Messy but down right delicious. That's how I perceive the Prosperity Toss. During the Chinese New Year, the Filipino Community joins our Chinese brothers in celebrating this joyful occasion. At Marco Polo Manila, they have prepared a lavish feast to allow everyone to experience a gastronomic meal for the Chinese new Year.
Up high in the clouds, MARCO POLO MANILA stands as one of the most noticeable hotels in the Ortigas Area. It houses one of the best Chinese Restaurant in the Metro, Lung Hin. Here, guests are served delicious dishes that would bring up flavors to please their palates.
One could start things off with the steamed shrimp dumplings with gold leaf. Not your usual hakaw, these dumplings are huge and packs a punch. A crowd pleaser though would be the PEKING DUCK with Osmanthus Jelly on Potato Chip. Granted that the potato chip came out of no where, it does add texture to the entire dish. The pecking duck is scrumptious while the addition of the jelly makes everything blend together.
Since Chinese New Year is coming up, the PROSPERITY TOSS with SALMON is the way to go. Different ingredients are joined together to make up one exciting dish. Each part represents different aspect in life such as wealth, health, and happiness. Diners and guests are invited to use their chopsticks and toss the ingredients around. The higher the better as it brings good luck.
Soup lovers would love the Sauteed Tiger Shrimp Ball in Supreme Chicken Stock and the Double-Boiled Chicken with Red Dates and Wolfberry Soup.
This boils down to personal preference. One could just go with the shrimp or the chicken. Honestly, I enjoyed them both. The chicken has a clear and clean taste while the Supreme Chicken stock gives it more depth.
The Pan Fried Grouper Fillet with truffle oil and sugar peas was somewhat normal for me. I failed to taste the truffle oil. It must have been very minimal.
To sum everything up, the BRAISED SOUTH AFRICAN ABALONE with Hong Kong dried Sausage and waxed meat fried rice was intense. It's a dish that gives out a smooth and straightforward flavor. It must not be missed.
Noodles should also be present in any Chinese themed dinner. The Crispy egg noodle with prawn ball and minced pork gave a balanced end to the meal.
Visiting LUNG HIN in MARCO POLO MANILA is a must whenever you're in the area. The restaurant showcases different Chinese dishes that would be perfect for the upcoming New Year.
LUNG HIN
MARCO POLO HOTEL
1600 Meralco Avenue,
San Antonio, Pasig City,
Metro Manila.
I was simply blown away. That was how I felt about my recent stay at MARCO POLO MANILA. As a foodie, I realized that the hotel has some of the best restaurants to dine in when in Ortigas. No need to brave the traffic. Rather, everything that you want is just a stone throw away. Plus, the stay and the culture of caring in this Forbes Travel Guide Five Star Rated Hotel, is present in every gesture and evident with how they treat their guests.
As I have written an In-Depth Staycation Guide for Marco Polo Manila (which you can check out here), this article would basically touch base and update some of the useful information that I have recently learned and experienced first hand. The check-in is fast and efficient at the 24th floor lobby. Here, guests are greeted with cold drinks upon check-in which is usually at 2pm.
For this particular stay, I was billeted at a deluxe room with a king size bed. The difference between the superior and the deluxe would be the location of the room. The deluxe is situated at the quieter side facing Ortigas while the Superior is facing the Antipolo side. Also it would be wise to take note of the room categories based on the type of bed the room has.
For a room with a sing king bed, the washroom usually has a see through
window for you to watch the television while using the tub. Don't worry
as they installed speakers there too. In contrast, rooms that are clearly marked for sharing with friends do not have this glass window amenity. It's actually the perfect perk for honeymooners.
Tech lovers would be glad to note that the telephone acts as an alarm, a charger, and even a music station. If in case you forgot your wires, the phone has different sockets for different devices. Furthermore, there's a hidden panel that acts as a way for you to charge more gadgets and even connect other media to the flat screen tv. For the mini bar, Marco Polo Manila made sure that your needs are met. Different alcohol and non-alcoholic beverages are present. Tea and coffee pods are available for you to enjoy.
If there was one place that I love more than the bed, it would be the wash area. Marco Polo's version is complete in every sense of the word. Upgrades were done and you have yourself the perfect hideaway.
Aside from the glass window and the newly installed bidet, the toiletries are top notch. Here, you could see that they use Trussardi for your needs. Also, they have the usuals like toothbrushes, cotton buds, and even bath salt just in case you like to exfoliate in the tub.
Aside from the sofa, the bed is the best place to be at. Marco Polo's bed is all but ready for you. There are master switches and sockets on the side for your needs. Turn down service would prepare your place of sleep. The staff would put a mat on the floor just so that you won't be bare footed when you get out of bed. During turn down service, they replenish some of the toiletries and water bottles and even tidy up a bit.
But, I am getting ahead of myself. You see, Marco Polo Manila is the hotel to stay at when you want to indulge and have a great time enjoying your food. They have a wide range of choices and different outlets that you could choose from.
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The Connect Lounge, located on the same floor as the lobby, has this Afternoon Tea. From 2pm to 6pm, guests could indulge and enjoy this quick snack for 788Php. It's actually good for two persons.
If you want to have an amazing view, you should head on over to VU BAR by 5pm. Situated on the 45th floor, this place serves as the nook to be at to unwind and chill. On the Ortigas side, you have a view of the sunset. The Antipolo side, on the other hand, shows the crawling traffic to and from the city.
From 5pm to 8pm, patrons could partake of the APERITIVO. It's like a pre-dinner drink and snack. Here, you could have unlimited servings of local beer and house wine. From Monday-Wednesday, the food is ala carte, while Thursday-Saturday night, it is served buffet style.
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For a taste of Chinese Cuisine, one could head on over to LUNG HIN. The in-house Chinese restaurant, Lung Hin has been racking up awards left and right.
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Dishes are well thought off and are great to be shared among family and friends. The serving sizes are huge and proportional to the prices. The quality of the ingredients is remarkable. Take note though that they don't allow takeaways so it would be best to order only as much as you could eat.
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If I were to be asked, the hakaw or shrimp dumpling and the sweet and sour pork are must orders when visiting LUNG HIN.
After a delightful sleep, one could head on over to CUCINA for the breakfast buffet. I got to admit, I was pleasantly surprise to see that it's more than just a buffet for breakfast. It's something that you could go to for your lunch and dinner as well. Aside from the usual Filipino dishes, healthy and well thought of international fares are present.
If the buffet is a bit too much for you, you could head on over to CAFE PRONTO. Located on the ground floor, this is the best place to have something if you're on the go. They offer sandwich meals and even freshly baked breads. They have a number of pastries and different hot and cold drinks as well.
If you want a relaxing stay and with all the perks, I would suggest investing in club access. The Club Lounge is located on the 44th floor, same as Lung Hin. Here, you are able to partake of afternoon tea, early dinner cocktails, and even breakfast. All day coffee and drinks are also served upon your request. Every time I would stay at Marco Polo, I would always ask if it's possible to upgrade to a club room or even just for access to the lounge. You see, this lounge also offers a 180 degree view of the Antipolo side. It's spectacular.
The 22nd floor holds the bulk of amenities that one could enjoy. Here, you have the FLOW SPA, FLOW FITNESS CENTRE and the POOL.
The FLOW SPA is open from 9am to 12midnight. Here, you could have your massages and take a breather. The Pool is there for you to enjoy as well. It's open from 6am to 10pm. The fitness centre is open 24/7. You just need a keycard to access it after 10pm.
Honestly, I feel that MARCO POLO MANILA has leveled up. It seems that they fine tuned everything and has anticipated the needs and wants of the guests. I realized that they heavily invested in human resources which made things perfect for them. From the house keeping to the front office and also the people behind the scenes, they did a wonderful job improving and making MARCO POLO MANILA the place to be.
MARCO POLO ORTIGAS
(02) 720 7777
Meralco Avenue, Pasig City,
Metro Manila
Disclaimer:Wrote this based on my experience. I was invited as a guest of the hotel. The stay and the dining experience were all complimentary. Thank you very much Judith and the team for having me.
I have no talent when it comes to art. I don't know how to draw and I still can't even get past the stick figures when it comes to making a family portrait. I was pretty much surprised as I heard that Marco Polo Ortigas was bringing in a guy that is both an artist and a chef.
From PALETTE to PALATE. It was the name of the new promotion of MARCO
POLO ORTIGAS CUCINA.
Rightly so because the chef is known for making
beautiful sketches and drawings of his dishes just before executing
them.
Chef Ramon Antonio is one artsy chef. He creates dishes in his head with the end in mind. Plating and of course flavor and quality that comes with them.
As you enter CUCINA, you get to see the usual offerings. From the carving station, to the on the spot cooked paella and of course the Salads, sushi and sashimi, and even a make your own pasta.
Because of this new offering, the fun starts. A twist of ideas is created when different dishes were brought out by the chef.
For starters, he had some GINATAANG SANTOL, KINILAW BISAYA, and BIYARING. The Ginataang Santol is Bicol's version of a santol coconut dip mixed with camote chips. It has a tendecy to be over powering in terms of flavor so it might be a good idea of having this last. The Kinilaw Bisaya is a Cebuano styled mackerel ceviche. Lastly, the Biyaring is a Maranaw version of Shrimp Ceviche. These dishes aren't the usual types that you would see in the metro. In all my years of eating Filipino food, it gives me pleasure to realize that there are something more that the usual sinigang and adobo. Chef Ramon really outdid himself.
For the soup course, the BINAKOL would do the trick. Illongo grilled chicken is mixed with coconut soup to create a balance of flavors. There's a bit of saltiness that's flattened out by the sweet coconut bites mixed into the soup. This one is a must try.
One of the mains that Chef Ramon is proud of would be the Kaldereta. Made from scratch. He did a little trick. The usual liver sauce came from foie gras and the blackened grain on the side is actually Bugas Mais or corn cooked in squid ink. This is just incredible. The meat is tender and moist while the sauce is perfect with the corn.
For dessert, the chef also had a few surprises. Old school Filipino rice dishes were turned into works of art. Something that our grand parents would be proud off.
From PALETTE to PALATE with Chef Ramon Antonio would be available August 22 to 31 in CUCINA of Marco Polo Ortigas. Lunch for Monday-Saturday is pegged at 1,500 while dinner is 1,800 Php for Monday to Friday and Sunday. Saturday dinner and Sunday lunch is at 2,650.
A week or so after January 1st, one can still feel the holiday season in the air. Parties are still happening and people are just starting to come back from their vacation. Sometimes, we could forget that our Chinese brothers and sisters haven't actually celebrated theirs. This coming January 28, the CHINESE NEW YEAR would be upon us. MARCO POLO ORTIGAS' LUNG HIN has something in store just for this occasion.
As you enter, you are assisted to your booth. One would suggest to reserve seats by the window for a fantastic view. If privacy is important, they have function rooms that would cater to a small gathering and would be perfect for the CHINESE NEW YEAR this 2017. Different set meals are suggested but ala carte would work too. Since this is for the CHINESE NEW YEAR, certain dishes were prepared for everyone to enjoy and celebrate the prosperous new year.
The first dish would be the SALMON FISH "YU SHENG" for the PROSPERITY TOSS. Different ingredients were mixed and match to represent good health, wealth and prosperity. It starts off with tossing the ingredients up high with chopsticks and saying LO HEI for luck.
A little citrusy, different textures greet your mouth as you take a bite. The fresh salmon alongside the different vegetables makes it the perfect starter.
Something to warm the stomach, the Braised Pork Tongue with dried oysters and black moss was a welcome treat. A very light broth was created to wake up the appetite.
Another seafood dish, the BRAISED CRAB MEAT with DRIED SCALLOP and ASPARAGUS was served next. Crunchy asparagus were topped with a mixture of scallops and crab meat. One might think of it as a little soupy but the contrasting texture is welcomed.
As scary as this might be, the BRAISED PORK KNUCKLE with BLACK MOSS and VEGETABLES was pretty good. The hair like component on top is actually black moss. It has a neutral flavor but it is usually added for "to hope for wealth".
The meat is moist and cooked perfectly. Delicious and a bit on the sweet side.
The LUNG HIN BRAISED SEA CUCUMBER CASSEROLE was a great addition to the menu. This dish has variety in itself. Having different seafood from squid, fish, shrimp and sea cucumber makes it a must try.
A crowd favorite would be the stir-fried PRAWN with ASPARAGUS and RED WINE PEAR. Huge and plump, they partner well with the red wine pear. It gives a great deal of flavor.
Dessert could be a combination of sticky rice cake and sweetened cashew nut with sesame dumpling. This menu was specially created for the CHINESE NEW YEAR at MARCO POLO. It would be an awesome way to celebrate the New Year here because of the fine selection of dishes and the wonderful service.
I am jeng, a sweet guy with a different kind of heart. I love to eat and travel.Enjoy and comment on. Need to contact me? email at foodinthebagblog@gmail.com
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