Gel Jose

Recipe: Baked Salmon in Lemon Butter Sauce

Just like that: 2020 is no more and we’re off to welcome a brand new year!

Guess what: I embraced 2021 with a new recipe for baked salmon for the fam’s Media Noche feast.

This past Christmas Eve, as I’ve done for several past Christmas Eves, I whipped up my tried-and-tested Cheesy Baked Salmon for our Noche Buena feast. It’s certainly a family favorite and even my friends have been trying it out for their own holiday feasts.

However, I opted to do something different for the fam’s Media Noche feast. This time around, at Hubby’s suggestion, I decided to go a ease up a bit on the cheese but go heavy on the butter. And the result is awesome.

So here it is: check out my recipe for Baked Salmon in Lemon Butter Sauce.

Ingredients:

1 salmon fillet (600 grams or more)
1/3 cup unsalted butter
5 cloves of garlic, finely minced
4 tablespoons lemon juice
8 thin slices of lemon
1 teaspoon honey
Salt and pepper to taste
French beans and carrot strips, blanched and lightly stir-fried in butter

Procedure:

Thaw salmon and pat dry.

Rub half of the minced garlic over the fillets. Pour three-fourths of the lemon juice over the salmon, then set the fillet aside for ten minutes to allow the salmon to marinate.

Preheat the oven to 190 deg C (375 deg F).

Arrange the lemon slices at the bottom of an aluminum baking pan.

Remove the salmon from the marinade, scraping off excess garlic, and place the fillets skin-side down on a on top of the lemon slices. Set aside.

Place the butter in a microwave-safe bowl and place it in the microwave for one minute to melt the butter.

Whisk in the remaining one-fourth of the lemon juice, the honey and the remaining half of the minced garlic into the melted butter.

Season the fillets with salt (I used Himalayan sea salt from Goodness MNL for its health benefits but ordinary table salt will do) and freshly ground black pepper.

Spoon three-fourths of the butter mixture onto the salmon fillets and reserve the rest of the remaining mixture.

Cover the salmon with a sheet of aluminum foil then seal the fillets by crimping the ends together with the pan to produce an air-tight cover for the fillets.

Place the baking pan in the oven and allow the salmon to bake for 17 minutes.

Take out the baking sheet from the oven and remove the top cover. Spoon the remaining butter mixture over the salmon pieces then allow the salmon to broil for five to ten minutes until the salmon fillets turn golden.

Serve with the buttered French beans and carrot sticks.

I’m glad to note that this dish has my Hubby and kiddos’ seal of approval in terms of taste and texture. Hubby even prefers it to the Cheesy Baked Salmon.

My compromise is to go for the Cheesy Baked Salmon for Noche Buena as its richness will be well-suited for it being the central dish. For Media Noche, wherein it will be one of many dishes atop a traditionally overflowing table, the simpler buttery version will be more appropriate.

Try this recipe and let me know how it goes!

Looking for other easy-to-cook dishes to try out? Check out my other kitchen adventures:

My sparks of hope and joy for 2021

“A spark is a little thing, yet it may kindle the world.” – Martin Farquhar Tupper

2020 may have been characterized by one catastrophe after another, but those of us who made it through are now faced with the promise of better days ahead.

As we leave the disaster of a year that is 2020 behind, we bring with us the lessons thar we learned and the little things that got us through our darkest days to bolster us into the new year.

Here are the sparks of hope and joy that will continue to kindle in me the strength and courage as I continue to forge ahead.

Love of family

The quarantine which arose from the pandemic physically cut us off from almost everyone except our immediate family. Instead of catching up every evening on how each other’s day went at work or in school, we now spend the entire day together at home.

With the increase in time that I spent together with my family, I was able to discover new things about them: how Hubby polished up his cooking skills to be able to serve me the dishes that I’ve been craving for but can’t have because restaurants are closed, how my daughter #ExhibitA took the time to tutor her brother because I was too tired to do so, or how my son #ExhibitB did his best to adjust to learning from home despite his development issues.

I’m looking forward to discovering more to love about my family in the new year.

Constancy of friendship

Before the pandemic, busy work schedules and various responsibilities have already precluded frequent meetups with friends.

During the pandemic, the restrictions on mobility and the need for physical distancing made getting together with friends near impossible.

That doesn’t mean, however, that true pals will let those get in the way of friendship. There were those who were quick to send messages of concern and encouragement when my mother company was shut down, or those who immediately checked up on me and my family during the typhoons because they know I live in a flood-prone area. There were also friends sent tasty dishes and care packages to brighten my day.

These friendships bolster my confidence in facing the days ahead.

Innate goodness of people

With all the travails that 2020 brought, we Pinoys really went out of our way to help each other out. From contributing to #TulongTulongSaTaal and #PantawidNgPagibig, we helped to make vital supplies and essentials available to those who needed them most.

Abundance of blessings

Through all the dark times we’ve faced this year, there are slivers of sunshine that bring us moments of happiness and hope.

While the new work from home setup required quite a lot of adjustments for me and my coworkers, we were still able to function and be productive away from our office. The blended learning setup for my son enabled me to be more involved in his education, something that was very difficult when I worked in the office.

I was also gladdened to learn that many of my friends became entrepreneurs, providing products and services that became important because of the pandemic.

These are small blessings that when added up made life in 2020 bearable, and some moments even enjoyable.

As I leave the past behind, I carry these sparks of hope and joy into 2021.

I hope you keep your own sparks close to your heart and I wish you a better and happier new year.

DIY Black Burger Kit from 390 Degrees

Earlier this year, I had my first taste of the novel black burger when I dined with my fellow bloggers at 390 Degrees.

Black has always been at the top of my list of favorite colors (as is apparent in my wardrobe) but seldom do I see and fancy it on food.

390 Degrees’ black burger is an exception, though. Not only is this creation so beautifully presented, the flavors and textures from the black bun, beef patty, sauces and veggies all meld together into one irresistible burger.

I wish I could have shared this unique burger experience with the fam (who are all burger connoisseurs in their own right), but, alas, the resto is situated on the other far end of the metro and is quite distant from our home.

To make matters worse, the pandemic struck and the resulting quarantine imposed restrictions on inter-city mobility and dining out.

Still, I held out hope that I can get another taste of 390 Degrees’ black burger as well as share the experience with the fam.

And wouldn’t you know it: my prayers were answered and, earlier this month, 390 Degrees launched its DIY Black Burger Kit.

For just Php850, you can have a box containing four quarter pound Wagyu beef patties, 4 black charcoal infused buns, 390 Degrees’ in-house tomato sauce and signature mustard sauce. (Note: if you will not cook the burgers immediately, store the buns and patties in the freezer and the sauces in the chiller.)

Preparing your 390 Degrees black burgers is super easy:

Thaw the buns and patties prior to cooking.
Season each side of the patties with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. (Truth be told: I forgot to season the burger patties before I cooked them and they were already flavorful so I think you can further temper the seasoning or skip this step altogether.
Place the patties in an oiled hot grill or pan and cook for a minute and a half in medium high heat. Flip and do the same on the other side until the patties are medium well done. Set patties aside to allow them to rest.
Slice the buns and place in a preheated grill or pan and toast for one minute in low heat.
To assemble a burger, spread the tomato sauce on the one half of the bun and the mustard sauce on the other half of the bun.
Place any veggies (such as lettuce, tomato or onions) you want to add to your burger on the bottom bun, place the patty on top of the veggies, then add other toppings. Cover with the top bun.

The best thing about 390 Degrees’ DIY Burger Kit is that you can customize your burgers to suit your cravings. So I made four different types of burgers for myself and the fam by adding different toppings:

A cheese slice to make a Black Cheeseburger for Hubby.

Toasted Fiesta Ham for a Black Christmas Burger for my daughter #ExhibitA.

Crispy Bacon for a Black Bacon Burger for my son #ExhibitB.

A sunny-side-up egg for a Black Breakfast Burger for me.

Each burger is definitely a thing of beauty, worthy of immortalizing in my IG feed. Plus, the Wagyu patties are so juicy, tender and flavorful (Yoy should have smelled them as they cook! The aroma was simply mouthwatering!) The black buns are not just pretty but are also fluffy and serve as great frame for the patties.

How about making and posting your own IG-worthy black burger creation using the DIY Burger Kit for a chance to win a Php10,000 gift certificate from 390 Degrees?

Simply purchase a DIY Black Burger Kit and post a pic of your creation on Instagram (tag @390degrees.resto and use the hashtag #390burgerkitchallenge). Be sure to keep your receipt or a pic of DIY black burger kit if you received it as a gift. Deadline for posting is January 31, 2021.

390 Degrees is located at Ground Floor, Sequoia Hotel Manila, Aseana City Business Park, Entertainment City, Parañaque City. It recently re-opened for dine-in from 10am to 10pm daily. It also offers ready-to-cook frozen meals and its DIY Burger Kit for takeout or delivery via GrabFood and FoodPanda.

Get a free palabok platter with your Mang Inasal family size chicken order

Stressed over what to have for Noche Buena?

Not to worry, Mang Inasal’s got your back with its Take-out and Delivery Blowout.

If you missed this promo when it was first offered last November, you’ll definitely be happy to know it’s back just in time to save us from our Noche Buena woes.

As a treat for its customers, Mang Inasal is treating customers who order a Family Size Large Paa or Pecho Family Size for takeout or delivery with a complimentary family size platter of Mang Inasal Pancit Palabok. These servings are good for four people, definitely enough to satisfy my hungry fam.

Mang Inasal helped make the Ilonggo dish chicken inasal more accessible and popular in the metro. In this dish, chicken pieces are marinated in calamansi, pepper, vinegar and annato, then grilled over hot coals while being basted with the flavorful marinade until the chicken becomes smokey, juicy and tender. I tend to favor the paa (chicken leg and thigh) over the pecho (chicken breast) as I find this part juicier and more flavorful but other people find the pecho more to their taste. Chicken inasal is best enjoyed with garlic ricr, toyomansi and doused in a lot of chicken oil.

Mang Inasal’s Pancit Palabok, on the other hand, is made of thin rice noodles in a thick golden sauce topped with chopped spring onions, slices of hard-boiled egg, bits of chicharon (pork rind), pork slices and flakes of tinapa (smoked fish).

With my recent order of Mang Inasal Family Size Large Paa, I also received the Pancit Palabok Platter, all for only Php396!

This offer is available until December 28 only so don’t let it pass you by!

To allow more people to enjoy this amazing deal, customers can only avail of three orders of Mang Inasal Family Size Large Chicken Platters per transaction.

For delivery, course your orders via GrabFood, FoodPanda or LalaFood.

For takeout, visit your nearest Mang Inasal branch or send a message via Facebook.

Three reasons to make superfood part of your life

Goodness MNL makes healthy eating more accessible with its carefully curated goodness boxes.

With a new year just around the corner, we usually take this time time to reflect on the year just past. And, boy, is there quite a lot to reflect about this year!

If, like me, you have allowed your inner foodie free rein this year with no exercise to counterbalance the intake of food, then you might be thinking of living a healthier lifestyle from the new year onwards.

Food will undoubtedly comprise a large part of your new lifestyle, and not just what you restrict yourself from gorging on, but, more importantly, what you choose to nourish yourself. It is important to keep in mind that while you shy away from food that do not significantly benefit your well-being, you should ensure that you consume more of those that do such as superfood.

If you haven’t been consciously incorporating superfood in your diet, now is the best time to do so. Here are three reasons why:

1) Superfood are highly nutritious.

Being whole or unprocessed ingredients, superfood are known for having high nutrient density which help in keeping you healthy and in warding off diseases.

Chia seeds, for example, are rich in fiber and energy, have anti-oxidant properties and help in maintaining heart health.

Himalayan salt, on the other hand, is also rich in energy, helps promote brain health and manage the effects of aging.

If you’re looking for food with lots of protein, fiber and omega 3 nutrients, golden flax seeds are among your best bets.

Meanwhile, if you want something to help with your digestion and heart health, you might want to check out sunflower seeds, which are also great sources for Vitamin E and magnesium.

Cacao nibs, on the other hand, can help in improving your mood, have antioxidant properties and are good sources of fiber, iron and magnesium.

2) Superfood can easily be integrated in your favorite dishes.

I used to think that healthy food is bland or tasteless but -surprise! surprise! – superfood happen to be among those things that are not just good for you but tastes good, too!

Himalayan salt can help in flavoring your grilled steaks and other savory dishes.

Chia seeds, golden flax seeds and sunflower seeds, on the other hand, can be blended into your favorite juices, smoothies and mocktails.

Lastly, cacao nibs can be enjoyed on their own – I munch on them as I watch my favorite stand up comedy shows on Netflix – or be added to dessert recipes.

3) Superfood are now more readily available.

Ready to test the waters of going into superfood? Not to worry!

You can try five different types of superfood by getting a box set from Goodness MNL. Choose five from the nine superfood types available – organic chia seeds, organic golden flax seeds, organic sweet basil seeds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, Himalayan fine salt, Himalayan rock salt, organic cocosugar, organic adlai grits and cocosugar cacao nibs – and have them delivered to you in a beautifully curated box.

Already into healthy eating and want to encourage your friends to do the same? Goodness MNL box sets are also great as Christmas gifts or giveaways so your friends can join you on your healthy eating journey.

You can get a box set for Php400, the box contains five 40ml test tube bottles or for Php330 containing five 30ml test tube bottles.

Both variants include your choice of five superfood, a wooden teaspoon, recipe and info sheet, ribbons and Christmas tag

To order, just message Goodness MNL on Facebook or Instagram with instructions on how you want your box set customized. Payments via BDO or GCash are accepted.

Goodness MNL delivers within Metro Manila and nearby provinces. Shipping fee will be shouldered by the buyer.

You can also course your order through Shopee.

So be on your way towards a healthier lifestyle by eating healthy and by getting goodness in a box from Goodness MNL!

Disclosure: Product samples were provided to facilitate this feature article.

Check out my blog posts on other small enterprises and startups in the food business:

Oreo Blizzard Cake from Dairy Queen

When I was a kid, getting an ice cream cake for your birthday was like spotting a unicorn: it just made everything extra special.

Back in the 80s, getting an ice cream cake was already a grand production in itself. Someone had to go get the ice cream cake in the one – one! – store in the whole of the metro where ice cream cakes are available, and bring it to where your party was. To prevent the cake from melting during transit from the ice cream store to your shindig, it is placed in a container lined with dry ice (which we would place in a tub of water to get that smoke effect during the party).

Today, ice cream cake is available in Dairy Queen outlets as Blizzard Cakes – with various flavors available too! – and can be delivered to your home hassle-free.

For my son’s last birthday, his grandma sent him a Dairy Queen Oreo Blizzard Cake. This lovely ice cream cake is made of layers of cream vanilla soft-serve ice cream with a crunch and fudge center and topped with fresh Oreo pieces.

Since Oreos and ice cream are among my son’s favorite food, it’s not surprising that he enjoyed his birthday cake immensely.

Since this confection is made almost entirely out of ice cream, this type of cake is best consumed immediately or kept in the freezer.

Want your own Blizzard Cake for your holiday celebrations? You can order online or via GrabFood and FoodPanda.

Dessert takeout from The French Baker

Back when I was in grade school, a French Baker branch opened in the only nearby shopping mall at the time and introduced me to the amazing pastry called the Danish.

The Danish is viennoiserie baked good which was among the pastries introduced by Austrian bakers hired to replace the bakers of Denmark who went on strike in 1850. After the labor disputes were ironed out and the Danish bakers went back to work, they adapted the Austrian Plundergeback pastry and made it their own by adjusting the amount of egg and fat, coming with what is now known as the Danish pastry.

The French Baker is said to have revitalized the breadmaking industry in the country, bringing to light various ways to enjoy breads and pastries with European origins – such as baguettes, scones, crepes, bagels, sourdough, ciabatta, and, of course, Danishes – which were unfamiliar to the Philippine mass market when the chain opened its first stores more than thirty years ago.

The French Baker’s version of the Danish Pastry consists of the layered and glazed pastry topped with a creamy custard and a fruit filling. My favorites since childhood are the Blueberry Danish (Php88) and the Peach Danish (Php88).

On my way to parking lot after running some errands, I espied a takeout counter at The French Baker branch inside the Sta. Lucia East Grand Mall. I dropped by and picked up a few pieces of my favorite Danish variants as my pasalubong for the kiddos (and a treat for me!) as well as a bag of Crack Pan De Sal (Php102 for 10 pieces).

The pastries were a hit with the kids; we liked the sweet and flaky bread that frames the creamy custard and luscious fruit filling perfectly.

I saved the pan de sal for later when I prepared my midnight snack with Hubby. I heated a couple of pieces and filled them with shredded Purefoods Fiesta Ham. Oh my! Those fluffy pan de sal went so well with the ham and really sated my late night food cravings.

From my childhood to today, I continue to appreciate how The French Baker has expanded my foodie horizons.

Aside from dine-ins and takeouts, you can also enjoy The French Baker baked goods by having them delivered to your home. For inquiries, call +63 917 6353026 or +63 917 5423125. Order online or via GrabFood or FoodPanda.

Ferino’s Bibingka Merienda Blowout

With all the time spent at home with the fam, I’m glad I was able to find the opportunity to reacquaint the kiddos to our rich culinary heritage.

This initiative was greatly helped by my mother-in-law when she treated her kids and their respective families to a Pinoy-style merienda during her recent birthday by having local delicacies from Ferino’s Bibingka delivered to our respective homes.

Bibingka is kind of kakanin or rice cake made with galapong (glutinous rice flour) and cooked in clay pots lined with banana leaves. While it can be enjoyed year-round, bibingka is especially popular during the holiday season; it is the go-to food to be enjoyed after Misa de Gallo.

Ferino’s Bibingka started in pre-war Tondo, Manila when Ceferino Francisco, Sr. (also known as Mang Ferino) starter selling bibingka and puto bumbong on the sidewalk outside their rented apartment. The business grew after the war, such as when they opened Ferino’s Cafe in the Manila Hotel in the 1950s, another branch at the Fiesta Carnival in Cubao in the 1970s and more afterwards.

Most of these stores closed down with Mang Ferino’s passing but the Ferino’s Bibingka brand was revived by his grandson, Sonny Francisco, who began to operate bibingka dine-in and takeout stores in 2016.

Ferino’s Bibingka’s storied dishes made their way to our table by way of the Family Set 1 (Php880) sent by MIL as her birthday blowout. This set consisted of:

Bibingka Extra Super. Pure galapong mixed with two fresh eggs, topped with salted eggs and kesong-puti.

Pancit Palabok (Small Bilao). A traditional Filipino noodle dish which is made with round rice noodles doused in a gold-colored savory sauce topped with shrimp, crushed chicharon (pork rind), slices of hard-boiled egg and chopped green onions.

Pork Barbecue (6pieces). This popular Pinoy street food of pork barbecue consists of slices of pork skewered on bamboo sticks, marinated in sweet and savory barbecue sauce then grilled to smokey and tender doneness.

Palitaw sa Linga. Another kakanin which is made of flattened ground glutinous rice which are dropped in boiling water. The rice cakes rise up to the surface (“litaw“) when cooked which is how the dish got its name. It is served dipped in grated coconut, with a side of sugar and sesame seeds (“linga“).

Thanks to MIL, the fam was able to explore the richness of our local cuisine!

To order from Ferino’s Bibingka, you can:

Call +63 2 76227104 or text +63 917 6502331
Click/Tap the SHOP NOW button on Facebook Messenger
Order via GrabFood

High Grounds Cafe, Tomas Morato

One of the things I miss about my pre-pandemic workplace is its proximity to many interesting places to grab a bite.

Tomas Morato is home to many restaurants that offer distinct dining experiences to diners with various interests.

High Grounds Cafe along Rallos Street, for example, offers high end PC gaming services and high speed internet connection catering mainly to gamers. It offers coffee-based drinks and desserts as well as comfort food to nourish its customers as they play PC games, browse online or do their remote work.

My experience here, however, was strictly for dining. As a despedida for my previous boss, practically the entire team came together unexpectedly for one of our famous happy lunches.

It’s fortunate that High Grounds Cafe boasts of spacious and sprawling premises and a well-trained kitchen staff as it was able to accommodate our sizable group.

Our orders included:

Starters.

Pulled Chicken Nachos (Php280). Tortilla chips tossed with pulled grilled chicken, tomatoes, pickled jalapeno, cornichons, onions, topped with melted mozzarella and silantro oil.

Crispy Catfish Mango Salad (Php250). Catfish flakes mixed with green mango, lettuce, nuts, tomatoes, carrots, shallots, cucumber, cilantro and authentic Nuoc Cham dressing.

Pastas.

Salted Egg Carbonara (Php320). Pasta tossed in bacon carbonara sauce flavored with salted egg.

Beef Stroganoff (Php380). Made with seared beef strips and button mushrooms in a creamy stroganoff sauce.

Mains.

Grilled Salmon (Php520). Herb-seasoned salmon pieces, grilled then served with succotash potato puree.

Ponzu Salmon (Php520). Fresh salmon served with yuzu kasha aoili, kobacha puree, ponzu shallots and shimeji.

Fish and Chips (Php320). Cobbler fish pieces battered and deep-fried then served with fries and tartar sauce.

US Pork Ribs (Php380). Marinated and barbecued US riblets served with Java Rice.

Cajun Pork Belly (Php420). Pork belly marinated in Cajun seasoning and cooked sous vide.

Peri Peri Chicken (Php395). Boneless half chicken marinated in Portuguese style peri-peri sauce served with Cajun jalapeno aioli, mango salsa and dirty rice.

Country Style Fried Chicken (Php360). Boneless half chicken battered, breaded then deep-fried to a crispy golden brown served with steamed rice.

Grilled Chicken BBQ (Php395). Boneless half chicken marinated in homemade barbecue sauce served with Java Rice.

I found High Grounds’ fresh takes on well-known dishes interesting and well worth some repeat visits.

However, the pandemic struck and it had to halt its operations for a few months.

It recently reopened for dine in with protocols in place for the New Normal.

While I’m not looking forward to going back to work in the office (I’m loving my work-from-home setup too much!), I am looking forward to dining safely with my coworkers here for another happy lunch.

High Grounds Cafe is located at 67 Scout Rallos Street, Sacred Heart, Quezon City, open daily from 8am to 12 midnight. For reservations and inquiries, call +63 2 8880 2037.

Check out my posts on other gaming restaurants:

Four reasons to dine in style at New World Hotel’s Cafe 1228

As we near the end of the tumultuous year of 2020, we should celebrate whatever joy and success we were able to wrest for ourselves, right?

After all, while there may have been many upheavals this year, we still made it through.

So let’s celebrate in grand style, shall we? Here are four reasons why we should do so at New World Makati Hotel’s Cafe 1228.

1) You can dine-in luxuriously.

The restaurant’s sprawling, airy and well-appointed premises are sure to get you in the mood to linger awhile, spending time with family and friends over good food.

2) You can dine-in safely.

With the restaurant’s recent reopening, it already adopted safety procedures and protocols for the New Normal under New World Makati Hotel Commitment to Care Care Health and Safety Program. The hotel, including all of its restaurants and facilities, are in compliance with the standards of its international owning company, Rosewood Hotel Group. Further intensified sanitation and safety protocols are set in place guided by the World Health Organization and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. More details on this program here.

Foremost among these standards involves Cafe 1228 revamping its dining-in concept from an all-you-can-eat buffet to one that’s more in line with the New Normal: an order-all-you-can ala carte service.

Instead of filling your plate as you go from station to station, you instead select your choices from a well-curated list of Western and regional fare. You can order anything that’s on the menu as often as you can during dining hours.

3) You can dine-in deliciously.

Cafe 1228 brings the ultimate feast to discriminating diners. Your orders from the menu are all prepared ala minute and served to you at your table in solo portions, fresh and hot from the restaurant’s five cooking stations.

These include:

Hot off-the-grill. Let out your inner carnivore with freshly grilled dishes such as Lamb Brochette, Rosemary Chicken, Mahi-mahi in Kaffir Lime and Olive Oil, Herb and Garlic Marinated Beef Striploin, Pork Spareribs in garlic, calamansi, fish sauce, and Hungarian Sausage.

Fresh seafood cooked in five ways. Shrimps, clams, and blue crabs cooked with a choice of garlic butter, salt and pepper, Singaporean style, in white wine sauce or baked with garlic and cheese.

Pizzas and pastas, all cooked to order. Get a taste of Italy with pizzas such as Frutti de Mare, Parma Ham with Feta Cheese, Mushroom and Four Cheese, Margherita, and Mediterranean Vegetable. Have al dente spaghetti or penne noodles served with your choice from pesto cream, puttanesca, marinara and carbonara sauces.

Regional and local faves from Japanese, Chinese and Pinoy cuisines. Have a food trip around the country and Asia with assorted sashimi and sushi rolls, Wok-Fried Chicken with Cashew Nuts, Pork Buns and Lechon Belly Rice.

Appetizers and salads to pair with mains. Start your meal with Jamon Serrano with Manchego on Toast or with Toast topped with Parma Ham, Burnt Peach and Goat Cheese Foam.

Sugary treats for dessert lovers. End your meal on a sweet note with a wide variety of confections that include Chocolate Truffle Cake, Spiced Chocolate Pecan Pie, Strawberry Cheesecake, Mixed Berry Trifle, Bread and Butter Pudding and Puto Bumbong.

Refreshing beverages of your choice. Take your pick from among fresh fruit and vegetable juices, healthy drinks, smoothies, icy teas and beers.

This ultimate feast is available for lunch from Thursdays to Sundays and dinner from Thursdays to Saturdays. The dining outlet will also be open all week from 21-27 December 2020 due to popular demand.

4) You can dine-in on an irresistible deal.

The all-you-can-eat feast at Cafe 1228 is offered for lunch at PHP2,400 on Thursdays and Fridays and PHP2,988 on Saturdays and Sundays. For dinner, it is priced at PHP2,600 on Thursdays and PHP2,988 on Fridays and Saturdays (excluding Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day).

From December 21 to 23, the same rate for Thursdays applies: PHP2,400 for lunch and PHP2,600 for dinner.

50% off applies for Club Epicure & BDO credit cardholders at Cafe 1228. Club Epicure membership is FREE and comes with an array of exclusive discounts and privileges for dining offers, and will include room stays once staycations are accepted at the hotel.

For table reservations, guests can call +63 2 88116888 ext. 3679, send a message on Viber at +63 917 8884194 or e-mail fbreservations.manila@newworldhotels.com.

This Christmas, indulge yourself and your loved ones a bit with a welcome change of scenery and a sumptuous feast at New World Hotel Makati’s Cafe 1228.

New World Makati Hotel is a world-class deluxe hotel located in the heart of Makati. With a thoroughly modern vibe and hints of Oriental influence, the hotel features 580 guestrooms and suites with Residence Club executive floor accommodation, a business center, sophisticated dining options, a well-equipped fitness center with sauna and spa, an outdoor swimming pool, and 1,800 square meters of dynamic function space for meetings and conferences. The hotel is located directly across Greenbelt, the country’s premier lifestyle shopping center. It is also nine kilometers from Ninoy Aquino International Airport and within steps of many embassies, as well as Manila’s top business addresses and upscale shopping venues.

Disclosure: Together with fellow food bloggers, I was invited to sample Cafe 1228’s ultimate feast. All the food items mentioned here were served to allow us to taste the fare to facilitate our honest reviews and were not paid for by the attendees, including myself.

Maximize your eat-all-you-can experience. Check out my survival guide.