Holiday feasts in the Metro

WHEREVER YOU go, you’ll have a taste of Christmas cheer with these selections from some of the city’s best-known restaurants.

MANILA AND BAY AREA
Crystal Dragon

Diners are in for an excellent gourmet Cantonese dining experience with Crystal Dragon’s Festive Seasons set menu available for lunch and dinner this December. The bespoke menu (P2,580++ per person) includes a Combination Happiness Platter consisting of Wok-fried Diced Turkey in Golden Cup and Brown Bean Sauce and Baked Marinated Eel and Crispy Bean Curd with Chilled Rose Oolong Tea Jelly with Winter melon completing the celebratory menu.

Nobu Manila
This yuletide season, Nobu curated eight-course Omakase meal (P5,600++) showcasing Chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s Japanese-Peruvian fusion artistry. The menu includes an assortment of nigiri and a serving of Whitefish with Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Ponzu and Crispy Red Onion, and dessert composed of Kuromitsu Syrup, Kiwi, Strawberries, and Green Tea Ice Cream.

Red Ginger
For cravings of Southeast Asian flavors, Red Ginger highlights five dishes for its Festive Season Menu: Crab and Prawn Rolls, a medley of soft-shelled crab, poached prawns, pork jowl and mango rice paper roll; Beef Luc Lac, a sumptuous dish of wok-flamed beef tenderloin with brandy, watercress and heirloom tomatoes; Clay Pot Pork Knuckle, a serving of slow-braised pork knuckle with fermented bean curd, assorted mushroom and baby Chinese cabbage; Ikan Goreng Berempah or crispy-fried pomfret fish with spicy creamy tomato sauce; and Ayam Kodok or Indonesian-style slow-roasted chicken with seven spices and traditional stuffing served with assorted steamed vegetables. For inquiries, call 8800-8080 or e-mail guestservices@cod-manila.com or visit www.cityofdreamsmanila.com.

Sheraton Manila
The Buffet of S Kitchen in Sheraton Manila will be decked with signature holiday staples from glazed ham, leg of lamb, roasted turkey, steak, and all other appetizing trimmings. Mark your calendars for these special festive buffets for P2,900–both for lunch and dinner- during Noche Buena and Christmas Day. Call 7902-1800 for buffet reservations.

Diamond Hotel Philippines
Take your holiday reunions to a whole new level with culinary surprises at the lunch and dinner buffet at Corniche restaurant. For an Asian twist on your yuletide get-together, let Japanese chefs set up a lavish menu at Yurakuen, crafted to satisfy groups of up to six persons. Christmas celebrations take a sky-high turn at Bar 27, where snazzy signature cocktails are accompanied by a live band, tapas and pica-pica. Purchase dining vouchers for all these festive holiday offers at onlineshopping.diamondhotel.com for up to 30% off on online exclusive discounts. For reservations, call Diamond Hotel at 8528-3000 ext. 1121.

Marriott Manila
On Christmas Day, savor a flavorful feast with a Christmas Eve Dinner (6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.) for P3,300, Noche Buena Buffet (11:30 p.m. to 1 a.m.) for P1,900, Christmas Day Lunch (12 a.m. to 3 p.m.) for P3,300, and Christmas Day Dinner (6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.) for P3,300. Apart from festive gatherings, join the evening mass on December 24 (9 p.m.) and 31 (7 p.m.) at the Manila Ballroom of Marriott Hotel Manila. Drop by at Marriott Café during Karneval Sundays and on Christmas Day for an exclusive photo opportunity with Santa Claus from December 8, 15, 22, and 25 (12 p.m., 1:45 p.m., and 2:30 p.m.). For reservations, call 8988-9999 or visit www.manilamarriott.com.

New World Manila Bay Hotel
Relish classic holiday dishes which include the famous Christmas ham, the perfect roast turkey, Christmas Yule log cake and other holiday treats at the Market Cafe. The Yuletide Buffet is available on both the 24^th and 25^th lunch and dinner at P3,500 per person. At Li Li, indulge with an All-You-Can-Eat Dim Sum feast featuring classic favorites and carefully handcrafted specialties. Enjoy the Christmas Yum Cha on the 25^th for lunch at P2,288 per person and delight in the Festive Special Menu that comes in two special sets at P2,888 and P3,488 on 24 and 25 December 2019 lunch and dinner, for a minimum of two persons.

MAKATI
Discovery Primea
Tapenade highlights a decadent buffet selection of Mediterranean dishes coupled with local favorites at P2,500++ per person. On Dec. 24, enjoy a classic Italian-themed Christmas Eve dinner feast featuring a hearty spread of antipasti, the hotel’s signature brick oven-baked pizzas, pastas and risottos, Osso Bucco and USDA Prime Rib Roast. The Christmas Day lunch and dinner buffet spreads offer fresh salads, appetizers, baked rice specialties, and French flavors from Lamb Bourguignon, Salmon Coulibac, and Chicken Chasseur. The dinner buffet spread on New Year’s Eve features a medley of Spanish fare including Tapas and Cocas ended by Churros con Chocolate. The Christmas Eve dinner at Flame features a four-course menu of finely cooked dishes such as the Pacific White Snapper Carpaccio, Pan-Seared Foie Gras, Grilled US Beef Short Ribs, and Auro Chocolate Kulfi offered at P3,500++ per person. For inquiries and reservations, call 7955-8888 or e-mail primea.restaurants@discovery.com.ph.

Peninsula Manila
The holiday dining options and schedules of the Peninsula Manila for the holidays include meals at The Upper Lobby, Spices, Old Manila, and Escolta. On the 24^th, the Upper Lobby’s Merienda Buffet will be open from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and is priced at P2,900 (including a glass of Champagne), P2,300 (adults), and P1,150 (children under 12). For dinner on the 24^th, the buffet will be priced at P4,500 (adults) and P2,250 (children under 12), and will be available from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Spices, offers à la carte Lunch & Dinner at 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., priced at P2,300 for adults, and P1,100 for children. At Old Manila, there’s the five-course set dinner menu, priced at P6,000, but P7,500 will get free-flowing champagne spirits. The Christmas Roast at Escolta is available for lunch, at P4,500 with free-flowing sparkling wine, and P3,200 and P1,600 for adults and children. A lobster and seafood dinner priced at P5,300 with free-flowing champagne andspirits and P3,800 and P1,900 for adults and children. The Lobby opens at breakfast on Christmas Day priced at P1,700 for adults and P950 for children. The five-course set dinner at Old Manila will be priced at P6,000 on Christmas Day with free-flowing drinks, but the rest of the promotions will have the same prices for Christmas day. Call 8887-2888 for reservations.

New World Makati Hotel
On Christmas Eve, guests can experience a five-course dinner at The Glasshouse priced at P3,888 nett per person.

The evening menu includes pan-seared duck foie gras with celeriac purée, roasted pear and marsala jus and ending with a white chocolate parfait with ginger crumbs and black currant ice cream. On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at Cafe 1228, guests dine on oven-roasted turkey stuffed with chestnuts and prunes, roasted marinated rib eye,and native lechon. Prices are at P2,300 for Christmas Eve lunch, P2,988 for Christmas Eve dinner and Christmas Day lunch and dinner. Chinese cuisine take center stage at Jasmine restaurant, as it offers three lunch and dinner set menus for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The Happiness set menu (P1,960) includes hot prawn chicken salad, lobster corn soup, and wok-fried beef tenderloin in XO sauce. The roasted suckling pig salad introduces the Prosperity set menu (P2,070), followed by crab roe with fish maw in bamboo pith soup and stir-fried fish fillet with bean curd and vegetables soya sauce. For the Auspicious set menu (P2,180), the Peking duck salad precedes the dried scallop with fish maw in sea cucumber soup and braised local abalone with duck feet and vegetables. For inquiries, reservations, and orders, call 8811-6888 or e-mail reservations.manila@newworldhotels.com, catering.manila@newworldhotels.com, or FandBreservations.manila@newworldhotels.com.

QUEZON CITY AND PASIG
Richmonde Hotel Ortigas
The Christmas Eve Dinner Buffet features a splendid selection of Noche Buena favorites of Filipino-Spanish dishes like queso con pimiento, Lucban jardinera, arroz Valenciana, Lechon roll, and churros con tsokolate. The Christmas Eve Dinner Buffet,served from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., is priced at P1480 nett per person. For inquiries and reservations, call 8638-7777.

Eastwood Richmonde Hotel

Eastwood Richmonde Hotel offers a holiday party package for P46,100 nett for 30 people including sound system and buffet lunch and dinner. A carving station can be added for P220 per person. For banquet inquiries and bookings, contact Eastwood Richmonde Hotel at 8570-777 or e-mail erhbanquets@richmondehotel.com.ph.

Marco Polo Ortigas Manila
Guests having Christmas Even dinner at Cucina may enjoy a special per-guest rate of P3,850, while those feasting on Noche Buena may do so at P1,850. Cucina offers Christmas classics at P2,988 per guest (lunch or dinner) on Christmas day. Authentic Cantonese cuisine are centerstage at Lung Hin. The restaurant’s team led by Chinese Executive Chef Ken Leung, present curated set menus for Christmas (available from 24 to 26 December 2019). These selections are available for tables of 10 guests. Reservations may be made in advance for guests who wish to dine in any of Lung Hin’s private dining rooms. For reservations, call 7720-7720 or through restaurant.mnl@marcopolohotels.com.

Luxent
Those who want a great place to celebrate Christmas without the hassle of cooking will find the Holiday Dinner Buffet offer at the Garden Café the perfect pass to a foodie celebration. For P1,888 per person, guests can dine all they want with mouth-watering Christmas specials like Lechon, pine ham, and the finest house wines and local beers available. It’s a season for indulgence for guests who want to have their fill of various cuisines. For reservations or inquiries, please call (02) 8863-7777.

OUTSIDE THE CITY
Discovery Country Suites
This year’s Christmas Feast Sets (P3,650+) at Restaurant Verbena highlight entrées of signature USDA Shortplate with Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Truffle Potato Gratin and Roasted Turkey Roulade with Sausage and Herb Stuffing, Giblets Gravy and Cranberry Sauce, among others. A three-course holiday set menu (P1,285+) is also available featuring Roasted Chestnut and Carrot Ginger bisque served with Turkey Croquettes and garnished with Smoked Paprika and Edible flowers and Braised Short Ribs with Truffle Sweet Potato puree, Roasted Brussels Sprouts. For dessert, Pumpkin pie with bacon and parmesan ice cream will be served. Restaurant Verbena is located at Discovery Country Suites along 300 Calamba Road, San Jose, Tagaytay City, 4120 Philippines. For inquiries and reservations, call 529-8172, or e-mail reservations@dcs.discovery.com.ph.