Going Full Circle

One does not have to wait for an exhibit to take a glimpse of the creations of glass artist and businessman Bobby Castillo. Just go to Circles, Makati Shangri-La’s newly-renovated coffee shop.

For his latest project, Castillo worked closely with Christopher Romine, Circles Executive Chef. Together, they conceptualized glass pieces that were not only for display but were also used for serving the numerous dishes that Circles prepares for its daily buffet.

“I used a lot of the glass that Shangri-La discarded when they closed the old restaurant. The hotel management was surprised that I was able to save them a lot of money by doing that,” Castillo explained.

All in all, Castillo produced around 250 designs for the restaurant which include platters that come in a variety of shapes and sizes, serving bowls, and even color-coded handles for knives. There are also a number of stainless steel creations that serve as ice cream holders and fruit holders.

“I was really surprised with the way Bobby was able to come up with all these creations,” Romine said. “If I had an idea for a platter, I would tell Bobby about it and the next thing he would ask me was when I needed it.”

Castillo’s ability to produce creations that are functional for restaurants can probably be traced to his training in hotel and restaurant management. He understands the need to give chefs some sort of leeway and inspiration when it comes to food styling.

Executive Chef Romine conceptualized with Castillo glass pieces that were decorative and functional

One of the food stations that stands out in Circles is the seafood station where the glassware that Castillo created is submerged to ensure that the seafood is fresh until it is served to customers. In the middle of the container is another smaller container that holds the condiments. There is also a fruit holder made of stainless steel that could pass for a piece of art.

“You could say that these creations will not be complete without the contribution of the chef,” Castillo said. “I provide the frame and it is up to the chef think of the design for that particular frame.”

Circles – and Makati Shangri-La Hotel for that matter -- has become the benchmark for other hotels to follow. Chefs and designers from the other Shangri-La hotels have flown in to see for themselves how Makati Shangri-La has evolved over the years. “Even if Makati Shangri-La has been around for the past 13 years, you would not imagine that because of the improvements and the innovations that we have introduced,” Romine said. “Our chefs have been flown to the other Shangri-La hotels so that they can be taught how to prepare new dishes.”

Circles is the result of the creativity and team effort of Castillo and Romine, two men who have been able to develop a very close working relationship. Romine is also a regular visitor of Castillo’s factory and he has even been able to pick up a few pieces for his own use.