The Manila Hotel intensifies efforts towards safety of staff and guests

HEPA Filtration System against viruses in place at the historic hotel

As The Manila Hotel’s famed Café Ilang-Ilang and the romantic Champagne Room reopened on January 28 and February 2, 2022, respectively. The hotel chose to suspend dining operations and do general maintenance when the holiday festivities died down to ensure food quality and guest safety, as well as do spot-checks on its facilities.

Café Ilang-Ilang is still one of the best eat-all-you can restaurants in the country where diners can indulge in a wide range of food selections for lunch and dinner daily. This brings together Italian, Filipino, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and even certified Halal dishes under one roof for an indulgent eat-all-you-can feast featuring crowd favorites like the US Beef Rib Roast; items from the Churrasco station; seafood like prawns and crabs; a glorious spread of different sushi and sashimi; Filipino favorites like Lechon with truffle rice; an array of desserts including bibingka, puto bumbong, and halo-halo; and many more.

The Manila Hotel’s Café Ilang-Ilang and The Champagne Room reopens
The Manila Hotel’s Café Ilang-Ilang and The Champagne Room reopens
The Manila Hotel’s Café Ilang-Ilang and The Champagne Room reopens
The Manila Hotel’s Café Ilang-Ilang and The Champagne Room reopens

Meanwhile, Manila’s premier destination for exquisite fine dining, the Champagne Room, serves up lunch and dinner from Wednesday to Saturday, with choices from la carte items and special multi-course degustation menus—conceived by the hotel’s Executive Chef to showcase what this dining outlet is all about. Think generous servings of Black Angus Tenderloin, US Prime Beef Rib, the Chilean Sea Bass, or the satisfying Seafood Medley; there are also choices of starters; and for dessert, don’t miss out on the indulgent sweet delight—its signature Baked Alaska. The most romantic room in the country marks the return of its fine dining just in time for Valentine month.

The Manila Hotel’s Café Ilang-Ilang and The Champagne Room reopens
The Manila Hotel’s Café Ilang-Ilang and The Champagne Room reopens
The Manila Hotel’s Café Ilang-Ilang and The Champagne Room reopens
The Manila Hotel’s Café Ilang-Ilang and The Champagne Room reopens

YouAreSafeHere will always be a commitment

As the hotel continues to accept staycation guests, social events in various function rooms, and with dining outlets reopening, it will be much safer for guests to visit and dine in the outlets as the historic hotel takes a technology-driven solution to create a safer environment for guests by installing several innovative High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) UV-Care Clean air purifying filtration system units in different high-traffic areas.

The Manila Hotel

The UV Care Air Purifier with Humidifier with 8-Stage Filtration System is proven to kill 99.97% SARS-CoV2* and is a timely response to the surge of the COVID-19 Delta and Omicron variants in the country (*tested by MRI Global USA, according to UV-Care website).

The UV Care Air Purifier with Humidifier with 8-Stage Filtration System is proven to kill 99.97% SARS-CoV2* and is a timely response to the surge of the COVID-19 Delta and Omicron variants in the country (*tested by MRI Global USA, according to UV-Care website).

According to its manufacturers, the more advanced, medical-grade H14 HEPA filter has VIRUX® patented technology with a built-in activated carbon and photocatalyst filters that, along with UV LED lamp, is proven to effectively eliminate bacteria, germs, viruses, and pathogens. Their product information also states that these air filtration units are efficient in capturing and removing airborne particulates such as PM 2.5 and other allergens, dust, mold, and pollution from the air, and provides Ultraviolet-C sanitization to disinfect the air and kill germs. When used along with the best practices recommended by the IATF, DOH and DOT, it could be an effective indoor protection for both guests and staff.

The Manila Hotel welcomes dining and staycation guests with further assurance that “YOU ARE SAFE HERE”—because it isn’t just a tagline for us, but a commitment we uphold. For air quality, the hotel also installed heavy-duty York Solution Mobile HEPA Air-Handling Units in wider areas like the Grand Lobby.

Aside from dining options, staycation and leisure stays are now at guest-friendly rates from only P6,000 nett. For more information on room and restaurant rates and reservations, guests may call the trunkline 85270011 or 09989501912. They can also book rooms by emailing resvn@themanilahotel.com, and make dining reservations via restaurantrsvn@themanilahotel.com.

Details and images provided by the Manila Hotel in a recent press release.

The Manila Hotel’s Café Ilang-Ilang and The Champagne Room reopens

The Manila Hotel’s dining outlets, the famed Café Ilang-Ilang and the iconic Champagne Room reopens soon after undergoing a few weeks of general maintenance. The hotel chose to suspend dining operations as the holiday festivities died down to ensure food quality and guest safety, as well as spot-checks on its facilities.

Come visit Café Ilang-Ilang

Café Ilang-Ilang is scheduled to reopen on January 28, 2022 (Friday). The dining outlet enjoys a loyal following among local and foreign guests as it offers authentic international fare as well as family-friendly dining experience. It continues to draw diners with its daily offering of gastronomic delights coupled with the culinary team’s passion to create an amazing spread of dishes that is in keeping with its acclaimed status as one of the best buffet restaurants in the country.

The Manila Hotel’s Café Ilang-Ilang and The Champagne Room reopens
The Manila Hotel’s Café Ilang-Ilang and The Champagne Room reopens
The Manila Hotel’s Café Ilang-Ilang and The Champagne Room reopens
The Manila Hotel’s Café Ilang-Ilang and The Champagne Room reopens

Diners can indulge in Café Ilang-Ilang’s wide range of food selections for lunch and dinner daily. This brings together Italian, Filipino, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and even certified Halal dishes under one roof for an indulgent eat-all-you-can feast featuring crowd favorites like the US Beef Rib Roast; items from the Churrasco station like meats and salmon; seafood like prawns and crabs; a glorious spread of different sushi and sashimi; Filipino favorites like Lechon with truffle rice; Chinese highlights like duck and various dimsum; an array of desserts including bibingka, puto bumbong, and halo-halo; and many more.

Fine dining at The Champagne Room

Meanwhile, Manila’s premier destination for exquisite fine dining will start accepting diners again on Wednesday, February 2, 2022. To date, The Champagne Room is a premier restaurant whose timeless beauty remains, coupled with fine dining of choices for discriminating diners who put a premium on impeccably prepared dishes, outstanding service, and luxurious ambiance. The most romantic room in the country marks the return of its fine dining just in time for Valentine month.

The Manila Hotel’s Café Ilang-Ilang and The Champagne Room reopens
The Manila Hotel’s Café Ilang-Ilang and The Champagne Room reopens
The Manila Hotel’s Café Ilang-Ilang and The Champagne Room reopens
The Manila Hotel’s Café Ilang-Ilang and The Champagne Room reopens

The Champagne Room will welcome guests with an option for walk-in and reservations four days a week (Wednesday through Saturday), with select a la carte items and special multi-course degustation menus to choose from—conceived by the hotel’s Executive Chef to showcase what this dining outlet is all about. Think generous servings of Black Angus Tenderloin, US Prime Beef Rib, the Chilean Sea Bass, or the satisfying Seafood Medley; there are also choices of starters; and for dessert, don’t miss out on the indulgent sweet delight—its signature Baked Alaska.

Safety standards

Both The Manila Hotel premiere outlets elevate the dining experience: broadening our palate with flavors from global cultures and cuisine and applying elevated standards of safety that allow guests to dine comfortably and with peace of mind.

Café Ilang-Ilang and The Champagne Room still implement physical distancing and reduced capacity measure that are compliant with the IATF and DOT guidelines for restaurants.

For more information regarding reservation and dining rates, please call our hotline numbers at (02) 85270011 or 0998-9501912. You may also email restaurantrsvn@themanilahotel.com; or check and book online for Café Ilang-Ilang via https://www.manila-hotel.com.ph/dining/cafe-ilang-ilang/ and The Champagne Room via https://www.manila-hotel.com.ph/dining/champagne-room/.

Details and images provided by The Manila Hotel in a recent press release.

Cowrie Grill reopens, celebrates 8th anniversary with gift voucher promo

The Manila Hotel’s signature grillery, Cowrie Grill, once again opens its doors to diners. It also celebrates its eighth year with its “8 and Great” promo for its avid customers and those who have yet to discover what it offers.

Located along Missouri Street, Promenade 3 in Greenhills, San Juan, Cowrie Grill’s clientele has known it for eight years of excellent food—steak perfection behind every tomahawk, sirloin, and eye fillet that it serves; amazing flavors in a plate of seafood heaven; and so much more. Through it all, it has kept its focus on dishes with only the freshest ingredients served in premium quality. 

Cowrie Grill

In celebration of Cowrie Grill’s 8th year anniversary on November 5 and as its way to welcome back our valued guests, it kicks off a gift voucher promo where a customer can purchase gift vouchers of their chosen featured dish during the promo period from October 15 to 22, 2021, and get the second serving for only EIGHT PESOS (P8). The regular rate applies to the first serving and the second helping will only cost them EIGHT PESOS! 

Customers may avail unlimited vouchers during the promo period and can redeem them for both dine-in and takeout transactions. Buyers may use the anniversary gift vouchers from October 16, 2021 until February 28, 2022 (except blackout dates).  

Some of Cowrie Grill’s signature bestsellers included in the eight featured dishes are Cowrie Grill’s famous Caesar’s Salad, Pan-Seared Scallops, Sea Bass, Angus Beef Rib (English cut), Chateaubriand, U.S. Tomahawk Rib Eye, Iberico Pork Loin, and for dessert, our decadent Tiramisu. 

Cowrie Grill

Soon, Cowrie Grill will also launch its celebration packages for small gatherings, in compliance with standard safety protocols in line with the DOH and IATF guidelines. If you are looking for a venue for small gatherings like birthdays or a simple, long-awaited get-together with family, Cowrie Grill may soon be booked exclusively for functions. Further announcements will be made, or you can check out its Facebook page @CowrieGrill. 

Cowrie Grill by The Manila Hotel is taking every precaution to ensure safety of its guests and staff. The tables have acrylic separators and proper social distancing are also in place. The staff has intensive health and safety training, and the restaurant continues to implement enhanced cleaning procedures as well as deploy only fully vaccinated staff. Implemented health protocols will depend on community quarantine alert levels set by the government. 

Cowrie Grill

With scrumptious food, the voucher promo, and impeccable service, Cowrie Grill by The Manila Hotel definitely deserves a visit. For table reservations, please call (02) 84631993 or email r.cowriegrill@themanilahotel.com. 

Images and details provided by Cowrie Grill in a recent press release.

The Manila Hotel reopens dining outlets

The Manila Hotel’s two restaurants, Lobby Lounge and the famed Café Ilang-Ilang, are now open to serve dine-in guests under Metro Manila’s current community quarantine restrictions. The reopening of both outlets will enable guests to enjoy great food, their well-loved dishes, connect and meet with their colleagues and friends while maintaining social distancing in spacious dining areas. 

The Manila Hotel is equipped with fresh air dampers that circulate fresh outdoor air sanitized by air micro filters into the outlets, so guests are assured that cleaner and better air quality is circulated within the indoor dining set-up. Social distancing is also strictly implemented, with enhanced cleaning, regular disinfection, and safety protocols also in place. 

The Lobby Lounge is the perfect spacious venue for meetings and meet-ups offering free Wi-Fi for diners. Already dressed in festive décor to bring some much-needed joy and a spirit of hope in these trying times, the lounge is also a great place to have a filling meal from breakfast to dinner. It has also adopted the bestselling items from the hotel’s signature Chinese restaurant, Red Jade. Guests can enjoy Local Delights like Kare-Kare, Crispy Pata, and Sinigang na Salmon, among others, and feast on chow mien, dim sum basket, and the crispy Lechon Macau paired with Yang chow fried rice. Drinks, cocktail of the month, and snack staples including the Filipino High Tea, Merienda Especial, are also featured in the menu. 

Clubhouse sandwich
Clubhouse Sandwich
Lobbyt Lounge Burger
Burger

For people who have missed the plethora of international and local food selections at Café Ilang-Ilang, the beloved restaurant brings together Italian, Filipino, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and even certified Halal dishes under one roof for an Eat-All-You-Can feast. Add to that the popular carving station that normally features Lechon and the US Roast Beef; the Churrasco station where you can have choice meats and seafood grilled for you while you wait; and the Cold Station with seafoods, cold cuts, and salads galore. The Dessert Station is always the sweet last stop where guests can delight in the artisanal ice cream in various flavors; Puto Bumbong and Bibingka; fresh fruits and cakes; and so much more. 

Lechon2
Lechon
Cafe Ilang Ilang's Roast US Beef
Roast Beef
Cafe Ilang-Ilang Japanese station
Japanese Station

Although sitting capacity is still limited for now, both The Manila Hotel’s Lobby Lounge and Café Ilang-Ilang are eager to welcome guests. Under the IATF guidelines for GCQ Alert Level 4 for Metro Manila, The Manila Hotel is only allowed to accept fully vaccinated guests between 18 to 65 years old until further notice; it continues to implement standard safety protocols in line with the DOH and IATF guidelines. 

The Lobby Lounge operates from 9am to 9pm, weekdays and 9am to 3pm on weekends. Café Ilang-Ilang serves lunch at 11:30AM and dinner at 5:30PM. 

For more information regarding reservation and buffet rates, please call our hotline numbers at (02) 85270011 or 0998-9501912.  You may also email restaurantrsvn@themanilahotel.com or check and book online via www.manila-hotel.com.ph. 

For updates and promos, please follow The Manila Hotel on Facebook and Instagram. 

The Manila Hotel’s Café Ilang-Ilang opens doors to diners

Are you excited to visit your favorite hotel restaurant again? Which food station will you be making a beeline for? Which favorite dish will you be asking for first? Well, we have good news for you!

The Manila Hotel’s famed Café Ilang-Ilang has once again opened its doors to valued clients. The hotel has been responding to queries about the outlet’s reopening. After reviewing the guidelines, as well as heightening health and hygiene protocols, the decision to open Café Ilang-Ilang is an answer to persistent inquiries from its loyal guests and those who have yet to experience it.

TMH Cafe Ilang Ilang Reopening

TMH Cafe Ilang Ilang Reopening

The food stations will once again be teeming with exciting dishes, and the aroma of your favorites will surely call out to you as you approach them. As the world-class chefs are busy behind glass enclosures, diners can go around the restaurant in their face masks and face shields to check various food stations. Because of existing guidelines for dining establishments, Café Ilang-Ilang has implemented the Order & Eat-All-You-Can System, where guests can point to what they want from the spread, and it will be plated for them.

TMH Cafe Ilang Ilang Reopening

TMH Cafe Ilang Ilang Reopening

Café Ilang-Ilang serves international selections from Japanese, Chinese, Italian, Korean to everything in between; even Halal. You can get your grilled meats at the popular Churrasco station, or the beloved lechon at the Filipino station. You will surely be spoiled in this gourmand’s haven. See if you can resist the selection of desserts, or the local fave and Halo-Halo—the perfect treat to beat the heat!

TMH Cafe Ilang Ilang Reopening

TMH Cafe Ilang Ilang Reopening

A gastronomic feast also awaits guests with an amazing gift voucher deal, giving you more reasons to come and visit us. For just P3,000 nett (lunch) and P3,500 nett (dinner), diners can indulge in our vast array of culinary creations. These non-expiring dining vouchers for two are available for purchase until June 20, 2021. They can be redeemed anytime at Café Ilang-Ilang but prior reservation is recommended.

TMH Cafe Ilang Ilang Reopening

Café Ilang-Ilang still implements physical distancing and reduced capacity measures that are compliant with the IATF and DOT guidelines for restaurants, so you can be sure that #YouAreSafeHere when you come and visit.

The outlet opens for lunch at 11:30am, and dinner at 5:30pm with last call for orders at 8pm. For more information and reservations, please call 8527-0011 or 0998-9501912 or email to restaurantrsvn@themanilahotel.com. You may also book online.

Halal-certified food for takeout and delivery from Cafe Ilang-Ilang of The Manila Hotel

Muslims around the world celebrate the end of the fasting period of Ramadan with Eid al-Fitr, the Festival of Breaking the Fast this May 12, 2021. It is celebrated through prayer, gifts, and lavish feast. While the country is predominantly Catholic, Islam is the second largest religion in the country. No wonder, Filipinos have become fond of Halal foods. 

The Manila Hotel Halal Hole Buffet

Halal food is prepared following a set of Islamic dietary laws and regulations that determine what is permissible, lawful and clean. Any dish can be halal, as long as the meat used is religiously slaughtered and no pork or alcohol is involved. 

The Manila Hotel’s Café Ilang Ilang has a Halal kitchen certified by the Muslim Mindanao Halal Certification Board. This kitchen dedicated to Halal food preparation serves Indian and Middle Eastern-inspired halal dishes will whet your appetite and pay homage to its traditional roots. 

Designed for proper breaking of the fast, The Manila Hotel’s Ramadan Special Halal Home Buffet set comes with dried dates and juice, chickpeas hummus, Fatoush mixed salad, roti and naan bread, vegetable biryani, tandoori chicken, lamb rogan josh, vegetable samosa,and baklava. The set is just one of the three choices for the Halal Certified Home Buffet. 

“Our Lamb Rogan Josh is a must-try. It’s imported from Australia and it has the spices and sharpness that will surely be enjoyed by everyone. We can also customize the food according to our customer’s request. Say you don’t like chili, we can make it milder. We can tweak a dish to please your palate while still being true to its authentic taste,” says Chef Kiran Singh, the hotel’s Halal trained chef.  

Celebrate Eid Al Fitr by ordering any of The Manila Hotel’s Halal Home Buffet sets or dishes, available for Takeout and delivery. Visit https://www.manila-hotel.com.ph/takeout for the full menu; or call 8527-0011 or 0998-9501912.

The Jelly List: Father’s Day gift ideas for your foodie dad

They say a dad is a son’s first hero and a daughter’s first love.

There’s no doubt that our fathers play a very important role in our lives. With Father’s Day coming in a few days, it’s time to think about what to give our dads as little tokens of our love and appreciation for all they have done and continue to do for us.

This task is even easier if our dads have a great love and regard for good food. Luckily, we have an abundance of great food choices that can be delivered straight to Dad’s doorstep to delight him come Father’s Day.

Let me share with you my top picks:

Pampanga’s Famous Cheesebread from LBS Bakeshop

If Daddy ever tasted Pampanga’s famous cheese bread, I’ll bet that he will be craving for more. As luck would have it, this delicacy is now easily available in the metro. At just Php299 for a box of thirty pieces of cheese bread, he can eat his fill of this yummy pastry from Pampanga’s LBS Bakeshop.

LBS Bakeshop

To order, just send a message through Facebook or Viber +63 999 8233340.

More on Pampanga’s Cheesebread here.

Sous Vide Steak from The Manila Hotel

If Dad is a certified carnivore, he will love the Sous Vide Steaks from The Manila Hotel.  “Sous vide” – or “under vacuum” in French – refers to the process of vacuum-sealing food in a bag then cooking it in a very precise temperature in a water bath. Cooking steaks sous vide results in a tender and juicy meat, evenly cooked from edge to edge. Daddy will surely delight in the premium cuts of imported meats, prepared by The Manila Hotel’s expert chefs.

The Manila Hotel’s Sous Vide Steak

Pre-order now to get 20% off on a minimum food bill of Php2,500 for pickup or delivery on Father’s Day by calling +63 2 85270011 or sending an SMS/Viber at +63 998 9501912.

More on The Manila Hotel here.

Choco Lovin Ice Cream Cake from Papa Diddi’s

Give Daddy a break from the heat with the all-new Choco Lovin ice cream cake from Papa Diddi’s. Made with Batangas tablea punctuated with choco chips, matched with chocolate cake, giving Daddy a rich dark chocolate experience.

Papa Diddi’s Choco Lovin

Course your order through Papa Diddi’s Facebook and Instagram accounts or have it delivered via FoodPanda.

More on Papa Diddi’s here.

Tableya Filipina from Theo & Brom

If Daddy is a hard-core chocolate fan, gift him with a bag of Tableya Filipina. Made as an homage to the country’s traditional tablea tsokolate, it can be made into a rich hot chocolate for his morning drink or added to baked goods to get that rich chocolate flavor.

Theo&Brohm Tableya Filipina

Order your Theo & Brom’s Tableya Filipina here.

Jams from The Fruit Garden

Speaking of Daddy’s morning chocolate drink, how about the rest of his agahan? Sweeten his pan de sal with some fruity jams from The Fruit Garden. These artisanal jams are cooked in small batches using copper cauldrons to bring about a burst of fruity flavors.

The Fruit Garden Jams

Order your jars of The Fruit Garden’s jams at SpeedRegalo.

Ube Pandan Premium Flantasy Cake from What’s Your Flan

This creamy cake flan combines the flavor of ube (purple yam) with the appetizing aroma of pandan. If my Hubby’s reaction to this dessert is any indication, it’s sure to be a hit with Dad!

What’s Your Flan?

Order your Ube Pandan Premium Flantasy Cake from What’s Your Flan?’s Facebook or Instagram account or call +63 916 497 8876.

More on What’s Your Flan here.

Bottled Cocktails from After Hours Bar

Celebrate the weekend with Dad by gifting After Hours Bar’s Gin Basil Smash cocktail in a bottle. Minors and non-tipplers in the family can join in the fun with After Hours Bar’s refreshing Handcrafted Iced Tea.

After Hours Bar Bottled Cocktails

Order your After Hours Bar bottled cocktails here.

More on After Hours Bar here.

So check out these yummy gift ideas for your foodie dad and show him how much you love him this Father’s Day!

Check out my other adventures compiled into Jelly Lists:

Header photo created by freepik – www.freepik.com

Photos for Sous Vide Steak, Choco Lovin and Tableya Filipina provided by The Manila Hotel, Papa Diddi’s and Theo & Brom, respectively.

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