THE Lenten season is one of the most important times of the year for the Christian world. It is a solemn observance of the events that led to Jesus Christ’s sufferings, crucifixion, death and resurrection to save mankind from the wages of sin. This is why Christians observe fasting, refraining from eating meat specifically for all Fridays within the Lenten season. Fish and seafood thus make up a big portion of one’s diet during Lent. Easter Sunday, which commemorates Jesus’ resurrection, breaks the fast, as it is a grand celebration.
Lent is also a much-awaited time of the year because Holy Week, the climax of the Lenten celebration, means a long break from work, and families take advantage of this time to relax, unwind and bond.
To serve this purpose, restaurants and hotels come up with special Lenten and Holy Week offerings. Here are some of them.
FISH FOR LENT
Sentro 1771 offers three kinds of fish dishes this Lenten season—Fresh Smoked Fish Spring Roll (fresh lumpia of tinapang bangus, salted egg, mustasa, onion and tomato); Whole Fish Escabeche (pan-fried fish of the day in sweet-sour vinegar sauce with garlic, ginger and turmeric), and Fish of the Day Pandan (whole fish stuffed with sautéed onions, tomatoes, miso and malunggay, tied with pandan leaves).
These special Lenten offerings are available until Easter Sunday, April 5,2015.
Sentro 1771 is located at 2/F, Greenbelt 3, Ayala Center, Makati City; with telephone numbers 757-3938 and 0917-8660449; Serendra Piazza, 11th Ave., Bonifacio Global City; with telephone numbers 856-0581 and 0917-8147794; and Capitol Commons, Shaw Blvd., Pasig City; with telephone number 941-8277.
EASTER EGG-TIVITIES
Hotel Jen Manila (formerly known as Traders Hotel Manila) offers exciting treats plus a playground of fun egg-tivities for the whole family on Easter Sunday, April 5, 2015.
From 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Easter Sunday, guests can enjoy an EGGstravagant lunch buffet at the hotel’s all-day dining restaurant, Latitude, as it features not just a good spread of international dishes but also a wide selection of children’s all-time favorites.
Buffet prices are Php888 nett per person for adults and Php500 nett per person for kids aged 3 to 11, inclusive of fun-filled, action-packed Easter activities.
Such activities include Hotel Jen’s first ever Easter Cooking Activity highlighting make-your-own pizza, cookie decorating, Easter wrap and more with Executive Sous Chef Dirk Fiedler at the helm. Only the first 20 kids who sign up for this activity will be accommodated, as slots are limited.
There is also Easter Egg-hunting, which also includes other fun activities such as building a nest and egg painting, movie time, and face painting, with loot bags and other prizes to be given away.
Hotel Jen Manila is located along Roxas Blvd., Pasay City. For inquiries and reservations, call 795-8888 or email food&beverage.hjm@hoteljen.com.
ENCHANTED FOREST EASTER EVENT
Diamond Hotel Philippines embarks on a magical adventure on Easter Sunday, April 5, 2015. The Ballroom transforms into an Enchanted Forest with every kid’s favorite fairytale characters, such as Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel and Jack, in attendance from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Kids are invited to come in their most enchanting costumes and revel in lots of fun games and amazing treats, with the Enchanted Easter game plan including face and egg painting, cupcake decorating, musical entertainment, mime show, glimmer tattoo, kid’s salon, loot bags, photo booth, a magic show and games. Kids who come in the best magical, fairy tale-inspired costumes get a chance to win additional prizes. There will also be awesome prices in the grand raffle, including a GoPro Hero4 Silver camera with accessories.
Ticket price for the Easter event is Php850 nett per person, inclusive of a take-home snack box. Diamond Indulgence members get Php100 off on the price, maximum of four tickets only, for purchase. For inquiries, call 528-3000 extension 8461.
But if your idea of good Easter fun and relaxation is a hotel stay, Diamond Hotel offers its Easter Room Package, which is available from March 30 to April 5, 2015. Stay in a Deluxe Room, inclusive of buffet breakfast for two, a 20% discount on massage at the Health Club and Spa, and one complimentary ticket per stay to the Easter event on April 5 for Php5,500. Stay a minimum of two nights to avail of the Php4,500 per night special rate, which includes breakfast for two for two days and one complimentary Enchanted Forest event ticket. For inquiries on rooms as well as reservations, call 528-3000 extension 1141.
Diamond Hotel Philippines is located at Roxas Blvd. corner Dr. J. Quintos St., Manila.
EASTER SPORTS CAMP
Put your game face on—and your best sports gear, too!—and join F1 Hotel Manila’s exciting Easter summer camp adventure at the hotel’s Infinity Ballroom on Easter Sunday, April 5, 2015, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Activities in store for young campers include Face Painting, Glitter Tattoo, Donut Decorating, Egg Painting, Kids Salon, Loot Bags, Balloon Twisting, Games, Complimentary Treats, plus the much-awaited traditional Easter Egg Hunt. Apart from the prizes that kids get when they unearth eggs in the Easter Egg Hunt, the camper with the best sports attire will also get a special prize.
Tickets for the event are priced at Php899 nett per person, inclusive of a snack box, with kids aged 2 and below allowed to come in and participate free of charge. Adult companions and guardians are charged at full ticket price. For ticket reservations, call 928-8888.
F1 Hotel Manila also offers special Easter room packages for the whole family for Php5,999 nett per night, inclusive of an overnight stay in a City Suite with buffet breakfast fo two at F All Day Dining Restaurant and two complimentary tickets to the Easter Sports Camp. Offer is valid from March 28 to April 5, 2015.
For inquiries and reservations, call 928-8888.
F1 Hotel Manila is located at 32nd St., Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City.
CHEROKEE BARBECUE BUFFET
Known for its use of natively sourced ingredients and home-cooked meals, Native American Indian cuisine boasts of sumptuous courses with the perfect balance of simple flavors and savory tastes. This is what the Cherokee Easter Barbecue Lunch Buffet of Richmonde Hotel Manila’s Richmonde Café will showcase on Easter Sunday, April 5, 2015.
It’s time to celebrate, as Easter Sunday marks the end of the Lenten season, so Richmonde Café lays out a spread of classic, American-themed comfort chows such as Red Cabbage Coleslaw, Potato Salad, Nachos with Cheese, Baked Mac & Cheese, Baked Potato with Sour Cream, Bacon Bits and Chives, and Chili Con Carne.
Since Cherokees are known to be meat lovers, Richmonde Café’s flame-cooked options include Barbecue Chicken Wings, Pork Chop BBQ, Smoked Hickory Pork Spareribs BBQ and Jack Daniels Beef Ribs, plus the impressive Seafood Skewers, Southern Style Fried Chicken and Roast Prime Rib.
For the dessert that ends a perfect meal, Richmonde Café has assembled a sinfully delicious dessert lineup, which includes Chocolate Cheesecake, Banana Chocolate Tart, Apple Strudel and White Tiramisu Cake.
Fun Easter activities, such as Easter egg hunt, cupcake decorating, and arts and crafts, also await kids aged 6 and below who dine with their families at Richmonde Café on Easter Sunday.
The Cherokee Easter Barbecue Lunch Buffet is available on April 5, 2015, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., for Php899 nett. Children aged 6 to 12 pay only Php450 nett, while kids aged 5 and below get to eat for free.
Richmonde Hotel Ortigas is located at 21 San Miguel Ave., Ortigas Center, Pasig City. For inquiries or reservations, call 689-8419 or 638-7777 extension 3409.
