THE AMBASSADOR of the Federal Republic of Germany, Christian-Ludwig Weber-Lortsch, came to install Dr. Franz Seidenschwarz as Germany?s Honorary Consul in Cebu. The ceremony took place at the circular Barcelona hall of Casino Español.

Governor Gwendolyn Garcia was present. She was asked to unveil the signage with the official seal, which now hangs at Doctor Franz?s office in Banilad. Cebu City Vice Mayor Michael Rama also attended to personally congratulate Dr. Franz, his wife Elizabeth Cinco-Seidenschwarz, and their two sons ? Dr. Alex and Franz Jr.

?This is a very special event,? said Ambassador Weber-Lortsch. There has not been a German consulate in Cebu since 1910, and now there are over 300 German nationals residing here. They are the concern of Dr. Franz, whose activities include business, scientific and cultural endeavors.

Dr. Franz Seidenschwarz is well-known to the Cebu community, having resided here for almost 30 years. Being a botanist, he is most concerned about every local plant, tree, shrub and perhaps even weed he comes across. They all have found a place in an exhaustive book he published some years back.

?This appointment is indeed an honor bestowed upon me,? he said in his acceptance speech. He recalled that more than 100 years ago, there was a shipping line that linked Cebu directly with Singapore, thanks to the German firm Hapag-Lloyd.

Present on this occasion was Klaus Schroeder, president and CEO of Hapag-Lloyd in the Philippines. He is also the president of the German-Philippine Chamber of Commerce, established a year ago.

Leilani Echavez was the evening?s emcee. To close the program, she asked the chairman of the Consular Corps in Cebu to welcome Dr. Franz Seidenschwarz into the fold.

French foodfest

Tides coffee shop at the Shangri-La in Mactan held a 10-day French food festival titled ?Saveurs de France.? Executive chef Emmanuel Guemon, who is French and has Guide Michelin stars to his name, prepared quite an array that evoked classical and provincial French cuisine.

Guests of honor on this occasion were France?s Honorary Consul in the Visayas, Michel Lhuillier and his wife Amparito Llamas-Lhuillier, who is the Cebu head of La Chaine des Rotisseurs, the world?s quintessential gourmet organization.

Raymond Bragg, at that time still the general manager of the resort, was present along with his wife Susie and their daughter Kylie. Seeing to everyone?s comfort was F/B Promotions and Marketing manager Lesley Tan, as well as Communications manager Mildred Amon and her assistant Carla Comendador. They introduced the new F/B director Abdul Hafid.

Wine discoveries

Moët Hennessy hosted a press dinner labeled ?Discover Flavors of the World? also at the Shangri-La Mactan, this time at its Italian restaurant, Acqua. It was a pleasure to meet Pierre Pinault, the firm?s regional brand development consultant who is based in Singapore.

Some of those brands are Moët & Chandon, Dom Perignon, Veuve Clicquot, Hennessy and more.

From Manila had come Olga Azarcon, chief representative of Moët Hennessy Asia Pacific, with their man in Cebu Jojo Jabines, who came with his sister, our dear friend Letty Jabines.

Chef Gianluca Visciglia prepared an excellent menu, with proper wines assigned for every dish.

Spanish Month

June 30 is Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day, and Casino Español de Cebu has taken it as cue to usher July as Spanish month. Plans are afoot to hold a grand Tapas night at Salon de España ballroom on July 9, with the presence of the Spanish Ambassador H.E. Luis Arias and his wife Soledad.

In turn, the Marco Polo Plaza Hotel in Cebu would also like to have a Spanish food festival opening July 10 and for the rest of the month?s duration. Gema Luisa Pido would be their food consultant.

Spanish cuisine in Cebu has a new and excellent exponent since Ipar Miranda opened his Ipar?s Bar and Restaurant on Ramos Street. The whitewashed structure is actually on what used to be the sizable front lawn of the mansion where lived Ipar?s great grandmother, Mercedes Moras.

Ipar studied Spanish cuisine in Spain some years back. Ever since he returned to Cebu, his greatest desire was to open a place. Most supportive have been his parents, Jose Mari and Happy (nee Ouano) Miranda, as well as his sister Merche Miranda, who, together with Vina Oquiñena, help him run the place. Younger brother Josu Miranda pitches in, too.

Best of all, the Miranda family continues to live in their stately manse within the compound, laden with mementos collected by grandparents Simeon and Carmen (nee Moras) Miranda. It?s one of the last great homes lived-in along Ramos.

The clientele at Ipar?s has surged since its soft opening. Bob Gothong and his family love the place. On any night, you?ll find Ipar perched on a bar stool beside Jim Dosseter, the Englishman who is in part responsible for the décor and ambience.

Anything listed on the menu is good, from crusty croquettes to the softest tenderloins, and on to leche flan that?s like tocino del cielo. Prices are most attractive, especially for true-blue Cebuanos who form the bulk of Ipar?s customers.