by Ana Marie “Alu” Aran, FoodFindsAsia.com |
From June 8 to 19, 2015, Escolta at The Peninsula Manila pays tribute to our rich culture, cuisine and Spanish roots via a gastronomic journey. Aptly called FIESTA FILIPINO, this two-week feast is prepared by, no less than the passionate advocate of Filipino cuisine, Chef Myrna Segismundo.
Chef Segismundo, author of acclaimed Kulinarya cookbook, was one of the key personalities in the very first Madrid Fusion Manila, a prestigious world culinary symposium held in Manila just this April. She has made it her life’s mission to promote Filipino gastronomy with her signature dishes. The flavour palates of her culinary creations range from sweet and spicy to smoky and tangy, but also hold a treasure trove of stories from the kitchens of her childhood to those learned from some of the very best provincial kusineros/cooks.
FIESTA FILIPINO showcases Chef Segismundo’s signature dishes such as
Lechon Kawali (twice cooked crispy pork belly), Pastel de Pollo (chicken casserole), Pork Binagoongan, Paella (cooked rice seasoned with pork and shrimp paste), Roast Beef a la Pobre (garlic-rubbed roast prime rib) and Lechon de Leche (roast suckling pig).
The feast also includes comfort dishes such as Mini Shrimp Okoy (crispy shrimp fritters), Sopa de Molo (chicken broth with vegetables, shrimp and pork dumplings), Kinilaw Shooters (ceviche of shrimps, tuna and tanigue), Chicken Tinola (ginger-flavored chicken broth with green papaya and chili leaves), Batchoy (noodles with pork crackling) and Fabada Filipina (bean stew with ham and chorizo).
And to end the meal sweetly, there will be some traditional Filipino sweets like Leche Flan, Banana Langka Turon (caramelized banana and jack fruit spring roll with sorbet), Batangas Coffee Jelly with Macapuno Balls, Glazed Kamote Fries(caramelized sweet potato fries with sorbet) and the all-time favorite, Chef Myrna’s Queso de Bola Cheesecake (this cheesecake alone is worth the trip to Escolta!)
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FIESTA FILIPINO is available at Escolta’s lunch and dinner buffet from June 8 to 19 with prices at P 1,530 for lunch from Monday to Saturday and P 1,750 for dinner from Monday to Thursday. The Seafood buffet dinner every Friday and Saturday is at P 2,000 while the Ultimate Sunday Brunch is priced at P 2,200++. Prices are subject to 10% service charge and prevailing government taxes.
For inquiries or reservations, please call The Peninsula Manila at +63 (2) 887 2888, e-mail diningpmn@peninsula.com or visit peninsula.com
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Ana Marie “Alu” Aran
Alu is a partner at Courage Asia (business consultancy firm & foodservice event organizers), an adjunct faculty at Enderun Colleges and a food and lifestyle writer. She also a Contributing Editor forwww.foodfindsasia.com, Managing Editor for www.dineph.com and a resource person & speaker on marketing, event management and parenting.
