A BRITISH invasion is taking place at Marco Polo Ortigas Manila, and it comes in the form of a British food fest that starts today, March 1, 2019. Some of Britain’s best bites and brews are featured in the hotel’s different food outlets, as prepared by Executive Chef Alisdair Bletcher and his kitchen team.
Cafe Pronto’s Egg Tarts
Café Pronto highlights a selection of tarts and pies, which are best enjoyed early in the morning or in the afternoon, paired with a cup of coffee.
Shepherd’s Pies and Fish & Chips are among the British fares now available at Cucina
At Cucina, a wide array of traditional British dishes, including Smoked Atlantic Salmon, Ploughman’s Salad, Shepherd’s Pie, and Fish and Chips.
Nothing can be more British than afternoon tea with scones and pastries, which are served at The Connect Lounge along with the seasonal feature of a refreshing Pimm’s cocktail.
Gin o’Clock at Vu’s Sky Bar and Lounge
A rewarding bite after a hard day’s work is what you get at Vu’s Sky Bar and Lounge, where British classics, such as Fish and Chips and Bangers and Mash, can be matched with a glass of San Miguel Draft Beer for Php699 Wednesdays to Saturdays, from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. And when the clock strikes “Gin!” it is time to enjoy your very own gin and tonic while taking in the breath-taking sight of the metroscape.
For more information, call 720-7720 or email restaurant.
mnl@marcopolohotels.com.
(Marco Polo Ortigas Manila is located at Meralco Ave. corner Sapphire Road, Ortigas Center, Pasig City; with telephone number +632 720-7777.)
Peanut Butter Cheesecake and Peanut Butter Cookies, courtesy of Indulgence by Irene
PEANUT butter. It is one of the world’s favorite comfort food ever! Sweet, creamy and nutty, it is refreshing and delightful on the palate, especially between two slices of bread. It can survive on its own or in tandem with jam.
But who says peanut butter is limited to sandwiches?
Peanut Butter Cookies in a jar
Peanut Butter Cookies
Irene dela Rosa Co, the brains and the masterful hands behind Indulgence by Irene, has just introduced her new Peanut Butter Cookies. Perfectly formulated and just slightly under-baked to give the cookies a chewy feel to the bite. Not overly sweet, they are made with preservative-free local peanut butter and dark couverture Callebaut chocolate chips. So, what’s not to love about them?
Heavenly Peanut Butter Cheesecake baked by Irene dela Rosa Co for Indulgence by Irene
Indulgence by Irene has also come up with Peanut Butter Cheesecake, which is new for this year. The peanut butter, which is the same preservative-free local peanut butter used in the Peanut Butter Cookies, gives the cheesecake a fuller body and a deeper, more pronounced flavor profile. The dark, fudgy brownie base complements the creamy smoothness of the cheesecake itself, which is then topped with dark couverture Callebaut chocolate chips.
Irene’s regular menu includes Super Premium cakes, such as Double Cookie Cheesecake, Coffee with Bailey’s, and Halo-Halo. Premium cakes—Ube, Quezo de Bola-Ube Duo, and Brownie Choco Chip—are also available. So with Regular cakes like Quezo de Bola, Tablea, Chocnut, Calamansi, and Corn.
For inquiries and orders, call 0917-6225800 (text or viber) or visit Indulgence by Irene’s FB page.
Bellefleur by Beatrix’s newest addition to its dessert line is Mango Tres Leches Cake
THESE days, homemade cakes by professional chefs and serious home bakers are the toast of the metro. They are giving commercially produced cakes, which are available in popular bakeshops, a run for their money because they provide variety. These homemade cakes are more creative, especially in terms of flavors and variants, and certainly taste as heavenly as they look.
One of the artisanal bakeshops that are gaining a steadily increasing stream of clientele is Bellefleur by Beatrix. With a store located at Unimart Greenhills, it is owned and operated by Beatrix Atienza, who offers many unique and awesome tasting cakes.
The newest addition to Bellefleur by Beatrix’s line of cakes is Mango Tres Leches Cake. It is a thin layer of leche flan topped with vanilla chiffon cake, covered in a layer of mango cream, outlined by broas soaked in a special tres leches sauce, and topped with fresh mangoes.
Keep it in the freezer all the time, taking it out only when you want to enjoy a slice or two. Slice immediately from its frozen form, and it comes off easily. Each bite is divine because it is a cross between a cake and an ice cream. The leche flan, vanilla chiffon cake, mango cream, broas and fresh mangoes meld together into one cohesive mouthful of dessert that is to die for. The flavors, the texture, and the feel of frozen mango cream melting in your mouth… Ah, pure bliss!
An 8-inch round Mango Tres Leches Cake, which makes 8 to 10 generous servings, costs Php1,350 per cake. Since it is a very popular cake and stocks run out quickly at Bellefleur by Beatrix’s store at Unimart, it is best to order two to three days in advance to make sure you get your sugar fix without hassle. To order, call 0917-8258730 or visit Bellefleur by Beatrix’s Instagram and Facebook accounts.
Richmonde Hotel Iloilo is offering a free cheese platter for every order of a bottle of house wine or premium wine on Valentine’s Day
LOVE comes in different forms—not just in romantic love, but also in love for parents, for children, for family, for friends. So who says you cannot celebrate love on Valentine’s Day just because you do not have a partner? At Richmonde Hotel Iloilo, you can!
Enjoy dinner buffet with family and friends at The Granary on Valentine’s Day
Over at The Granary, families and friends can enjoy the Valentine’s Day Dinner Buffet together tonight, February 14, 2019, from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. Priced at Php1,150 nett with bottomless lemonade, the delightful buffet feast consists of wide selections of appetizers, a charcuterie station, entrées, carvings of Lechon Roll and Braised Beef Chuck Roll, and desserts. The open kitchen features a la minute cooking of tempura, grilled meats, laksa, tom yum and pasta, prepared according to your personal preferences. Kids aged 6 to 12 who dine in get 50% discount, and children aged 5 and below get to eat for free.
Richmonde Hotel Iloilo’s BizBar hosts an anti-Valentine’s Day party for singles and the broken-hearted
Who says you cannot party on Valentine’s Day if you don’t have a partner? At Richmonde Hotel Iloilo, you can!
Enjoy a 1-4-3 promo on Heineken draft beer
Zabana Anti-Love Potion cocktails
For singles and broken-hearted guys and girls, the hotel’s BizBar is throwing an anti-Valentine’s Day party tonight, starting at 8:00 p.m. The event, called No to VD, will be devoid of mushy romance and will instead be filled with fun and freebies for the fabulously unattached. There will also be complimentary Zabana Anti-Love Potion cocktail, a free cheese platter for every order of a bottle of house wine or premium wine, a Buy-One-Get-One promo on San Mig Light Beer, and 1-4-3 on Heineken draft beer and Zabana cocktails (1 glass free 4 every 3 glasses ordered). Dance heartaches away to the retro mixes of DJ Enzo of Fatboidjs, and get the chance to win a hotel gift certificate if you are chosen as Star Dancer of the Night. Another hotel gift certificate is up for grabs for the Valentine “hater” with the best Instagram party post and caption with #BizBarNOtoVD.
(Richmonde Hotel Iloilo is located at Megaworld Blvd. corner Enterprise Road, Iloilo Business Park, Mandurriao, Iloilo City, Iloilo; with telephone number +6333 328-7888.)
THE Love Month of February reaches its climax on February 14, Valentine’s Day itself, with hotels and restaurants trying to outdo each other with Valentine’s Day packages that ensure a memorable celebration.
If you have not yet made plans, here’s a rundown on what’s going on in the metro:
MY VALENTINE AT DIAMOND HOTEL
Diamond Hotel Philippines presents My Valentine, an array of Valentine offers designed to set hearts a-flutter—via a romantic urban getaway, intimate dinners, and sweet gift ideas.
What better way to celebrate Valentine’s Day than spending the night in a luxurious Executive Suite with the Make Room for Love package. For Php19,000 nett per night, enjoy the breathtaking view of the magnificent Manila Bay from your room, plus a complimentary dinner buffet for two at Corniche. Or opt for a Premier Room at Php13,000 nett per night or a Club Room at Php14,000 nett per night. If you need some pampering, you may book an Executive Suite for Php18,000 nett per night or a Club Room for Php14,000 nett per night, both inclusive of a relaxing foot reflex and Php2,000 worth of dining credit.
If staycations are not your thing and just want a romantic dinner, Diamond Hotel offers a number of options:
At Corniche, partake of a Valentine’s buffet for Php3,380 nett per person and get a chance to win an overnight stay for two with breakfast buffet for every Php5,000 spent. On February 14 and 15, 2019, there will be live piano entertainment during lunch and a quartet will regale diners with songs during dinner.
How about a Japanese-style date at Yurakuen? It offers a lunch and dinner set menu for couples with a glass of Piper Heidsick at Php2,880 nett per person, and musical entertainment by a duo.
Valentine sweet treat at Lobby Lounge
Enjoy each other’s company at the Lobby Lounge with a four-course set menu and a glass of Cava. Make it an intimate date at Php3,300 nett with a complimentary slice of cake while a soothing saxophone plays in the background.
Dining under the stars at the Poolside
At the Poolside, experience al fresco dining under a beautiful night sky. A set five-course dinner, priced at Php2,800 nett per person, is best enjoyed with musical accompaniment by a soulful duo.
Enjoying each other’s company–and the view!
Then cap off the evening with a glass or two of your favorite cocktail drink at Bar 27. The place offers a spellbinding view of the cityscape at night, which is great for enjoying a four-course set menu with a glass of red wine. Packaged at Php3,500 nett for two persons, the romantic dinner comes with live band entertainment.
All ladies dining on Valentine’s Day will receive a special memento from the hotel, and it is an added treat to have a roving violinist serenade couples on February 14. Live entertainment is available only on February 14 and 15, but the hotel’s dining promo also covers February 13.
For room reservations, call (632) 528-3000 extension 1141. For restaurant reservations, call (632) 529-3000 extension 1121.
(Diamond Hotel Philippines is located at Roxas Blvd. corner Dr. J. Quintos St., Manila.)
L’AMOUR AT EASTWOOD RICHMONDE HOTEL
Eastwood Richmonde Hotel’s Eastwood Café+Bar celebrates Valentine’s Day with L’Amour, a Valentine’s Day dinner feast filled with delectable dishes that are as rich and exquisite as love and as passionate and dreamy as a French romance.
This special Valentine’s dinner buffet, which is taking place on February 14, 2019, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m., features a lavish spread of mouth-watering international dishes highlighted by favorite carvings as the entrées, such as U.S. ribeye, Australian leg of lamb, U.S. turkey and Chilean salmon. These are complemented by Paella Valenciana and Paella Negra with various sidings.
Leg of Lamb
Turkey
Ribeye
The antipasti station is teeming with cold cuts, cheese, chorizo, olives, grapes, artichoke, as well as munchies like walnuts, almonds, dried apricots, crackers and bread sticks. Also in the buffet are a salad bar and a soup station. There’s also a kids’ station, where there’s plenty of spaghetti Bolognese, Quorn nuggets and chicken fingers.
But the pièce de résistance can be found at the dessert counter, which showcases an assortment of chocolate confections, from candies to cakes to pastries.
Eastwood Richmonde Hotel’s Eastwood Cafe+Bar
Priced at Php1,750 nett per person, Eastwood Richmonde Hotel’s L’Amour Valentine’s Dinner Buffet comes with bottomless flavored Mimosa plus live piano entertainment. What’s more: Kids aged 10 and below who dine with their parents get 50% discount and a toy.
For inquiries and table reservations, call (632) 570-7777.
(Eastwood Richmonde Hotel is located at 17 Orchard Road, Eastwood City, Bagumbayan, Quezon City.)
LOVE AT FIRST BITE AT F1 HOTEL
Celebrate the day of hearts in comfort and style in a Fort Suite at F1 Hotel Manila with the hotel’s Comforts of Love Room Package. A staycation for two from February 11 to 15, 2019, priced at Php7,700 per night, comes with an in-room massage for two, breakfast in bed in the morning and a complimentary bottle of wine.
For a romantic dinner date on February 14, Love at First Bite is a package that combines a delightful Valentine’s Day dinner and a night of music. Priced at Php2,288 per person, it has Jet Barrun serenading diners in two sets—the first set running from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., and the second set taking place from 8:30 to 10:00 p.m.
For room reservations and inquiries, call 908-7888 or visit www,f1hotelmanila.com.
(F1 Hotel Manila is located at 32nd St., Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City.)
SPARK LOVE AT RICHMONDE ORTIGAS
Ignite passion and romance this season of hearts with Richmonde Hotel Ortigas’ month-long Valentine offerings. Opt for a staycation any time from February 1 to 28, 2019, and enjoy two Spark Love Valentine packages—Bed and Breakfast (from Php3,900 nett), whose cozy accommodations come with a filling breakfast buffet for two at Richmonde Café; and Valentine Package (from Php4,600 nett), with room accommodations, breakfast buffet for two, a bottle of wine and a cheese platter that can be served in-room or at either The Exchange or Richmonde Café.
A bottle of wine and a cheese platter are served in the room
Richmonde Cafe
Richmonde Hotel Ortigas’ heated indoor pool
Valid only for local residents, these promotional rates are inclusive of taxes, service charge, WiFi access, complimentary use of the Health Club’s gym, steam/sauna rooms, and heated indoor pool, plus free parking.
(Richmonde Hotel Ortigas is located at 21 San Miguel Ave., Ortigas Center, Pasig City.)
SWEET LOVE AT MARCO POLO ORTIGAS
Celebrate all things sweet and lovely this Valentine’s month with Marco Polo Ortigas Manila, which offers a romantic overnight stay on February 14, 2019, Valentine’s Day. Book a room and get a complimentary upgrade to a Premier Room, which comes with an intimate dinner for the couple in the comforts of their room. Dinner consists of U.S. MacDonald’s Premium Angus Beef Tenderloin and a bottle of Cadet d’Oc Chardonnay. Reservation may be made via resv.mnl@marcopolohotels.com or (02) 720-7777.
Heart ablaze at Cucina
For Valentine dining, there’s a tempting love-themed buffet spread at Cucina from February 13 to 15, 2019. Reserve a table for Php1,399 per person for lunch and Php2,888 for dinner. A special a la carte menu will be available during dinner, with items such as Chicken Piccata on Tomato and Olive Ragout with Tagliatelle in Basil Pesto and Grilled Australian Lamb.
Time for romance at Lung Hin
An intimate dining experience also awaits diners at Lung Hin. Its authentic Cantonese dishes are crafted to perfection, served in the ambiance of romance, through special set menus made available on February 14 and 15.
A breath-taking view of Manila as you dine at Vu’s Sky Bar and Lounge
A dinner date can be made even more memorable with a good view of the metro at Marco Polo Ortigas Manila’s Vu’s Sky Bar and Lounge. Dine on February 14, available at Php3,000 per person, and enjoy a welcome drink of Prosecco upon arrival as well as live performance by the Silk Band beginning at 9:00 p.m.
Sweet treats at Cafe Pronto
For delightful desserts, head for Café Pronto, where Valentine-inspired pralines are available until February 15.
