BIZ BUZZ: The Farm at San Benito opens French resto

The Farm at San Benito, the multi-award-winning eco-luxury holistic medical wellness resort in Lipa, Batangas, is expanding its culinary selection to include— finally—a range of red meat dishes.

These will be served at its newest dining destination, Souffle de Vie, meaning “Breath of Life.”

The fine dining establishment has not yet been officially launched, but has already started welcoming diners who want to enjoy more filling dishes at The Farm at San Benito to complement their visit.

“The opening of Souffle de Vie marks a significant milestone in The Farm at San Benito’s culinary evolution,” explained Chef Marie Pagcaliwagan, The Farm’s executive chef. “We are thrilled to bring authentic French cuisine to our guests, offering a dining experience that is both sophisticated and nourishing.”

Souffle de Vie’s menu features beef and lamb, as well as poultry and seafood, welcome news indeed for those who want more than just wellness cuisine for which The Farm at San Benito—recognized as the Philippines’ Best Wellness Retreat 2024 at the World Spa Awards UK—has long been known for. —Tina Arceo-Dumlao

Food smugglers, hoarders, beware!

Food smugglers and price manipulators must now quiver in fear for the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act (Ages) is here.

Following the signing by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of Republic Act No. 12002, which tightened the rules to combat agricultural smuggling, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. assured the public that local authorities—the Department of Agriculture (DA), Bureau of Customs, Philippine National Police and other government agencies—would stop at nothing to chase and punish violators.

Ages imposes stiffer penalties against smugglers and hoarders of food products, including cartels.

“Ang request natin sa mga smuggler, itigil na nila yung mga masamang gawain na nakaka-affect sa ating farmers and fisherfolks (Well, our request to the smugglers is to stop this illegal activity that severely affects the livelihood of our farmers and fishers),” Tiu Laurel said.

Smuggling and hoarding of agricultural food products will be classified as economic sabotage when the value of smuggled goods exceeds P10 billion. The penalty is now five times the value of smuggled or hoarded products. Violators also face life imprisonment.

Also, the new law rewards those who will turn in the bad guys.

“This should lead to the radical reduction of their ranks,” Tiu Laurel said. —Jordeene B. Lagare INQ