Have yourself a hearty Asian Christmas spread

MANILA, Philippines - The season of sharing is definitely in the air as evident in the evacuation centers where every Juan does his/her share to lead our kababayans — displaced by typhoon Yolanda — on the road to recovery.

The free meals, free rides (from Villamor Airbase to the victim’s relatives), free counselling, free charging of gadgets, even the free use of washing machines we extend to the victims remind everyone that amid the tragedy, there’s definitely no stopping Christmas — not even Yolanda — in the Philippines.

Food for Thought

And so, whether you’re planning to adopt a family (from Tacloban) for Noche Buena, or thinking of hosting a small salo- salo, simple but delectable fare will surely uplift their spirit.  Those who want to but don’t have the luxury of time to prepare Holiday meals can rely on restaurants that offer party packages for hassle-free celebrations.

The Bistro Group’s Asian-themed restaurants — Watami, Bulgogi Brothers, Tonkatsu by Terazawa and Modern Shanghai — make it easier  for you to fill up the Christmas table with delectable food items through its Party Bundles that include appetizers, entrees and desserts good for 10, 20 persons and more.

              A taste of modern Shanghai

Known for its traditional hand-pulled noodle and Xia Long Bao, Modern Shanghai lets diners discover what Shanghainese cuisine is all about and rediscover Chinese dishes done in a different way.

 A closer look at the menu reveals more culinary gems that you continue to unravel even after several visits.

And since ‘tis the season of sharing, Modern Shanghai comes up with Party Bundles for 10 persons or more perfect for the whole family or the barkada. For P498 per person, entrees include crispy yellow noodles, sauteed beef with scallions and sauteed string beans with minced pork. Meanwhile, guests can feast on beef with broccoli, deep- fried fish with spicy fish sauce and sauteed river spinach with minced pork for P598 per person. All set menus include xia long bao, crispy yellow noodles, yang chow fried rice, iced tea and mango pudding to cap the meal.

Everything’s yummy at Watami

Watami Japanese Casual Restaurant is all about providing a  variety of delicious and authentic Japanese food in a casual environment at affordable prices.

The menu is as varied as the appetite of Man v Food host  Adam Richman.

For the holidays, Watami offers three Party Bundles starting at P4,950 to P6,950. For only P495 per person, diners can have their fill of genghis beef barbecue, assorted skewers, shrimp tempura and fried tofu. At P595 per person, Set 2 includes sukiyaki, self-grilled short ribs, tonpeiyaki, chicken wings and gyoza on hot pot while Set 3 (P695 per person) boasts clams in stone pot, chicken wings, konbu soup sumo wrestler’s hot pot, okonomiyaki, teriyaki pizza and stir-fried udon. Each of the three choices consists of iced tea and rice.

Go crazy over bulgogi at Bulgogi Brothers

With everything Korean — from soap operas to beauty soaps and cosmetics — enjoying tremendous popularity in the Philippines, its food should not be far behind.

Enter Bulgogi Brothers, the heart and Seoul of Korean food. Here, diners can feast on different kinds of bulgogi dishes that  are seasoned to perfection.

And since bulgogi has long been considered a “celebration dish,” the restaurant saw it fit to come up with three set menus for the holiday season.

Set Meal A goes for P5,775 as it consists of rice, a combination of Salmon and LA Beef, Beef Bulgogi Platter (Top Blade, Brisket and Short Ribs) and iced tea. Just add P990 and you’ll get Jjigae Brothers with the set meal.

For P7,745, diners can have all the food items mentioned, plus six pieces of Tofu Steak. Each Party Bundle is good for 10 persons.

Way of the katsu at Tonkatsu by Terazawa

Pair the holiday rush with the Katsu kraze!

Tonkatsu by Terazawa takes pride in its Kurobuta Katsu, touted as the Angus of pork. With its excellent marbling, the meat is packed with juiciness and is rich in flavor.

This Christmas, have a taste of Tonkatsu by Terazawa’s signature tonkatsu delights through its Party Bundles.

Choose from: Set A (P4,950) consisting of chasoba salad, pork karaage; oyster, prawn and white fish; mixed katsu set, chicken wings and iced tea; Set B (P5,950) which has chasoba salad, pork karaage, de luxe katsu set, chicken katsu set, negi miso hire katsu set and iced tea; and Set C (P695), which consists of chasoba salad, pork karaage, chicken wings, hire katsu set, oyster set, prawn set, Wafu negioroshi rosu katsu set and iced tea.

And if you’re still undecided as to which Bistro restaurant to order from or hold your holiday get-togethers, The Bistro Group also offers its gift certficiates you can use in all of its 11 restaurant concepts with 50 stores all over. They also make for the perfect gift any foodie would love. Available in P250, P500 and P1,000 denominations. Plus, get a 10-percent gift certificate rebate for every P5,000 gift certificate purchase.

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For inquiries, call The Bistro Group at 836-7141.