TOMORROW, June 12, 2014, is Philippine Independence Day. It’s a holiday, as the nation celebrates the 116th anniversary of our freedom and independence, and what better way to celebrate it than by feasting on our very own local cuisine?
F1 Hotel takes the initiative as it opens Luzviminda 2 – Ang Ikalawang Serye, a food festival showcasing cuisines from the three major islands: Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, tomorrow. It staged the first Luzviminda food promotion with executive chef Sau del Rosario and three featured guest chefs representing the three major islands of the country manning the kitchen of F All Day Dining Restaurant. It turned out to be so successful that F1 Hotel simply had to put together its ‘sequel’ – Luzviminda 2 – this year.
With the theme Where Food Meets Art, Luzviminda 2 once again has Chef Sau at the helm of the kitchen, with three guest chefs representing the three main regions of the country, namely, Chef Tristan Encarnacion for Luzon, Edith Singian for the Visayas, and Victor Barangan for Mindanao.
Epicurious’ Chef Tristan Encarnacion whipped up dishes associated with provinces and metro centers in Luzon, including Pork Sisig, “Linunok na Manok” Lechong Baboy, and Kare-Kareng Bagnet from Pampanga, which is considered as the Culinary Capital of the country.
For her part, culinary consultant Chef Edith Singian showcases the diversity of Visayas cuisine, making use of bountiful ingredients that grow in the lush farms and are harvested from the rich Visayan seas. Her repertoire includes savory Chicken Inasal Sisig with Kornik, Bam-I (Pancit Bisaya), the notorious aphrodisiac called Soup No. 5 (which is made from the bull’s testicles), and Lechon on the carving station.
Representing Mindanao is Marco Polo Davao’s Chef Victor Barangan, who turns on the heat with the spice-filled Mindanao dishes. His menu is so diverse it ranges from Tuna Sisig from General Santos City to Ginataang Kalabasa with Seafood, Adobong Bihod and Kanding sa Nangka, plus Busog sa Keso’t Tsokolate si Baboy (a pork belly dish).
On opening day today (June 11, 2014), the buffet spread at F All Day Dining Restaurant was amazing from the appetizers and salads to the main dishes, carvery and desserts.
Check out this lineup of appetizers and salads: Bagnet Dinuguan Maki, Tinapa and Salted Egg Maki, Seared Tuna with Watermelon and Mangosteen Reduction, Langka Salad and Ensaladang Puso ng Saging.
For the main dishes, the stars of today’s lunch buffet spread were Seafood Kare-Kare, Poke-Poke (a mashed eggplant dish from Ilocos), Kinunot na Pagi (stingray cooked in coconut milk), Sautéed Crabs in Alavar Sauce, Adobong Bihod, Kanding sa Nangka and Lechon, among others. Rice came in the form of Puso (the famous steamed rice in heart-shaped leaf pouches of the Visayas), Dulong Rice and Taba ng Alimango Rice. Soup choices were Soup No. 5 and Ginataang Kalabasa with Seafood.
Dessert was big with a wide range of selections, such as Durian Panna Cotta, Ginataang Bilo-bilo, Bibingka Cupcakes with Salted Egg Frosting, Malagos Tablea and Peanut Butter Pie, Chocnut Tablea Tartlets, Dulce de Leche Cream Puffs, Donya Editha’s Pudding, Ube Otap Tiramisu with Mangoes and Mangosteen Parfait.
Luzviminda 2 – Ang Ikalawang Serye runs from June 12 to 26, 2014, for Php1,700 per person for both lunch and dinner buffets.
(F1 Hotel is located at 32nd St., Bonifacio Global City, with telephone numbers 928-9888 and 908-7888.)
