoff is Cebu?s undisputed fashion czarina. She often recalls how she learned to sew during the war. She un-stitched clothes, took note of the patterns, and resewed them.
?Self-taught,? she remarked, saying her husband, an American serviceman, had died in action and she had to fend for herself and their son whom she named William Jr.

Viring recounted how proud she was when a girl from a prominent family, in the midst of the war, ordered her wedding gown. There was no material to buy from nonexistent shops, so she used a parachute.

?They were made of the purest white silk,? said Viring, adding that there was a big supply since incendiary bombs were dropped with parachutes. Some did not explode, hanging from trees.

Fellowship party

Next event at the Novo Bistro was the fellowship party of La Chaine des Rotisseurs. Michel heads the gourmet organization in the Philippines; Amparito, the Cebu chapter. The number was limited to 50, and the reservation deadline set weeks before. They came in full force.

Champagne and canapes were served at the ground floor. ?Easy on the scallops,? whispered a wife to her husband, ?for there?s a whole array upstairs for dinner.? But those scallops were so tempting, as everything else being passed around.

Dinner was announced and all went up the curved, carved stairway. It was buffet style but served on our seats were baked onion soup, and the salad which was a complete meal in itself. The greens had come from the Lhuillier farm in northern Cebu where they also have countless blooming orchids, waterfalls, and a zoo. With caged tigers, yes.

On the buffet were specialties of the house. Casoulet, of course, plus Osso Buco, Seafood Curry, Chicken with Rosemary, Rissotto with forest mushrooms, and honey-glazed leg of ham at the carving station.

As the evening drew to a close, and after the kitchen brigade had been called for a round of applause, Michel and Amparito had some announcements to make. In October, they are moving to a new house in Maria Luisa Park. It sits on top of a mountain, with a 360-degree view.

In December, the annual formal anniversary dinner of La Chaine?s Cebu chapter will be held there. Reservations have started to pour in.