MANILA, Philippines?Experiencing the world through wine is what the newly-opened Pago Wine Bar offers.

Pago is an unpretentious hang-out for those who love and appreciate wine.

As the owner, Sherwin Lao, puts it, ?It is a haven for wine lovers, where only good wine and champagne are served,? on Schott Zwiesel crystal stemware. In Manila, it is only at Pago that I have actually seen crystal decanters being used.

What sets this wine bar apart is its highly personalized service. Lao is present six days a week to play wine host. Expect no less than a personalized tasting session as well as endless talk on wine, its origins and how best to enjoy them.

Since the place is quaint, Lao is able to hop from one table to the next with utter ease, talking about the wines you chose or those he chose for you.

I have known Sherwin for quite some time and we?ve worked on projects for the Spanish Commercial Office. Passionate is a mild term for Sherwin. His knowledge on wine is one that I will never question. From Lao, I have not experienced a bad drink or a mediocre recommendation.

My best description of Pago is like going through one?s private collection of only the best. Many bottles are limited?backpacked from his sojourns and many acquired from small wineries that nonetheless produce excellent vintages.

The evening I first visited him, we traveled from New Zealand to the Cloudy Bay Marlbo-
rough Sauvignon Blanc 2007 in Bourgogne, France, to experience Domaine des Monts Luisants Morey St. Denis 2002; then found ourselves in Napa Valley, for Freemark Abbey Napa Cabernet Sauvignon 2000, from California, USA; ending our trip in sunny Spain, toasting to Telmo Rodriguez Gago 2006.

It was an experience like no other. Surprising is how he picked the wines so skillfully that our tongues did not experience wine fatigue at all. The next bottle was somehow always better, fuller.

If wine education or a night cap is what you fancy, with the perfect glasses to toast your dreams and wishes, Pago is the place to be.

Check out his wine and champagne selection, most are priced a third less than what we usually get them for.

Tel No. 474-3602, Unit 7 ground floor, Promenade Bldg., Wilson cor. P. Guevarra Sts., San Juan.

Where to dine

Due to the nature of my job, the questions that come my way are obviously food-related: Where to buy ingredients, wine recommendations, recipes and who caters? The questions are endless.
The most common though, aside from tumataba ka ba o pumapayat?Hahaha!?is where to dine?

Brace yourselves! In four weeks, Manila will experience a restaurant concept like no other.

Watch out as Cynthia and Ivy Almario, Ching Cruz, Carol Masibay Garcia, Menchu Soriano, Cecille Ysmael and Maricris Zobel open The Terrace at 5th in Greenbelt 5. They will serve their most beloved family recipes alongside specialties from their favorite chefs.

With a stellar cast like this, it seems difficult to imagine the food to be any less than sublime.

Where to get buttermilk

And while we?re talking about Menchu Soriano, let?s address another frequently asked question, that is, where to get buttermilk.

Well, now, we can get it nice and fresh from her and husband, Ed Soriano?s Hacienda Macalauan.

Their products are exemplary, from the milk of imported Holstein Freshians from Australia that graze freely on the foothills of Mt. Makiling, Calauan, Laguna.

I used their buttermilk for my chocolate cake and wow! It?s as profound as I can manage.

Their non-fat milk is so delicious! Nice, creamy, rich?you won?t even believe it?s non-fat!
They also have an ice cream mix which allows you to just pop and churn in your machine and flavor as you wish.

They too have half and half, ricotta, mozzarella and clotted cream (which I love, it?s so well done) and their quesong puti, goes without saying, is excellent!

To Ed and Menchu Soriano, quality and freshness are all that matter!

Available at Dizon Farms, Market Market, tel no. 8867779. For bulk orders, call 8181264 (They even custom made dairy products, based on your specs, for food service customers).

Watch out for my ?Holiday Cooking Lessons Designed for Household Cooks.? For inquiries, call 9289296/ 9273008.

For inquiries and reservations on my cooking class schedules, call 9289296/ 9273008/ 0908-2372346.

E-mail the author at raspiras@inquirer.com.ph