With over 7,000 islands, you’d think its almost impossible to taste all the unique Filipino dishes around the country, right?
Wrong. Now its possible, and you dont even have to buy an airplane or bus ticket.
If you are really craving for Filipino dishes all you have to do is check out the participating hotels and restaurants that are part of Flavors of the Philippines 2017.
Flavors of the Philippines 2017 is the third year of the month-long gastronomic celebration of Filipino cuisine mounted by the Department of Tourism and the Tourism Promotions Board.
Here are some of the must try dishes you should definitely check out this month.
Alta’s Spanish X Pinoy set menu
Enjoy the medley of the flavors of Spain and the Philippines at Alta in Bonifacio Global City with their Spanish X Pinoy set menus until April 30. Choose which set to treat yourself with: Huevos X Kabute, Rabano X Pipino, Pulpo X Camote X Balatinao, and Totija X Pomelo X Cocoa.
Alta is at 2/F Ascott BGC, 5th Avenue corner 28th Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City
Grace Park’s unique menu offerings
Sample your taste buds with the sumptuous delights of the Mediterranean with some helpings of chorizo in a blanket, spaghettini with gulas, sun-dried tomatoes, calamarata, or callos in a palayok at Grace Park. Wash down all these flavors and cleanse your palate with a complimentary glass of red wine, white sangria, or a bottle of San Miguel beer.
Visit Grace Park at G/L One Rockwell, Rockwell Drive, Rockwell Center, Makati City
Jamon Iberico at Lusso
Allow yourself to indulge after the Holy Week and devour the prized treasure of Spain—the Jamon Iberico. Pair this heavenly goodness with some baby olives, Lartizan baguette, or salad tomatoes. You can also try their Croqueta Bar and eat your heart out with bacalao, Jamon Serrano, and lechon.
Head to Lusso at Space 1-115B G/F Greenbelt 5, Ayala Center, Brgy. San Lorenzo, Makati City
Drinks at The Pantry
Taste the new cocktail menu during the Happy Hour at The Pantry which presents an ingenious fusion of traditional and innovative flavors using exclusive vintages and limited edition spirits and liquors combined with homemade cooked ingredients. But if you plan to stay sober, you can drink your way to a healthy lifestyle with flavored fruit and herb water concoctions like lemon & coriander, lime & orange, orange & mintleaf, malunggay & dalandan, and kiwi, lemon, & basil.
The Pantry is at the Dusit Thani Manila in Ayala Center, Makati City
Halo Halo smoothie and bibingka at Café Janealo
Your favorite summer treat just got a makeover at Café Janealo as an iced milk snack with sweetened fruits topped with the glorious ube, ice cream, rice krispies, and grated cheese. Pair this rich smoothie with a steaming serving of bibingka and merienda just couldn’t be more perfect.
Visit Café Janealo at 398 Cabildo Street corner Beaterio Street, Intramuros, Manila
The country’s flavors at Barbara’s
Dine at Barbara’s to taste a menu of sinaunang potaje inspired by the cuisine of the different regions in the Philippines such as Ilocos, the Tagalog, Bicol, Visayas, and Mindanao. Have it for lunch with a serenading trio or at dinner with a Filipiniana dance troupe performance.
Head to Barbara’s at Plaza San Luis Complex, General Luna Street, Intramuros, Manila
Merienda Fiesta at MilkyWay Café
Here’s a reward for eating some of your Filipino favorites. For every order of pancit luglug and tokwa’t baboy combination at Milkyway, you’ll get a scoop of Milky Way ice cream in avocado, cheese, or ube.
MilkyWay Café is at the 2nd Floor of the Milkyway Building in Arnaiz Avenue corner Paseo de Roxas, Makati City
Ilustrado’s Inaugural Feast
Savor culinary masterpieces that showcase the Malolos heritage cuisine and a fusion of Filipino and international recipes prepared by the hotel’s master chefs.
Visit Ilustrado Restaurant and Café at 744 General Luna Street, Intramuros, Manila
Bistro Trasierra’s Fiesta sa Amin
Experience a culinary feast featuring some Filipino home-cooked dishes from the different regions of the Philippines. Allow your mouth to enjoy a party of rich flavors with food Filipinos love to eat for almusal, tanghalian, merienda, and hapunan.
Bistro Trasierra is at the AIM Conference Center Manila in Benavidez Street corner Trasierra Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City
Seafood of the Philippines at Mama Rosa
Taste our seas bountiful natural resources with authentic Filipino dishes in Mama Rosa’s scrumptious menu of appetizers, main course, vegetables, pasta and noodles, and rice. Help yourself with some servings of kinilaw na isda, halaan soup, sinaing na tulingan, tuna adobado, seafood habhab, and pakbet—perfect for when you’re extending your Lenten diet.
Mama Rosa Filipino Restaurant and Deli is at 9 East Capitol Drive, Kapitolyo, Pasig City
Merienda Buffet at Seda
Have your fill of your merienda favorites in a modern Filipino twist with extraordinary taste and creative presentations in this festive buffet. From mini sandwiches and pastries, pancit bihon and palabok, champorado and arroz caldo, a variety of kakanin, fusion pizzas, to halo-halo and more desserts, it’s a carnival of flavors that will definitely make up a delightful afternoon.
Head to Seda at 30th Street corner 11th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City
Taste Luzon at Café Ilang-Ilang
Take a trip to the gastronomic spots of Luzon in this rollercoaster ride of dishes from Café Ilang-Ilang. Eat your way through the island with famous authentic Filipino recipes Bulacan’s rellenong manok, Ilocos’ poqui-poqui, Isabela’s pancit Cabagan, Quezon’s hardinerang baka, and Tuguegarao’s pancit batil-patong to name a few. Satisfy your sweet tooth and indulge into some desserts to cap your filling meal like maruya, ginataang halo-halo, minukmok, yema, tocino del cielo, and balinsasayaw.
Café Ilang-Ilang is at The Manila Hotel, One Rizal Park, Manila
Flavors of the Philippines 2017 is a nationwide culinary festival wherein different regions and provinces will showcase their unique cuisines through various events ranging from food tastings, specials meals and buffets, to community-wide fiestas, bazaars, and fairs.
It is the local component of Madrid Fusion Manila, Spain’s famed culinary event and leading international gathering which brings elite international chefs and food experts in one venue to discuss evolution of tastes, trends in food, and food habits.
