MANILA, Philippines - Sofitel Philippine Plaza celebrates sweet September with a night’s stay starting at P5,880+ inclusive of a delightful breakfast at Spiral for two. Champagne and caviar are on offer at LeBar for P1,588+. Sofitel’s elegant candle ritual is held on Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m. The Zen Institute offers packages starting from P5,000 for non-invasive facial contouring, body sculpting, facials and diamond peels, along with nutritional programs and counseling. Philippe’s Salon makeovers start at P1,800+. LeSpa offers couple’s retreat packages starting from P6,018+. The Essences of Vietnam food festival is ongoing until Sept. 5. It feature authentic Vietnamese fare by chefs Somnuck Attaworn and Le Quang Danh. At Seven Pecados, DJs Badkiss of Germany, Kristian Hernandez of Australia; and Miro of Croatia play the finest in funk, soul, disco, Latin, boogie and house music.
For information, call 551-5555 local 1991 to 1994, and 832-6993, or e-mail room.reservations@sofitelmanila.com.
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Snow mooncakes at Crowne Plaza Galleria
Crowne Plaza Galleria Manila’s Xin Tian Di restaurant celebrates the Mid-Autumn Festival with snow-skin mooncakes. Executive Chinese chef Sam Lee offers “snow-skin” or “ice-skin” mooncakes with crusts made from glutinous rice, giving off a texture similar to mochi. Chef Sam Lee’s mooncakes are available in blueberry, strawberry, mango, chocolate, pandan, and ice-flavored skins. Fillings vary from traditional lotus or bean paste, chocolate or egg custard. It comes in a box of four or can be sold separately in different sizes. Prices start at P198+ per piece and P988+ for every box of four. Orders may be placed through Xin Tian Di Chinese Restaurant at the fourth level of Crowne Plaza Galleria Manila or at Agenda Lounge at the Crowne Plaza lobby. Crowne Plaza’s snow-skin mooncakes are available until Sept. 22.
For inquiries, call Xin Tian Di at 633-7222, F&B reservations at 633-7222 loc. 7306 or e-mail f&b.reservations@ihg.com.
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Eat-all-you-can teppanyaki at Diamond Hotel
Diamond Hotel’s Yurakuen Japanese Restaurant offers “Teppanyaki Eat-All-You-Can!” Enjoy the teppanyaki eat-all-you-can for lunch and dinner for only P1,620+ per person; or enjoy it with drink-all-you-can iced tea, local and Kirin beer at P1,970+ per person.
Diamond Hotel Philippines is on Roxas Boulevard corner Dr. J. Quintos St., Manila.
For details, call 528-3000, 305-3000 or e-mail bizcenter@diamondhotel.com.
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Crispy pata at Blackbeard’s Seafood Island
Blackbeard’s Seafood Island presents its latest offering — the crispy pata. Other must-try dishes are pork liempo, chicken inasal, pork barbecue, Seafood Island fried chicken, salt and pepper lechon kawali, pinaputok na tilapia, deep-fried whole fish and Manila and teriyaki barbecue. Other specialties are sisig Kapampangan, tuna and crabmeat sisig, gambas galera, crazy chili calamari and baby squid sisig. Among the best-sellers are Palayukan Island’s bulalo Batangas, bulalo kansi, Pirate’s Seafood Chowder, chicken binakol, sinigang ulo ng salmon, and sinigang na ulo ng maya-maya.
Blackbeard’s Seafood Island is at UP-Ayala Land Technohub, Brgy. UP Campus, Diliman, QC, 332-2256; TriNoma Mall, QC, 901-3608; Eastwood City Libis, 913-2694; Fiesta Market, Market! Fort Bonifacio, 886-7692; and Shopwise Arcade, Araneta Center, Cubao, 913-5701.
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Cowboy Grill Express offers its UnliRice promo. Enjoy your favorite grilled meals such as original pork sisig, pork chops, liempo, pork barbecue and boneless chicken barbecue with unlimited rice. Dine at Cowboy Grill Express and get a free bowl of hot soup and a glass of iced tea with your meal.
The offer is available at Gerry’s Grill on UN Avenue, Baclaran, and Net Plaza, The Fort.
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Flavors of the Wild West at Heritage Hotel Manila
The Heritage Hotel Manila presents the “Flavors of the Wild West” from Sept. 6 to 31. It’s a carnivore craze with US roast rib eye and prime ribs with Southern-style sauces and condiments at the carving station. Riviera restaurant offers burger in a bun and steak in long bun with choice of countless condiments including mayo, mustard and fresh herbs. Sample the fresh-off-the-grill variety of sausages such as Cervelat, Italian garlic, Hungarian, cheese Hungarian, Frankfurter with Kansas City barbecue sauce, magic mustard, South Carolina barbecue sauce, honey Dijon barbecue sauce, Alabama-style white barbecue sauce, and California Asian-style barbecue sauce. For dessert, indulge in American apple pie, pecan cheesecake, California raisin cookies and New York-style cheesecake for dessert.
For inquiries, call 854-8888 or e-mail marcom@heritagehotelmanila.com or.
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Pianono, panbonete and pavorita at Nana Osiang’s
Nana Osiang’s offers over 50 freshly baked traditional breads such as pianono, ensaymada, panbonete, biscocho, pavorita, ugoy-ugoy and canlubang are served hot every day. Its cake selection consists of chocolate or chiffon upside down cakes with pineapple slices on top; and mocha cakes with butter or sugar confectioner icing.
Nana Osiang’s has branches in Tanauan, Batangas; and at 74 T. Aguirre Avenue, BF Homes in Parañaque.