Spreading happiness, one intimate dinner at a time...
The Dinner Series with Luminarc shares the secrets and the art of entertaining in a series of intimate dinners, showcasing modern, functional, and original collections of assorted tableware from dinnerware, glassware, cookware and other accessories in a memorable evening with great food, wine, and company.
The second leg of Luminarc's Dinner Series was held at Cafe 1771 in El Pueblo, the perfect setting for a casual yet intimate dinner. Located at the second floor, the exclusive area exudes a comforting warmth, like a sanctuary far away from the hectic pace of the busy Ortigas CBD. A glass of wine gets you in the groove in no time...
The dinner highlighted the latest collection from Luminarc, from wine glasses, plates, and bowls to the new Vitro Blooming cookware selection in an evening of good food, good wine and great company.
That evening, Cafe 1771 prepared a special off-the-menu five-course dinner, each prepared and served on Luminarc's elegant range of dinnerware, cookware and glassware.
Appetite Magazine's Editor-in-Chef and celebrated culinary personality, Nina Daza-Puyat, hosted the evening's dinner at Cafe 1771. The mood is light and informal, as Nina Daza-Puyat spins her elegant charm during the evening's dinner. 
Inspired by today's and tomorrow's trends, the creatively elegant yet functional designs of Luminarc's range of products combine both style and durability. Guests were even invited to participate in one of Luminarc's demos to experience the almost legendary resistance and toughness of their products, from dropping steel balls directly on the plates and hammering a nail on a piece of wood using their signature glasses. It's an impressive demo, but it becomes even more impressive when the plates are laid on the table with its simple yet modern designs...
The sleek and graceful lines of the Luminarc wine glasses and decanters become a centerpiece during the intimate dinner, adding a formal and elegant vibe.
More wine was poured that evening, and the mood becomes festive. Another round of wine gives one a closer look at the smooth, organic and free-flowing lines of the Luminarc glass decanter, tilted at a steep slant when placed on the table. It's modern design at its best, blending both form and function in one unique piece from Luminarc's extensive collection. As the first course is prepared, we get a glimpse of more of Luminarc's pieces in equally dramatic fashion...
The dinner's first course was then served, Cafe 1771's hearty and comforting Valle Verde Soup prepared in Luminarc's new extended range Vitro Blooming cookware selection, where you can conveniently boil, steam, stew, roast, and grill all in one pot. The new Vitro Blooming cookware selection, in fact, does it all... 
With the new Luminarc Vitro Blooming cookware range, you can go from freezer to fire and directly to the table, making it the perfect pot for every household. Made with advanced vitro-ceramic material which guarantees exceptional thermal, mechanical, and chemical resistance, it's the same material used for NASA's space shuttles.
Fresh from the steaming Luminarc Vitro Blooming pot, the vibrantly colored Valle Verde Soup delivered rich flavors, matched with Luminarc's simple yet striking patterns on its signature dinnerware collection. The thick and comforting soup has an equally rich texture, releasing even more flavors with every sip.
Next, Cafe 1771's rustic Farfalle and Grilled Vegetable Salad with Italian Dressing was served, with soft and chewy pasta mixed with assorted roasted vegetables in a sharp dressing, plated on a Luminarc dish. The subtle smoky sweetness of the vegetables contrasted with the clean and bold flavors of the Italian-style dressing, rounded out by the pasta. The blend of flavors in this salad is both complex yet balanced, another excellent course at the Dinner Series with Luminarc.
Then, the mains were served, starting with the Salt Crusted Fish with Bean, Thyme, Lemon, and Extra Virgin Olive Oil, delicately carved by Cafe 1771's skilled chefs and presented on a Luminarc plate. The mild flavors of the fish are punctuated by the salt crust, and a squeeze of lemon brings out even more flavor. The contrasting sweet hint of the fresh fish and salty notes of the crust are perfectly tempered by the lemon and extra virgin olive oil for a satisfying seafood dish. But it gets better...
For the main course, a carving of Corned Beef Brisket with Cabbage, Marble Potatoes, and Baguio Beans was served. Cafe 1771's chefs bring out the slabs of slow roasted, brined and cured corned beef, slicing it to thick strips and plating it with fresh and crisp cabbage and beans, and soft marble potatoes. The corned beef is tender and juicy with rich, beefy flavors, one of the best I've tried yet. A dab of mustard cuts the richness of the corned beef, but it's really great as is. Another glass of wine, and another slice of corned beef brisket. Just can't get better than that...
For dessert, the homestyle Bread and Butter Pudding drizzled with Vanilla Cream Cheese Sauce capped our intimate dinner with Luminarc at Cafe 1771. Paired with a freshly brewed cup of coffee served on Luminarc's functional pieces, it was the perfect ending to an elegant yet intimate dinner.
A feast with Luminarc's timeless classics elevates the dining experience to a whole new level, and you too can recreate this experience at home with Luminarc's wide range of dinnerware, a name synonymous with elegance in French glassware since 1825.
Cafe 1771 is located at El Pueblo along Julia Vargas Avenue corner ADB Avenue, Ortigas, Pasig City or call 470-6559 and 631-7340 for inquiries and reservations.
Luminarc products are exclusively distributed by KLG International, Inc. The new Luminarc Vitro Collection is available at SM, Robinson's, Landmark, Metro Department Stores, www.lazada.com.ph in Metro Manila and other major home department stores nationwide. For more information, visit their FB Page at https://www.facebook.com/LuminarcPhilippines
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