It’s an Adobo Nation this October at Flavors in Holiday Inn Makati
The Philippines’ national dish takes center stage this October at Flavors Restaurant as Holiday Inn & Suites Makati launches its Adobo Nation with the “Adobo Queen” Nancy Reyes-Lumen. Every Filipino household seems to have its own version of the adobo so this festival brings to light the unique and inventive ways of cooking adobo aside from the classic.
Adobo Nation will run for the whole month of October 2019 at Flavors Restaurant for their lunch and dinner buffet services. Guest Chef Nancy Reyes-Lumen teams up with chefs Jen Seranilla and Jaja Andal to make up Team Adobo. These ladies are armed with a wealth of knowledge on the popular adobo and the cooking process which vary across regions. Adobo Nation is an opportunity to sample all these unique adobo recipes handed down from generations all in one fantastic location.
Flavors Restaurant is the all-day dining cafe of Holiday Inn & Suites Makati, the first purpose-built Holiday Inn property in the Philippines which opened in 2013. “We chose to cook variants of adobo to show that the dish is neither just a recipe, nor a cooking style, but actually a menu of assorted tastes centered on sour and salty, and sometimes also sweet,” Reyes-Lumen asserts. “The name adobo may be borrowed, but the flavors, ingredients, and colors of adobo cover the foodscape of this country and is so much a part of our culture that we truly own it, she added.
The Adobo Queen and Team Adobo’s showcase will be featured in the buffet at Flavors Restaurant all throughout October. You can find these adobo dishes at the various stations starting with the appetizers.
Among the items you can find here are the Adobo Paté which you can slather on toasted bread. Have some pandesal stuffed with pork adobo fillings, or try the Tamales ala Adobo, a single serve corn and rice mash topped with Chicken Adobo flakes which are wrapped in banana leaves and then steamed.
They also have a bit of molecular gastronomy happening with these cherry tomatoes filled with adobo pearls. The “adobo sago” pops in your mouth when you bite them. I also liked these crispy Adobo sa Turon which is a savoury version of the turon we Filipinos all like.
Would you believe there’s even adobo at the sushi station? Take a peek inside and find the Adobo Maki with pulled pork on top of rolled Japanese rice.
The kids would definitely love to try the Adobo Pizza at the Kids Station. For pasta lovers, have the chefs prepare an Adobo Pasta for you upon request.
Now we’re ready to attack the main buffet station and explore the regions of the Philippines through their adobo dishes.
General Santos City is considered the tuna capital of the Philippines so the Adobong Tuna is a popular dish in Mindanao. These are cooked in a fragrant adobo sauce giving it a light salty flavor.
The Adobo Chicken Roulade with Sisig Stuffing features the delectable combination of chicken and pork in one dish.
Another regional specialty is the Chicken Adobo Pianggan with Palapa Sauce. This has burnt coconut adobo sauce on tuba-marinated chicken which is a popular recipe in Mindanao.
There are a few more seafood dishes like the Sinaing na Bangus Adobo. This has tender milkfish fillet wrapped inside banana leaves then steamed. The Stuffed Squid with Spiced Adobo Garlic Sauce is also a good option.
Then there is the Adobo Paella with its seafood adobo rice garnished with green beans, lemon slices, chilis, and bell peppers.
Meat lovers like me will enjoy the Adobo Tadyang ng Baka, a Filipino version of beef ribs cooked adobo-style.
But the highlight of the Adobo Nation is definitely the Rodrigo’s Roast which you can find at the carving station. I first encountered this classic recipe a few years ago when chef Nancy Lumen guested in another hotel. This whole slab of adobo-cooked, then baked pork belly comes with a savory-sweet-umami crust.
The very flavorful Rodrigo’s Roast is one of the best roast pork dishes I have ever tasted, and it remains so. The crispy caramelized skin s a good contrast to the tender fatty pork itself. Chef Lumen just wants to remind everyone that the name of the dish has no relation whatsoever to the current President.
Even the desserts are infused or inspired by adobo! The Adobo Cheesecake is covered with bay leaves and comes with the flavors of adobo. It is truly one of a kind.
Don’t forget all the other non-adobo items around the restaurant. The dessert station has a lot of new colorful cakes and panna cottas to enjoy. However, I still keep going back to the Ube Cheesecake as well as the chocolate mousse and the classic Crepe Samurai.
Adobo Nation happens from October 1 to 31, 2019 at Flavors Restaurant in Holiday Inn & Suites Makati. Lunch and dinner buffet is only P1,825 nett per person which lets you travel across the different regions influenced by the adobo. So make your reservations now before it’s too late!
Adobo Nation at Flavors Restaurant
Lobby Floor, Holiday Inn & Suites Makati, Palm Drive, Ayala Center,
Makati
Poke Bowl Fun is Back at Flavors in Holiday Inn Makati
The Poke Bowls are back at Holiday Inn Makati, just in time for the Lenten season. These healthy and delicious bowls are the perfect dishes to tide us on meatless Fridays, so we don’t have to sacrifice our hunger cravings. The Hungry Kat visited Flavors Restaurant last week to join the poke bowl fun and I truly had a great time creating my own colorful bowl.
Flavors Restaurant is the all-day dining cafe of Holiday Inn & Suites Makati located on the lobby floor. The hotel is very accessible as it is connected to the Glorietta commercial complex right in the heart of Ayala Center. Holiday Inn Makati is actually taking the poke bowl promotion one step further because Flavors Restaurant is offering these poke bowls at their lunch and dinner buffets not just on Fridays, but on all weekends from now until Easter Sunday.
Flavors Restaurant is a bright and spacious gallery with elegant but casual interiors that are suited for quick business lunches or cozy family dinners. Their buffet is always a good option for those living and working in Makati, but their Poke Bowl Fun promotion makes them a great destination for those who love these refreshing dishes.
The poke is a raw salad served as an appetizer in Hawaiian cuisine. It is also the Hawaiian verb for “to slice or cut,” which is why it usually contains small slices of raw seafood combined with an array of greens and vegetables.
Unlike other restaurants in the city that offer poke bowls, here at Flavors, you can customize your own delicious bowl of poke and combine all the ingredients that you like. Think of it as a Mongolian barbecue but with fish and salads instead of meat and vegetables. Best of all, you can get as many bowls as you want.
So how do you create your own poke bowl? First, choose whether you want to include brown rice or white rice in your bowl. Second, choose your preferred vegetables and fruits to go inside your poke bowl. I placed some carrots, Romaine lettuce, red and white cabbage, mangoes, plus some nori strips and ebiko.
Third, choose your raw fish, whether it be salmon, tuna, or in my case, both. Lastly, select the combination of sauces you want to sprinkle on top of your poke bowl. The Korean Sweet & Spicy Sauce is my favorite among the five, but you can also mix the flavors as you like.
There you have it! Here is my own customized poke bowl! It’s so fun and easy to create your own combinations but it will be much better when it’s time to eat them! Mix the ingredients together like you do with a Mongolian bowl and then enjoy!
Poke Bowls are refreshing to eat and quite light on the tummy. This is why you can get a second and a third bowl without feeling guilty. It’s all seafood and vegetables, so it is also very healthy. Experiment with your own creations and have fun!
As an added treat, Holiday Inn Makati is giving its diners the option to get the Poke Bowl Only buffet where they can get as many bowls as they like for only P800 nett per person. That is a great value since these usually cost around P300-P400 per bowl at other restaurants.
The Poke Bowl Station is actually just one exciting part of the buffet at Flavors Restaurant, so for those who want the full dining experience, they can still enjoy all the other sections. Begin your journey at the Bread Station with its assortment of breads and rolls. You can also make your own Caesar Salad here.
The Japanese Station is always a favorite with their heavenly sushi and sashimi. Aside from having raw salmon and tuna on your poke bowl, you can also enjoy them simply as fresh sashimi on your plate.
For those who do not have to go on a meatless diet, there are plenty of other options at the buffet. The Grill Station offers sumptuous meats like beef, chicken, pork, and fish.
Get as many servings as you want and have them grilled fresh and hot. The servers will bring your orders to your table once they are cooked. A lot of other prepared dishes are also available like Korean Fried Chicken, Beef Salpicao, Pan Fried Fish with Fresh Mango Salsa, and more.
Flavors also offers some of the best desserts and cakes you can find in a buffet restaurant. The Ube Cheesecake is always a popular item while the Classic Crepe Samurai from Cafe Jeepney at the now-demolished Hotel Intercontinental is still always available at Holiday Inn Makati.
The lunch and dinner buffet at Flavors Restaurant is priced at P1850 nett per person which already includes unlimited Poke Bowl Fun. If you are looking for a delicious option for meatless Fridays, head over to Holiday Inn Makati and enjoy this limited-time offer.
Flavors Restaurant
Lobby Floor, Holiday Inn & Suites Makati, Palm Drive, Ayala Center,
Makati
Chef Den Lim Takes Over Flavors Restaurant at Holiday Inn Makati
One of Pampanga’s most popular and in-demand chefs is bringing his sumptuous repertoire to Manila. Chef Dennis Lim of Den Lim’s Kitchen is taking over Flavors Restaurant at Holiday Inn & Suites Makati from October 10-19, 2017. Diners will find his signature specialties all over the buffet spread for lunch and dinner, including this Pugon-roasted liempo that is now the talk of the town.
Born and raised in San Fernando, Pampanga to the family that runs the famous LA Bakery, Chef Dennis Lim has carved out his own name in local gastronomy with his rustic, reservation-only private dining restaurant. Did you know that Den Lim’s Kitchen is already fully booked until March 2018? That is for weekdays, because if you want a weekend reservation, then you will have to wait over a year until October 2018! Thankfully, Holiday Inn Makati is doing us all a big favor and bringing the magic of Den Lim’s Kitchen to the city. This is the first time that Chef Den Lim will be cooking publicly outside Pampanga and doing this type of collaboration, so this is definitely an opportunity that diners should not miss.
Flavors Restaurant is the all-day dining cafe of Holiday Inn & Suites Makati, the first purpose-built Holiday Inn property in the Philippines which opened in 2013. The vibrant, all-day dining restaurant is run by all-Filipino talent, the only international chain with a Filipino executive chef, and Chef Den Lim truly fits the cafe’s casual and friendly personality.
Flavors is located on the hotel’s Lobby floor and it is a bright and spacious gallery with elegant but casual interiors that are suited for quick business lunches or cozy family dinners. The restaurant takes pride in having one of the best buffet selections in Makati City, bringing the best of Filipino, South East Asian, and Western dishes to the table.
The Hungry Kat was invited to be one of the first to enjoy this foodie partnership during its opening day last October 10 and this is definitely better than waiting for over a year and going all the way to Pampanga. Chef Dennis Lim, who did not get formal training and learned everything on his own, was all smiles as he also enjoyed working with the other chefs of Holiday Inn Makati.
It’s time to attack the buffet tables so let’s start with some of Chef Den Lim’s special dishes.
The Kilayin Capampangan is Pampanga’s meaty version of the kilawin with diced pork, liver and heart marinated and cooked in vinegar and spices. It is quite different from the usual kilawin and is more similar to the bopis, but with more flavors and spices. This is usually sold on the streets of Pampanga, but you can find it just here in Makati at Flavors Restaurant.
One looks at the Caveman Beef Shank and you know you are in for a carnivorous affair. This tender, smoked beef shank is braised for 5-6 hours and smothered with mushroom gravy plus some corn on the cob on the side.
The Roasted Chicken is a more familiar and simple dish, but it also packs a lot of flavors especially with its golden brown skin glazed with a soya-based marinade.
My eyes were on the the luxuriously creamy and savory Crab Marlen, a crab dish sautéed with basil and 30 salted egg yolks! If the crab roe wasn’t indulgent enough, then I’m sure the salted egg yolk will be. Chef Den Lim names some of his dishes using relatives and loved ones, and he said that Marlen is a favorite ninang who believes in his cooking. She is obviously correct.
These cute crab crackers were also present on the buffet table to make it easier for the guests. Those crabs are huge and they really put up a good and delicious fight.
Chef Den Lim also brought out his Old Fashioned Beef Mechado with its very tender cuts of beef simmered in a lovely tomato-based stew. This classic dish simply reminds me of home and that is also what Holiday Inn wants their guests to feel.
The pasta station also included one of Den Lim’s specialties, the Pasta Corrito which was named after his wife. This is a rich seafood pasta with shrimp, mussels and squid cooked with seafood brine, lemon, capers, and extra virgin olive oil.
But of course, the star of the show is none other than the Pugon Liempo Wrap which you can find on the carving station. This is Chef Den Lim’s signature dish that has his Pampanga kitchen booked solid for months, and we were so lucky to have it all for ourselves.
The succulent roasted pork belly is cooked inside a pugon, or wood-fire brick oven which gives its skin such crispiness. I was so amazed with how juicy the meat was and how the skin simply cracks with every yummy bite. It’s like having the best parts of a lechon without having to bother with the bones.
The liempo is really good enough to eat on its own, but Chef Den Lim gives it a special touch with his housemade pork Buro. This is a popular dipping sauce of locals from Pampanga made from fermented pork and seafood. It balances the indulgent flavors from the liempo and give a different taste combination.
To complete this unique dining experience, wrap the pugon liempo inside some lettuce with buro, tomatoes and arugula. Since I’m eating the lechon with vegetables, it makes this a “healthy” dish, right? That means I can go back for more!
Chef Den Lim also introduced to us his Tamarind mocktail beverage which was a refreshing local drink. Holiday Inn Makati will soon be including this as a cocktail on their bar menu, so I will surely watch out for that.
While Chef Den Lim takes over Flavors Restaurant this week, the other international buffet station will still continue to offer their specialties as well. Diners can get sushi at the Japanese Station or the Spicy Chcken Curry Massala at the Indian station. Noodles and grilled barbecues are also available. Kids don’t have to worry because their favorites will still be there at the Kids Station.
The desserts at Flavors Restaurant are one of my favorites in the city, with its colorful cakes, pastries, and halo halo station.
The heavenly Ube Cheesecake is always a popular item, as well as the Classic Crepe Samurai from the former Café Jeepney of InterContinental Hotel Manila.
Congratulations to Chef Dennis Lim and Holiday Inn Makati for such a wonderful collaboration that proudly introduces the bold and rich flavors of Den Lim’s Kitchen to a new audience in Manila. I’m so happy to have discovered these delicacies and I now count myself as one of his new fans. Lunch and dinner buffet at Flavors Restaurant are priced at P1,818 nett per person and that is a great deal for this fantastic and elusive dining experience.
Den Lim’s Kitchen at Flavors Restaurant
Lobby Floor, Holiday Inn & Suites Makati, Palm Drive, Ayala Center, Makati
Poke Bowl Fridays at Flavors in Holiday Inn Makati
The newest food craze from Southern California and Hawaii has taken over Manila, in a healthy way. Poke Bowls are the latest trend in the food industry and you can already see these colorful bowls being served at several restaurants around the metro. I had my first encounter with the Poke (pronounced pou-kei) back in 2015 at Johnny Kahuku’s Hawaian Shrimphouse in Resorts World Manila. But now, there’s a place where you can create and customize not just one or two bowls of poke, but all the poke bowls that you can eat.
Flavors Restaurant in Holiday Inn & Suites Makati has just launched its Poke Bowl Fridays last March 3, 2017, just in time for the Lenten season. Meatless Fridays will not have to be such a sacrifice anymore because you can have unlimited servings of Poke Bowls at Flavors every Friday as part of their daily lunch and dinner buffets. The Hungry Kat was invited to sample this new healthier alternative and it turned out to be a refreshing and delicious culinary experience.
The poke is a raw salad served as an appetizer in Hawaiian cuisine. It is also the Hawaiian verb for “to slice or cut,” which is why it usually contains small slices of raw seafood combined with an array of greens and vegetables. Holiday Inn Makati is probably the first buffet restaurant in Manila to offer poke as part of their menu, so this is the perfect time for me to finally visit Flavors and join the poke craze.
Flavors Restaurant is the all-day dining cafe of Holiday Inn & Suites Makati, the first purpose-built Holiday Inn property in the Philippines which opened in 2013. The hotel has a very convenient location as it sits directly on top of the Glorietta Mall at Ayala Center. Flavors is located on the Lobby floor and it is a bright and spacious gallery with elegant but casual interiors that are suited for quick business lunches or cozy family dinners.
They also have a small private dining room for those important meetings or special celebrations. This is where we will be having our Poke Bowl Friday!
Unlike other restaurants in the city that offer poke bowls, here at Flavors, you can customize your own delicious bowl of poke and combine all the ingredients that you like. Think of it like a Mongolian bowl but with fish and salads instead of meat and barbecue.
Ms. Bess Howe, the charming Director of Public Relations at Holiday Inn & Suites Makati, showed us how to create our own poke bowls in just four easy steps.
First, choose whether you want to include brown rice or white rice in your bowl. If you want your bowl to be more filling, then go ahead and put some rice. Second, choose your preferred vegetables and fruits to go with your poke bowl. I placed some carrots, Romaine lettuce, red and white cabbage, mangoes, plus some nori strips and ebiko.
Third, choose your fish, whether it be salmon, tuna, or in my case, both. Lastly, select the combination of sauces you want to sprinkle on top of your poke bowl. The Ponzu sauce and the spicy Sriracha mayo are the preferred sauces but you can mix the flavors as you like.
Tada! Presenting my customized poke bowl! It’s so fun and easy to create your own bowls of poke but it will be better when it’s time to eat them! Mix the ingredients together like you do with a Mongolian bowl and then enjoy!
I have to admit that I am not much of a salad lover, but when you put salmon and tuna sashimi into the equation, it really turns it into a very delectable dish. It was surprisingly refreshing to eat and quite light on the tummy. I finished my first bowl quite fast, and I wanted to go back again for seconds, and thirds.
To go with our healthy poke bowls, a couple of bubbly and refreshing mocktails were also served including the Cucumber Fizz plus the Mint & Basil.
The Poke Bowl Station is actually just one exciting part of the buffet at Flavors Restaurant. A full lineup of dishes are available to complete your dining experience from start to finish. Begin your journey at the Bread Station with its assortment of breads and rolls. You can also make your own Caesar Salad here.
I always prefer starting my buffet at the Japanese Station with some heavenly sushi and sashimi. Aside from having raw salmon and tuna on your poke bowl, you can also enjoy them simply as fresh sashimi on your plate.
Flavors Restaurant really brings out your creativity and another station where you can test your imagination is the Taco Bar. You can create your own taco and fill it up with whatever ingredients you like. Fill it up with beef or pork or chilies if you prefer.
Would you believe they also have a Make-Your-Own Noodle Station? I had them prepare this hot bowl of beef noodles with egg for me and I really liked it. I wanted to get another bowl but I was already getting full with still so much to explore around the restaurant.
The Carving Station usually features meaty selections, but during Fridays this Lenten season, they will be highlighting seafood dishes instead. On display that afternoon was a Marinated Whole Roasted Salmon with lemon butter sauce.
But meat lovers don’t have to worry because there are still enough meaty dishes around at Flavors Restaurant even during Fridays. Over at the Grilling Station, you can ask the chefs to prepare some Grilled Pork or Grilled Chicken which they will deliver straight to your table.
Check out the prepared dishes on the buffet table and you will see a lot of other interesting items like the Seafood Jambalaya (top left), Maya Maya Crusted with Tomato Salsa (top right), Pork Belly Asado (lower left), and even Moroccan Beef (lower right).
Kids also have their very own Kids Station offering very tempting and flavorful dishes. Sometimes, I actually prefer the items at the children’s station more than the adult stations. Who wouldn’t like some yummy Pizza and Chicken Nuggets in a basket?
The culinary journey ends at the Dessert Station but this could actually be the best place inside the restaurant. Aside from the chocolate fountain with marshmallows, a sweet and colorful selection of pastries and confectionaries await all guests.
Flavors offers some of the best desserts and cakes I have ever had in a buffet restaurant. Their pastry chef is definitely a master of his craft because I could not get enough of their chocolate mousse. I think I had three servings.
Another surprising item is their incredibly luscious Ube Cheesecake which has to be one of the best cheesecakes in Manila. You can also order the whole Ube Cheesecake (P1200+) for take-out if you want to impress your guests at home or at a party. For fans of the Classic Crepe Samurai from Cafe Jeepney in the now-demolished Hotel Intercontinental, they will be happy to know that Holiday Inn Makati has “adopted” this fan-favorite and included it at the buffet in Flavors Restaurant. That’s another reason to keep coming back.
The lunch and dinner buffet at Flavors Restaurant is being offered daily for P1500+ and P1700+ per person, respectively. That’s already a good deal for a hotel buffet where you can have unlimited servings of poke bowls, but it gets even better when you have a Citibank card because you get 50% off your bill until April 30, 2017! With all these great deals and dishes, it’s time to mark your calendars and head over to Holiday Inn & Suites Makati to enjoy their Poke Bowl Fridays!
Flavors Restaurant
Lobby Floor, Holiday Inn & Suites Makati, Palm Drive, Ayala Center,
Makati
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