December 4, 2018
5:42 PM
by: Dolly Dy-Zulueta

It’s a Whimsical Winterland
at Marco Polo Ortigas Manila!

Make your own Christmas hamper at Cafe Pronto by choosing the goodies that you want to include in it

EXPERIENCE a classic tale told in a magnificent way through a menagerie of curious characters, sweet parties and wonderful things at Marco Polo Ortigas Manila this Christmas. It’s a Whimsical Winterland in all outlets of the hotel—Café Pronto, Cucina, Lung Hin, Connect Lounge, Vu’s Sky Bar and Lounge—during the entire holiday season.

INDULGE AT CAFÉ PRONTO

Sweet delights and goodies are bountiful at Café Pronto, which makes exciting Christmas hampers available to everyone this festive season. Perfect for the season of gift-giving, hampers to choose from include Mad Hatter’s Party, Winterland Magic and Carroll’s Choice. All three gift sets contain red wine, panettone, fusilli tricolore, artisan chocolate bars, chocolate figurines, fruit sweets, devilled ham spread and marzipan stollen, among others. You can also build your own Christmas hamper by choosing items that you like.

One of the set hampers at Cafe Pronto is ‘Carroll’s Choice’

The ‘Alice Cake’ is Cafe Pronto’s featured cake for the month of December

Also available for Christmas takeaways are Hong Kong Roast Goose and Christmas Turkey, as well as the featured cake of the month of December, Alice Cake. The latter is made up of layers of banana compote, orange sponge, milk chocolate mousse, plus peanut butter crunch at the bottom.

FEAST AT CUCINA

Partake of a bountiful feast with loved ones at Cucina this Christmas. The Christmas Eve Dinner Buffet is particularly special because it features a wide array of dishes, such as Roast Angus Beef Rib Eye, Caramelized Ham, and Crispy Duck Breast on Mango Basil Sauce; while the midnight spread includes Filipino signatures such as Pancit Palabok and Cebuano Pork Humba.

Carvings at Cucina

The New Year’s Eve Dinner Buffet lays out a spread of sumptuous dishes, including Iberico Pork Loin with Apple Sauce, Chinese Barbecue Duck, and Gratinated Prawns, Mussels and Salmon with Wholegrain Mustard Cream. On New Year’s Day, guests can feast on Orecchiette with Pepperoni and Tomatoes and Roast Leg of Pork.

Holiday buffet rates are Php3,800 (Christmas Eve Dinner), Php1,800 (Noche Buena), Php2,888 (Christmas Day), Php3,800 (New Year’s Eve) and Php2,888 (New Year’s Day).

GO CHINESE AT LUNG HIN

Lung Hin’s Christmas Set A

Lung Hin’s New Year Set A and B

Lung Hin, the Cantonese restaurant at Marco Polo Ortigas Manila, offers special set menus for Christmas and New Year. Included in the set menus are Crispy Roasted Suckling Pig, Pan-fried Australia Wagyu Beef with Black Pepper, Stir-fried Abalone with Fresh Scallops and Broccoli in Oyster Sauce, and Roasted Peking Duck.

TOAST AT CONNECT LOUNGE

Connect Lounge’s holiday drinks

This yuletide season, visit the Connect Lounge for a leisurely sip of Tequila Navidad, Arabican Spice and Skylips with friends.

DO A COUNTDOWN AT VU’S SKY BAR AND LOUNGE

Now, here’s the perfect place to do the countdown to 2019 as the clock ticks to bid farewell to 2018 and welcome 2019. As the stunning skyline of the metro lights up with fireworks at the stroke of midnight on December 31, 2018, raise your glasses of bubbly champagne or, better yet, festive cocktails, such as Yuletide Pears, White Christmas and Holiday Sangria.

Vu’s Sky Bar and Lounge’s cocktail drinks, clockwise from top: Yuletide Pears, Holiday Sangria and White Christmas

Vu’s Sky Bar and Lounge’s ‘Red Queen’ and ‘Jabberwocky’

There’s also Red Queen and Jabberwocky cocktails to enjoy. You even get a second glass for free if you order either cocktail drink.

SANTA, MASS AND EAGLES

As part of Marco Polo Ortigas Manila’s Whimsical Winterland celebration, Santa Claus is coming to listen to Christmas wishes and have photos taken with kids who have been ‘nice, not naughty” this year. Despite his busy schedule, Santa has allotted some time to be with kids on December 9, 16 and 25 at 11:00 a.m. and on December 24 at 7:00 p.m.—at Level 24 Sky Lobby. Then there is anticipated Holy Mass, a long-standing tradition of Marco Polo Ortigas Manila, taking place at Level 7 Ballroom on December 24 and 31 at 8:00 p.m.

Finally, make your Christmas celebration even more meaningful by purchasing an eagle stuffed toy for Php650 in support of the hotel’s worthy cause for the third year in a row. The money will help protect and conserve the country’s national bird, the Philippine Eagle, for generations to come.

For any of Marco Polo Ortigas Manila’s Whimsical Winterland packages and offerings, visit www.marcopolohotels.com. For reservations, call (+632) 720-7777.

 

(Marco Polo Ortigas Manila is located at Meralco Ave. corner Sapphire Road, Ortigas Center, Pasig City.)

 

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November 30, 2018
5:33 PM
by: Dolly Dy-Zulueta

Cravings Offers Festive Cakes for Christmas

Cherry Walnut Cheesecake

WHEN December dawns, can the Christmas season be far behind?

As soon as Christmas carols began to play this year, with Jose Mari Chan’s classic Christmas in Our Hearts dominating the airwaves, The Cravings Group launched its Christmas offerings in a special event called A Merry and Bright Christmas.

Among the many savory and sweet holiday treats that will be available this Christmas season is an entire line of Christmas-only, special-edition cakes that have been concocted especially for the festive season. These include soft, light and airy cakes as well as dense and filling ones to give Filipinos choices to give loved ones and friends as Christmas presents and to enjoy with family on the Noche Buena table.

Some of the really interesting limited-edition cakes include:

Avocado Mousse Cake

• Avocado Mousse Cake (P1,200)—a layer of fresh avocado meringue cream over a thinner layer of Castella sponge cake sitting on top of cashew cookie crumble crust, and garnished with white chocolate and cashew crumbs. You can really taste the fresh avocado flavor in the mousse and feel it melt on your tongue one bite at a time.

Dark Belgian Cheesecake

• Dark Belgian Cheesecake (P1,400)—creamy cheesecake made with dark bittersweet chocolate, topped with chopped Maltesers on piped dark chocolate icing. Nothing tastes better than dark Belgian chocolate cheesecake with a very smooth texture.

Cherry Walnut Cheesecake

• Cherry Walnut Cheesecake (P1,400)—a slow-baked cheesecake with white chocolate incorporated into the cheesecake and cherries and walnuts swirled in the cheesecake to create a marbled effect.

Mango Brazo Dome

• Mango Brazo Dome (P1,200)—a twist on classic Brazo de Mercedes, it is not jelly-rolled but shaped using a dome mold, filled with very light fresh mango meringue cream and coated with chiffon crumble.

Naked Devil’s Food Cake

• Naked Devil’s Food Cake (P1,300)—not the traditional Devil’s Food Cake, this one has three layers of chocolate cake with boiled icing filling and topping. The burnt “wave” style iced topping, which reminds one of classic Baked Alaska with torched meringue icing, is garnished with silver dragees. The sides are not iced, giving it a raw look, which is exactly the idea of making naked cakes.

Mocha Praline Cake

• Mocha Praline Cake (P1,200)—is Mocha Chiffon Cake with whipped buttercream spiked with espresso. The cake is sprinkled with chopped walnut sugar praline on top.

Mars Decadent Cake

• Mars Decadent Cake (P1,300)—another version of decadent chocolate cake, with layers filled and then iced with rich chocolate icing. The top is outlined with rosettes of whipped cream garnished with bits and pieces of Mars chocolate bar and drizzling of chocolate.

Twix Cheesecake

Twix Cheesecake (P1,200)—cheesecake incorporating crushed Twix candies, generously garnished with halved Twix chocolates on top and outlined with a ring of whipped cream.

Chocolate Caramel Cake

Chocolate Caramel Cake (P1,200)—this one’s not entirely new, as it is a Cravings original since 1989. It is a moist chocolate cake with a thin layer of caramel icing on top and a generous swirling of chocolate icing all over the icing.

Other cakes available during the entire Christmas season include Strawberry Shortcake, Double Chocolate Cake, Devil’s Food Cake, Carrot Cake, Nutty Nirvana, Dulce de Leche, and Loacker Chocolate Cake.

Truly festive and sinfully delicious, these cakes are meant to make the Christmas season merry and bright.

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November 19, 2018
4:21 PM
by: Dolly Dy-Zulueta

Diamond Hotel Celebrates Thanksgiving

Diamond Hotel’s Roast Turkey with Cranberry Sauce

THANKSGIVING Day falls on the fourth Thursday of November, and this year, it happens to be on Thursday, November 22, 2018.

Primarily an American holiday where families gather together to give thanks for all the blessings for the year, the Thanksgiving celebration started in 1621, when pilgrims gave thanks for their bountiful harvest in Plymouth Rock one year after arriving and founding the first permanent English settlement in the region of New England. That first celebration lasted for three days, with the settlers and the natives feasting on boiled pumpkin, turkey, venison and dried fruits.

The next time Thanksgiving was celebrated was in 1789, when George Washington declared November 26 of that year, the last Thursday of November, as Thanksgiving Day, a national holiday. But then again, each state celebrated the holiday on a different date, so Thomas Jefferson decided to do away with it during his presidency. It was Abraham Lincoln who finally turned Thanksgiving Day into a national holiday in 1863 by proclaiming the last Thursday of November as a national holiday of Thanksgiving.

These days, Thanksgiving is also celebrated in other places in the world, including the Philippines, where hotels spearhead the celebration of the annual holiday.

Over at Diamond Hotel Philippines, a bountiful Thanksgiving feast is available at Corniche from November 22 to 25, 2018. Enjoy Thanksgiving fares, such as Roast Turkey with Cranberry Sauce served with the best trimmings, hearty stuffing and thick buttery mashed potatoes. Match this with Corniche’s Buy 1 Take 1 offer on a glass or a bottle of wine, plus a wide selection of delectable desserts.

Thanksgiving is also celebrated at Bar27, where guests often unwind after a hard day’s work by having a drink or two while enjoying the view of the dazzling Manila Bay skyline. Raise your glass to the good life in the company of friends and colleagues. Make a reservation and use the code THANKSBAR27 to get a free pica-pica.

A special treat awaits at Corniche. It comes in the form of an exclusive ONLINE OFFER on the lunch and dinner buffets at a rate of Php888nett per person from November 19 to 21, 2018. Vouchers can only be purchased via onlineshopping.diamondhotel.com.

For restaurant reservations, call 528-3000 extension 1121.

 

(Diamond Hotel Philippines is located at Roxas Blvd. corner Dr. J. Quintos St., Manila.)

 

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November 13, 2018
11:57 AM
by: Dolly Dy-Zulueta

Eastwood Richmonde Hotel Offers
‘Great at 8’ Anniversary Promo

Australian Lamb Shank Cooked Adobar-style with Garlic and Hollandaise

EASTWOOD Richmonde Hotel is 8, and it is celebrating its anniversary in style by offering super deals to its beloved patrons for this entire anniversary month of November (201Smilie: 8).

First up are special meals at Eastwood Café+Bar. Mundial Cuisine, the latest collection of Chef’s Specials created by Eastwood Richmonde Hotel executive chef Victor Barangan and launched last September, combines local and international cooking styles and ingredients to produce original gourmet masterpieces. As an eighth anniversary treat, these Chef’s Specials are paired up into sets—one entrée and two sides—for Php800nett this anniversary month.

U.S. Short Ribs Braised in Mt. Apo Coffee

Abra Organic Chicken ala Kiev with Salted Egg Butter

Choices of entrées are U.S. Short Ribs Braised in Mt. Apo Coffee; Abra Organic Chicken a la Kiev with Salted Egg Butter; Parrotfish Fillet with Tamarind, Cilantro, Jicama and Zambales Mangoes; and Australian Lamb Shank Cooked Adobar-Style with Garlic and Hollandaise.

Complement your choice of entrée with two sidings from these delightful selections—Compressed Watermelon Salad with Basil, Olives, Goat’s Cheese, Rocket Leaves and Radish; Tortellini Royale Soup (consommé with adlai, tortellini of chicken and mushroom duxelles); and Dessert Mélange (an assortment of treats that include pistachio bark, spiced walnuts, cured egg yolk, basil oil, coral sponge cake, cream cheese and vanilla ice cream).

Compressed Watermelon Salad with Basil, Olives, Goat’s Cheese, Rocket Leaves and Radish

These Great at 8 Chef’s Specials are available for lunch or dinner at Eastwood Café+Bar until the end of November.

For its eighth anniversary, Eastwood Richmonde Hotel also offers weekend staycations at a discounted price of as low as Php4,000nett per night in a Superior Room, inclusive of breakfast buffet for two, WiFi access, and use of the Fitness Center’s gym and pool. Rates for more spacious Deluxe Rooms and all types of suites have also been slashed until November 30, 2018, valid for Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the month only.

For inquiries and reservations, call (632) 570-7777. Room bookings may also be made online via www.eastwoodrichmondehotel.com.ph, with instant confirmation upon booking.

 

(Eastwood Café+Bar is located at the ground floor of Eastwood Richmonde Hotel, at 17 Orchard Road, Eastwood City, Bagumbayan, Quezon City.)

 

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November 7, 2018
5:06 PM
by: Dolly Dy-Zulueta

TWG Tea Marks 6th Anniversary
with Special Treats

Pan-seared Duck Breast with Caramelized Foie Gras, Celeriac, Apple Butter and Apricot Chutney

GOOD news to tea lovers: TWG Tea Salon & Boutique, which opened its first tea salon in the Philippines in 2012, is celebrating its sixth year in the country by offering a special anniversary à la carte menu.

Promising an extraordinary tea-infused culinary experience, the anniversary menu artfully incorporates a myriad of fine harvest teas and exclusive tea blends into each specialty dish. The teas successfully impart unique flavors to the dishes and introduce a whole new world of sensations to diners at TWG Tea Salons & Boutiques.

The special sixth anniversary menu begins with an appetizing starter, Soft-shell Crab on a Bed of Mesclun Salad with Sesame Miso Dressing (Php545), which has the soft-shell crab infused in TWG Tea’s Tokyo-Singapore Tea.

Seafood Squid Ink Pasta with Scallops, Mussels and Shrimps

For diners who opt for light seafood main courses, choices are Poached Cod with Caramelized Brussel Sprouts, Potatoes and Shimeji Mushrooms (Php655), served in a Black Nectar Tea infused broth; or Seafood Squid Ink Pasta with Scallops, Mussels and Shrimps (Php895), which is drizzled with Matcha oil.

Lamb Shank Braised in Tea-infused Red Wine with Spiced Pumpkin Risotto

For big appetites, it should be a toss-up between Pan-seared Duck Breast with Caramelized Foie Gras, Celeriac, Apple Butter and Apricot Chutney (Php1,355), infused with Alfonso Tea; and Lamb Shank Braised in Tea-infused Red Wine with Spiced Pumpkin Risotto (Php1,645), with the red wine infused in Riviera Tea.

Green Apple Mousse Layered with Vanilla Bourbon Tea infused Custard on a Vanilla Sable Crust with a Mango Coulis Heart

To end the anniversary meal on a sweet note, rich and smooth Dark Chocolate with Coffee Panna Cotta Pudding Glazed with a Dark Chocolate Kahlua Concoction (Php275), which is topped with chocolate truffle infused chocolate cake (Php275); and a refreshing Green Apple Mousse Layered with Vanilla Bourbon Tea infused Custard on a Vanilla Sable Crust with a Mango Coulis Heart.

TWG Tea’s sixth anniversary menu is available in TWG Tea Salons & Boutiques from November 14 to 25, 2018. Its branches can be found at Greenbet 5, Shangri-La Plaza and Central Square.

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