Fine dining menu wows Manila wedding of heir to Vietnam luxury retailer

The reception was held on March 23 at the Philippines’’ luxurious Shangri-La The Port Hotel with about 500 guests from all over the world. The wedding hall was gorgeously decorated with bamboo and fresh flowers in designs that combined Vietnamese and Filipino culture.

Instead of choosing signature Filipino plates, Linh and Phillip selected a sophisticated and delicate European menu with dishes usually only found in fine dining establishments.

Phillip Nguyen and Linh Rin at the wedding reception in Manila, Philippines on March 23, 2023. Photo courtesy of the couple

The first appetizer was an assortment of entirely handmade artisanal breads prepared traditionally and served with butter.

The second appetizer was braised duck leg with apricots and pistachios made into a terrine, which is similar to but more complicated than a pate. The third appetizer was apple pie and mustard greens served with sourdough bread.

The main course consisted of pan-seared seabass fillet and Italian risotto with carrots, ginger, and dried cherry tomatoes. The rice was topped with salsa verde, a Mexican green sauce made from tomatillo tomatoes. Both dishes featured a mild sour taste without being too rich.

The menu of the wedding reception of Linh Rin and Phillip Nguyen. Photo by Tra My Tram

The next main course was Angus beef tenderloin topped with herbs. Angus is a breed of cattle from the Northern Highlands of Scotland that yields nutritious, fragrant, soft and sweet meat that melts in the mouth.

The dessert panel included three dishes. The first was Portuguese: potato cake with Manchego cheese, mixed vegetables and sweet Port dessert wine. Linh fell in love with Port when enjoying it in Europe last year. The other two desserts were blueberry hazelnut cake and white chocolate ice cream served with raspberry sauce.

The guests enjoy the 10-dish feast at the wedding. Photo by Tra My Tram

Before the party, Phillip and Linh tied the knot in a ceremony at the Santuario de San Antonio Parish, a Catholic church with a long history in Manila.

Linh, 30, a model and actress, has appeared in many fashion shows and has also starred in several TV series.

Phillip, 38, is the third son of Johnathan Hanh Nguyen, the chairman of IPPG – the top luxury retailer in Vietnam. The group is the exclusive distributor of over 100 luxury fashion brands in Vietnam, including Rolex, Cartier, Dolce & Gabbana, Balmain, Ermenegildo Zegna and others.