WITH Christmas parties and family reunions just around the corner, even the most finicky hosts and event organizers can be stumped by an overwhelming amount of tasks on their to-do lists.
Food and drink, for one, will always be the most important aspect of every gathering. Hosts need to pay close attention to the budget, the dietary restrictions of guests, if any, and the variety of dishes that must be served.
Sure, there are caterers we usually rely on, but there are times a specific dish we, or our guests, yearn for is only available from another caterer or purveyor. A new company, Food Czar, helps party hosts take on the job of securing the food we want from different restaurants or chefs, and delivering the dishes right at our doorsteps.
“Food Czar is a catering solutions company that aims to ease the process of party planning for both restaurants and event organizers,” says cofounder Ferdi Salvador. “We have tied up with various restaurants around the Metro, so party planners are able to order food from their favorite restaurants. We are your best friend in party planning!”
A seasoned host and party planner himself, Ferdi outlines four easy steps in organizing our parties and events through Food Czar (www.theFood Czar.com): 1) search for the restaurant or dining places we want to get our food from; 2) combine the menus from the different restaurants; 3) set the schedule of the celebration, and decide on how we want our party and food to be styled; and last, 4) party time! Just relax and wait for the food to be delivered.
Catering packages with customized styling are available for guests 30 persons and above.
Ferdi adds Food Czar can customize also for dinner parties and gatherings for less than 30 people on a case-to-case basis.
Ferdi’s partners in this exciting new venture is restaurant entrepreneur Eric Dee, COO of Foodee Global Concepts, and Czarina Ledesma, another entrepreneur and an event styler at heart. Foodee Global Concepts is the company behind the long-running Mesa, as well as the local franchisee of Michelin-rated restaurants like Tim Ho Wan, FOO’D by Davide Oldani (a personal favorite), Tsuta, Kam’s Roast and Hawker Chan (a go-to restaurant when I’m lazy to cook).
“Food Czar aims to make every occasion a hassle-free and memorable one,” stresses Ferdi.
“We will provide the best quality food in every cuisine matched with standardized catering services. We are also pioneers of making every client’s event the best one yet. From food selection to waiter services, let Food Czar cater your favorite occasion with your favorite food.”
I just might take them up on this soon.
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MEANWHILE, amid all the politicking, muckraking and a generally negative sentiment in the country, comes a spot of good news.
The government of Japan announced last November 3 the conferment of The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star on former governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Amando M. Tetangco Jr. The award recognizes his contribution in strengthening the relations between Japan and the Philippines in the financial sector.
As the Central Bank governor, said a news statement from the Embassy of Japan in Manila, Tetangco took the lead in drafting a bill, later signed by President Benigno S. Aquino III into law, Republic Act 10641, allowing the full entry of foreign banks in the local banking industry. The law amended RA 7721, or the Foreign Bank Liberalization Act, signed by then-President Fidel V. Ramos in 2004.
“Tetangco strongly persuaded the [Philippine Congress] on the need for the liberalization of entry of foreign banks. As a result, the law [amendment] was enacted in 2014, allowing further participation of Japanese banks and, thereby, improving the environment for Japanese companies to operate and expand their businesses in the Philippines.”
Tetangco also helped in stabilizing the financial sector in the region “by promoting both regional and bilateral financial cooperation led by Japan to overcome the global financial crisis that occurred in 2008.” As BSP governor, he participated in the Asean+3 Finance Ministers’s and Central Bank Governors’s Meetings starting in 2012, and promoted the Asian Bond Markets Initiative (ABMI) and the establishment of the Asean+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO). In 2014, he strongly supported the creation of the “Joint Working Group on Bilateral Financial Cooperation between Japan and the Philippines” to further deepen the economic relations of the two countries.
That same year, said the Japanese government, Tetangco made huge efforts to expand the bilateral currency swap between Japan and the Philippines. As a result, the exchange limit for the Philippine peso to the US dollar was doubled, ensuring further stability of financial markets in Asia.
“The government of Japan extends its sincerest congratulations to Mr. Tetangco, and hopes that he will continue to take an active role in further strengthening the close relations between our two nations,” said the Japanese government.
Congratulations, Gov! (And advanced happy birthday!) Cheers to another feather on your now very crowded cap!
