Christmas feasts & treats

Holiday feast at Latitude

MANILA, Philippines - Savor a variety of sumptuous dishes at Latitude’s holiday buffet until Jan. 6, 2013. Guests can take pleasure in the variety of international cuisine carefully prepared by Executive Chef Batt Perez and his culinary team.

The live action station offers hearty servings of sinigang, pasta in different sauces, Malaysian laksa, bulalo, Mexican cuisine or Chinese noodle soup.

Guests can enjoy hearty servings of crispy pata, lechon kawali, roast lamb or slow roasted beef, available during dinner. 

Alongside these are mainstay favorites such as ox tripe and tail kare‑kare in peanut sauce, schezuan pepper crusted roasted porkloin with ginger soy glaze and pastel de lengua.

For inquiries and reservations, call 708-4888 ext. 2402 or e‑mail food&[email protected].

The Nutcracker Christmas at Manila Hotel

This season, enter into the world of magic and fantasy as Manila Hotel takes inspiration from The Nutcracker. Take a trip to a magical land of sweets and experience a sparkling holiday classic. Huge nutcracker dolls, toys, gingerbread clock house, a giant Christmas tree, and other festive arrangements will be on display at the Grand Lobby.

The lighting of the Christmas Tree led by Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, Manila Hotel president Atty. Joey Lina, and Manila Hotel executive vice president Enrique Yap, Jr., signaled the beginning of the festivity. Children from the House of Refuge joined the celebration and were treated with fun games and activities.

As part of its corporate social responsibility, Manila Hotel will also offer limited edition The Nutcracker Cookie Jars wherein proceeds from the sales will be donated to the House of Refuge.

To complete the Nutcracker Christmas experience, Manila Hotel will present The Nutcracker by Ballet Manila featuring Prima Ballerina Lisa Macuja- Elizalde. The gala performance is on Dec. 15, at six in the evening at the Grand Lobby of the Hotel.

Special room packages, the perfect gifts, and grand feasts also await guests.

For inquiries, call 527-0011. Visit www.manila-hotel.com.ph.

Pinoy Pasko with Pan de Manila

Pan de Manila has, for many years, made Christmas extra special with their yearly depictions of Pinoy Pasko traditions, done by some of the most recognized Filipino artists. This year, Albert Magsumbol’s stunning one-of-a-kind artwork graces the 2012 Christmas paper bags and packaging. With the theme, “Makulay na Paskong Pinoy”, Magsumbol came up with a design that features the artist’s well-known papercut artworks. His portraits of Christmas images like simbang gabi, and noche buena are interspersed with Pinoy pastoral images like the bahay kubo, kalabaw, folk games like pabitin and pagbasag ng palayok and timeless Filipino values like pagmamano and pagsasalo-salo.

 After simbang gabi, visit your neighborhood Pan de Manila which is open 24/7 all over Metro Manila, North and South Luzon, and Cebu. For inquiries, call 636-0468 or e-mail [email protected].

Discovery Suites’ sumptous celebration

The Christmas season comes alive with Discovery Suites’ “Christmas Menu Packages.”

“FESTIVITY” brings the hearty flavors of traditional treats with selections such as barbecue chicken, corn and pasta salad, Norwegian salmon terrine, cinnamon roasted pumpkin soup, and more. 

“YULETIDE” borrows from more sun-kissed cookery with choices that include ensaladilla rusa, Mediterranean rissoni salad, Christmas pork pot roast, baked cream dory fillet and premium desserts.

The “JOYFUL” menu is a celebration of the exotic with selections that combine pure and piquant flavors such as home cured salmon gravlax, Chef David’s shrimps ceviche, aromatic roast pork & crackling, and more.

The “GLAD TIDINGS” menu consists of poached salmon, country-style French paté, spinach and mushroom quiche, Christmas pumpkin casserole, desserts, and more.

All packages are inclusive of free-flowing coffee and hot tea, holiday theme Christmas centerpieces, basic sound system, table numbers and place cards for the presidential table.

For inquiries and reservations, call 719-69341 to 43 or 719-8888.

Holiday Cheers at Hyatt

Throughout December, The Music Bar at Hyatt Hotel and Casino Manila offers exciting Christmas packages great for office get-togethers, reunions and family gatherings.

The Music Bar’s Christmas party packages are ideal for groups of 10-40 people and include a wide selection of tempting menus, plus a round of alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages.

Book a party package now and enjoy four hours’ complimentary use of a music pod. Equipped with a state-of-the-art karaoke system, infrared wireless microphones, intelligent lights and a 100-inch electronic projector screen for a mini-theater feel, The Music Bar is perfect for those who dream of partying like a rock star this Christmas.

The hotel offers unique gift ideas to surprise friends and family. Customise your own holiday hamper with an assortment of holiday-themed chocolates and pastries including Yule logs, red velvet cupcakes, chocolate Santas in different sizes, personalised chocolate pralines, holiday cookies and more.

For inquiries and reservations, call 247-8666 or e-mail [email protected].

Holidays at Richmonde Hotel Ortigas

Richmonde Hotel Ortigas has created special Christmas banquet packages guaranteed to make your party planning for the holidays a cinch.

You can throw a bountiful buffet feast in any of Richmonde Ortigas’ festive and cozy function rooms with delectable menu selections of delicate soups, an assortment of scrumptious appetizers, savory hot items and luscious desserts, plus bottomless iced tea or soda for all the guests. 

Other irresistible treats included in the Christmas Party Packages are gift certificates for an overnight stay in a deluxe room with breakfast for two, a lunch buffet for two persons at the Richmonde Café, and happy hour for two persons at the Exchange Bar. You can sing along with your guests with the use of a videoke system.

Call 638-7777 ext 3915 or 689-8410 for bookings and inquiries.

A merry stay at Acacia Hotel Manila

Acacia Hotel Manila, the newest five star hotel in the South, offers an array of holiday room packages from Dec. 16 to 30 and Jan. 1 to 10. All room packages are inclusive of buffet breakfast for two, internet access, shuttle service within the Alabang area, late check-out, and use of the fitness center and swimming pool.

The Acacia Hotel is also accepting donations of toys and cash to be given to the Springboard Foundation whose beneficiaries include Hope Worldwide Foundation, Give a Life Foundation, Kinderhilfe Philippinen, SOS Children’s Village Philippines and more.

The toy drive will be held until Dec. 15 at the Gingerbread House at the lobby. The first 200 donors who give at least two toys with a total retail value of at least P250 will be treated to a buffet breakfast on Dec. 15. Succeeding donors will also receive special gifts.

For reservations and inquiries, call 720-2000 or 588-5888 or e-mail [email protected].

Adriano Clocks: The gift of time

Adriano Clocks, the country’s only maker of classic grandfather clocks, introduces a new line of tabletop replicas of the famous legacy timepiece.

The mini grandfather clock has all the features of the full-size clock – beautifully handcrafted cabinet made of Philippine hardwood, a glass window that shows off the solid-brass weight décor, swinging pendulum, and full quarterly and hourly strikes with Westminster chime.

It makes an ideal gift for Christmas, particularly for corporate clients – the company’s name and logo can be printed on the clock face. Every Adriano clock is an heirloom piece, passed on from one generation to the next.  The AGA 60 clock embodies this tradition: It’s a gift that’s bound to last a lifetime.

For inquiries, call 747-3281 or 0905-276-4288, or e-mail [email protected].

The Perfect Pasalubong

In the coming holidays, what better way to strengthen the bonds with family and friends than to share delicious cakes and pastries from The Aristocrat Bakeshop? The Aristocrat Christmas Basket includes popular Filipino favorites like java sauce, famous Aristocrat bagoong, and delicious Aristocrat atchara.

The Aristocrat Bakeshop offers a treasure trove of goodies including the six-layered wafer, nutty butter cream with chocolate ganache Torta delos Reyes, cheese roll, premium ensaimada, caramel cheese square, and more.

For inquiries, call 524-7671 to 80 or visit www.aristocrat.com.ph.

Shop for a cause with GMA Noel Bazaar

 Noel Bazaar and Christmas Shop Expo unfolds until Dec. 2 at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.

 The annual sale will feature over 1,000 concessionaires ranging from Christmas and home decors, food, fashion items, novelties and other unique and affordable gift items for the holidays and beyond.

  Beneficiaries include GMA Kapuso Foundation, the Bantayog ng mga Bayani and Associate Missionaries of Assumption Foundations, Sts. Peter & John Church and Noel P. Gozon Memorial Clinic.

 The bazaar returns on Dec. 13 to 24 at the PICC Forum for last-minute shopping which will feature the most-awaited GMA Celebrity Ukay-Ukay to be led by Ogie Alcasid and Regine Velasquez.

 For updates, follow Noel Bazaar on Facebook and Twitter or get in touch with Cut Unlimited at 687-0654, 687-0604 or e-mail [email protected].

Festive Season at Marriott Hotel Manila

 Marriott Manila executive chef Meik Brammer and pastry chef Fil Afable make collaborative collections that are both charming and yummy. These drool-worthy goodies are available at Java+ as well as at the Mall of Asia, SM Megamall, and Rockwell Power Plant for easy, on the go gifts for the holiday.

Treats include intricate gingerbread houses; fruitcake; banana cupcakes; chocolate mango bar; and the Marriott French macaroons.

Your sweet-toothed sweetheart won’t be able to resist a chocolate Santa Claus or snowman, a luxurious Christmas treat perfect for all ages.

Marriott’s hand-rolled, Swiss-made chocolate truffles and pralines are made the way it was meant to be: luxurious, sexy, and addicting. All beautifully packaged for the holiday, the taste and presentation is a sure winner.

For inquiries and reservations, call 988-9999.