February 12, 2014 - Makati Shangri-La, Manila has appointed Gilles Galli as Chef de Cuisine at the hotel's new culinary venture - Sage Restaurant and Bar, a two-floor establishment with Sage Tapas Bar on the lobby level and Sage Restaurant that serves modern European cuisine on the Mezzanine level. 

Chef Gilles gained valuable experience from over 20 years of working in luxury hotels and Michelin-starred restaurants in France, including the famed Michel Rostang in Paris. He has also done his rounds in other Asian countries, including Laos and Koh Samui in Thailand, before flying out to Manila for the first time and joining Shangri-La hotels and resorts. Chef Gilles is also a member of the Disciples d' Auguste Escoffier, a prestigious international organization for chefs, named after the "king of chefs", chef Auguste Escoffier. 

As Sage Restaurant and Bar's chef de cuisine, Gilles gives a modern twist to European fare, with a sustainable approach to cooking by using seasonal herbs and ingredients that are grown locally, thereby ensuring that the produce used are of the freshest quality. 

Chef Gilles promises a visual and gustatory appeal to the cuisine, with dishes such as King Scallop Ceviche, Cauliflower Puree, Palawan Lobster with Morels, Visayan Sole and Duck Liver Roulade, Pan-fried Duck Breast as some of the promising best-sellers for the restaurant. When asked about his style of cooking, Chef Gilles answers, "Cooking is without limits, the only landmarks come from our creativity. It may be innovative and simple but needs to remain comfortable and accessible. It is all about interaction and share, a delicate art that needs a daily reincarnation." 

Sage Restaurant and Bar is the latest addition to Makati Shangri-La's dining choices. The name was chosen due to its origin. First used in the 14th century by the Anglo-French, sage means: "to taste, have good taste, be wise." Currently, the word sage's two meanings signify the inspiration for the restaurant - as an aromatic plant with grayish-green leaves used as a culinary herb, and for the bar - to mean a profoundly wise man/woman, a learned person, a thinker, a scholar, a savant or guru. With the opening of Sage Restaurant and Bar, Chef Gille is set to elevate the dining experience in the heart of the city's business and entertainment district.

The restaurant's operating hours are the following: breakfast from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Monday to Friday, lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Monday to Friday, dinner from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Monday to Saturday. The bar's operating hours are 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Sunday to Thursday, and 5 p.m. to 3 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.

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In the social media channels, Makati Shangri-La is on Facebook/MakatiShangri-La, Twitter @MakatiShangriLa and Instagram @MakatiShangriLa. For inquiries and reservations, please call Restaurant Reservations at (632) 813 8888 or emailrric.slm@shangri-la.com. 

Hong Kong based Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts currently owns and/or manages more than 80 hotels under the Shangri-La brand with a room inventory of over 34,000. Shangri-La hotels are five-star deluxe properties featuring extensive luxury facilities and services. Shangri-La hotels are located in Australia, Canada, mainland China, Fiji, France, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Maldives, Philippines, Singapore, Sultanate of Oman, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. The group has a substantial development pipeline with upcoming projects in mainland China, India, Mongolia, Myanmar, Philippines, Qatar, Sri Lanka and United Kingdom. For more information and reservations, please contact a travel professional or access the website at www.shangri-la.com.