Angel Thoughts

Out of our home offices and into the sun—joy and exhilaration! This is how we felt when we agreed to go to the launches of two food festivals at our favorite hotels. With our face masks and small alcohol bottles in our bags, we sullied forth, first to Manila Diamond Hotel in the Malate area of Manila, facing beautiful Manila Bay.

The “Filipino Food Fiesta” is at Corniche, the coffee shop with its high-ceiling glass windows  beckoning you “Mabuhay!” It looks out to a man-made cascade of water wall. And inside a gorgeous spread of Filipino dishes by Chef Tatung Sarthou and the usual Japanese, Chinese, Mediterranean Western dishes, salad offerings  await the adventurous diner too!

Chef Tatung has his own resto in Quezon City and a private “reservations only” home place in the hills of Antipolo but he  gladly said yes to showcasing his “truly” Filipino dishes. No tweaking or combining this and that ingredient from other country’s cuisine, too. Purely Filipino was Tatung’s battlecry. Thanks to the gracious hospitality of Manila Diamond Hotel general manager Vanessa Suatengco, we enjoyed our Filipino Fiesta buffet. I particularly liked Chef Tatung’s yellow “bringhe” (rice) and his take of sago at gulaman!

To rediscover our local cuisine, take a trip around the country through our supeb foods, Chef Tatung urges everybody!

The unique culinary artistry of the Philippine Northern and Southern regions this fiesta month of June beckoned us to Conrad Manila’s award-winning all-day dining restaurant, Brasserie. This resto has a commanding view of the bay and first timers will marvel at the buffet spread. We have been here several times but it’s always jaw-dropping. And the all-Filipino feast prepared by executive chef Warren Brown and executive Sous Chef Patricia Mesina were winners!

I particularly liked the beef stew called balbacua and “pyanggang manok” (blackened coconut grilled chicken) and since it was a “degustacion” lunch, the picturesque way of serving the dishes from aperitifs to glorious dessert was delightful! The chefs also prepared a crispy, tasty lechon so tender they cut it open with a plate!

“We are delighted to celebrate the diverse gourmet tradition and heritage of the Philippines, as we take our patrons on a journey of flavors with signature dishes from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao,” said the hotel general manager Linda Pecoraro, dressed in a long red flaring skirt with a beautiful jusi alampay.

The local ingredients, all sustainably-sourced, take center stage at Brasserie on 3’s interactive theater kitchens Patricia Mesina. Palakpakan po! (applause!)

‘Flavors of the Philippines’ is available daily for buffet lunch and dinner until June 30, at ₱2,450 nett per person.