MANILA, Philippines - Welcome the Year of the Sheep with auspicious delicacies, bountiful feasts and a fashion showcase.
Enjoy a sumptuous Sh?ngxiào Zodiac menu prepared by executive sous chef Mok Chee Wah at Spiral from Feb. 17 to 22 for lunch and dinner.
Chef Mok has specially prepared a dish that highlights each sign of the Chinese zodiac – all with auspicious ingredients.
For those born in the Year of the Rat, deep fried frog leg with dried chili Szechuan style. For the Ox, slow cook oxtail with white radish and carrot. For the Tiger, deep fried tiger lapu-lapu with sweet and sour sauce. For the Rabbit, try braised rabbit meat with black mushroom. For the Dragon, wok fried lobster with chili sauce. For the Snake, steamed eel with pickled chili in soy sauce.
For the Horse, he proposes the wok-fried venison meat with red pepper in pepper sauce. For the Monkey, stuffed mini abalone and mushroom with minced shrimp in oyster sauce. For the Rooster, roasted chicken with Taiwan brown bean sauce. For the Dog, braised meat ball with water chestnut in tomato sauce. For the Pig, slow cook pork knuckle and sea moss in dried scallop sauce.
Lastly, to highlight the Year of the Sheep, there is red pan fried lamb chop with rosemary sauce.
On Feb. 17 at a special dinner buffet at Spiral, Patis Tesoro presents “La Collection Rouge” for Rustan’s, a 40-piece showcase featuring her signature treatment of handwoven piña embellished with a diverse range of embroidery, beadwork and painting, all done by hand. Comfortable yet luxuriously adorned evening dresses will also be revealed, alongside her new line of upcycled wear made of an inimitable mix and match of floral and geometric patterns.
“As an ambassador of French elegance, the Sofitel brand prides itself to celebrate this heritage with many unique events in our hotels, encompassing the world of fashion and gastronomy. The Chinoiserie a Sofitel Manila is a perfect illustration of our desire to show the fusion of both the best of Filipino and French design in the Philippines. Sofitel is privileged and honored to present the La Collection Rouge of designer Patis Pamintuan Tesoro, who has been collaborating with the French curators of the Festival International des Textiles Extra Ordinaires (FiTE) to promote the continuation of Filipino arts and crafts both traditional and contemporary.” says Adam Laker, Sofitel Philippine Plaza general manager.
Show starts at 7 p.m., Spiral buffet dinner is from 7 to 10:30 p.m.
Begin your Chinese New Year celebration on Feb. 18 with al fresco dining at the Treasure Island at the Sofitel poolside. Drink to your heart’s content with free flowing draft beer and iced tea, one round Chinese tea cocktail and mocktail while you feast on a sumptuous buffet featuring special Chinese dishes. Cap the night with beautiful fireworks to welcome the Year of the Sheep.
Catch the dragon and lion dance performance on Feb. 18 from 7 until 8:30 p.m. and on Feb. 19 from 11 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.
For reservations, call 551.5555 or email h6308-fb12@sofitel.com.