Catering for connoisseurs: New events place opens in BGC

Coming from a big family is fun, although it poses a challenge whenever we dine out or celebrate special occasions. I have five sisters, brothers-in-law, and six pamangkins, so just imagine our entourage whenever we decide to eat out.

We find hotels too formal and stuffy so we would usually look for spacious restaurants that could accommodate large groups. Another option for us is an events place that could provide catering. My most recent discovery is thefunctionrooms in the booming Bonifacio Global City (BGC).

I attended the launch of the newest events place in this side of the metro and found out that it has seven different function rooms that could accommodate different-sized groups—from a private party of 12 to bigger conferences of 260.

The rooms and set-ups are flexible, and I saw arrangements for cocktails, corporate meetings, and even for weddings. They have facilities to ensure hassle-free events, with clients not having to worry about sound systems, television monitors, white boards, projectors, and even internet connections.

Thefunctionrooms is run by the owners of ActiveFun. “We thought there was a big opportunity in BGC for a lot of corporate functions, people who are looking for alternative venues,” said co-owner Laura Lim Rodrigo. Her sisters, Lorlyn and Lorraine, are also co-owners of thefunctionrooms and Connoisseur Catering, which is the official caterer of the venue.

I learned that Laura handles finance and marketing, Lorraine focuses on sales and operations, and Lorlyn takes care of the purchasing. “We work well together, we complement each other,” shares Laura. “This is our passion. You need to be full-time in the food service industry. We’ve been in the restaurant business for almost 12 years. When you’re in food, you need to be very hands-on because it’s a personalized business, especially catering.”

The best thing about thefunctionrooms is that the room use is free when you avail of a package from Connoisseur Catering. I would say this is reasonable, considering the quality of the food and the strategic location of the venue.

The catering provides personalized service from the venue set-up to the menu planning to the styling, and offers flexible packages to fit anyone’s budget. I could picture our family having a private event there in one of the smaller function rooms. Instead of getting lost in a sea of diners in a restaurant, it would be more enjoyable for us to have a private party.

Connoisseur Catering has menu options that include salads, hot dishes, vegetables, pasta, and dessert, which are all beautifully presented like works of art.

I was impressed by the myriad of appetizers at the event, as the waiters offered us bite-sized finger foods such as scallops with caviar. I whetted my appetite with the scrumptious hors d'oeuvres and eagerly waited for the sit-down lunch to begin.

The pate de foie gras was definitely worth the wait. A good dollop of the pate sat on top of a crispy cracker and each bite was rich and heavenly. Indeed it was a lovely amuse bouche—a good way to start the meal.

The salad came after. It was plated when it was served but I liked the way they set up the salad station, with the ingredients arranged separately and the dressings in test tubes so diners could make their own salad. Their creative presentations are very eye-catching and a good conversation starter.

The entrée came after in the form of prawn phyllo, a piece of breaded prawn with fresh tomato chermoula sauce. I had no idea what chermoula was at that time but it sure was tasty and a nice complement to the crustacean.