Aside from its rich history, grandeur, elegant ambience, and world-class facilities, another distinct feature of the Manila Hotel is its excellent food. At the “Grand Old Dame,” where guests experience the finest in Philippine hospitality, the finest cuisines of the country’s 13 regions are featured as well in its food and beverage outlets, aside from authentic Western and Asian dishes. At its Café Ilang-Ilang, diners are taken to a gastronomic journey of the Ilocos Region with its ongoing food promotion available until Sept. 26.
On any day (from Monday to Sunday), guests are treated to a lavish feast or padaya (a generic term in Ilocano meaning festive party) in its lunch and dinner buffet offering.
Ilocanos love to eat and their food are usually salty or bitter, reflecting the difficult conditions of their land which is composed of two provinces: Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur. This is the reason why they eat plenty of rice. Serving not just as a neutralizer, the rice is central to every meal and the viand is usually incidental.
Vegetable dishes, from the simplest to the most elaborate, are staple foods which can be seen at the table of every Ilocano. Favorites such as Inabraw or Dinengdeng with Pork (a steaming broth made of leafy green vegetables with pork and native anchovy), Papaitan (spicy bile soup base laced with tamarind), and Pinakbet (variety of upland vegetables with pork and shrimps cooked in native anchovy) are among the dishes offered in Café Ilang-Ilang’s buffet.
It has been said that the most important contribution of the Ilocanos to Filipino cuisine is the Pinakbet. According to some food connoisseurs, the combination of contrasting tastes, flavors, and textures make Ilocano vegetable dishes one of the most exciting in the country.
Although considered a luxury by most Ilocanos, the meat and fish dishes, which are often served in fiestas and in special occasions, are equally exciting and sumptuous as their vegetable meals.
Patrons of the Manila Hotel can partake of several authentic Ilocano specialties during this rare, limited food promo at the Café Ilang-Ilang. Guests, should take note, however, of the dates on which their favorite dishes will be served as the food promo features different dishes daily.
On Sept. 13, 16, 19, 22 and 25, the lunch and dinner buffet consists of Fish Balls Sinigang Soup; Malunggay Salad and Binalag na Sitaw Salad; Insarabasab, Pinakbet and Sinanglay for main entrees; and desserts Pinatok, Guyabano Nata Chill and fresh fruits.
On Sept. 14, 17, 20, 23, 26, diners can partake of Balatong Soup; and Talbos Ng Kamote Salad and Maras Salad for starters. For the main course, buffet includes a selection of Pesang Manok; Nilaneg With Tilapia; and Butong With Blue Crabs. For dessert, diners can try the Tamales or Binanlay.
The Café Ilang-Ilang buffet on Sept. 15, 18, 21, 24, features Papaitan Soup; Tinimtim and Ensaladang Ampalaya, Labanos at Hipon for starters. Main dishes are Pialam, Inabrao with Pork and Pinangat na Samaral. Desserts are Halayang Ube or Purple yam pudding, Minatamis na saging and fresh fruits. All these are available for lunch and dinner at R750 net per person, Monday to Sunday.
|
