And the winner for best buffet in Metro Manila goes to *drumroll* ... Spiral at Sofitel in Manila!!!
Much as I appreciate the dessert bar of Circles or the respectful atmosphere (and the burger) of Paseo Uno, if you want a BUFFET, you have to Spiral it.
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| My favorite chef behind the buffet table |
The buffet area would probably be the equivalent of a block on Taft Avenue or - if you're a La Sallite you can relate to this - the stretch of LS (at least as I remember it circa 1997).
In a situation like this, where for P2,000 you are given the opportunity to eat as much as you want of the finest the hotel offers - well, most of the finest - you will need a SYSTEM.
Mine goes like this:
1. Survey all sections first. This will make let you structure your dinner so you don't get too full before discovering the fresh crab section to the side of the salad bar. Take note: Japanese appetizers. Salads. Cheeses. Spanish/pork appetizers. Other cold appetizers. Meditteranean. Chinese. Japanese. Indian. Grilled. Prime rib. Peking duck. Chinese again. Filipino (at the FAR right!). Chinese again again. Dessert bar.
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| Dry aged beef and black pig. Heaven! |
2. Begin with the finest of appetizers. A buffet like this is not for the timid. I started with the dry aged beef (I know this will sound like an oxymoron but it was deliciously pungent!), "Black Forest" (tasted like pata negra) and salmon sashimi. For this part of the strategy you will need a working knowledge of what is good quality food; sometimes the "chefs" (more like trainees) behind the counter have no clue what the spread before them has to offer. I asked the girl here what "Black Forest" is - is it black pig like Portugese pata negra? She said it was some kind of sweet pork. A taste will reveal that it is smokey and a tad salty, not at all sweet - her sense of flavors must be askew. Of course another strategy is to just stick to what you enjoy eating the most. (My date downed a LOT of tempura.)
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| Son in Law's Eggs |
3. Do a second round of appetizers: the curious ones. I picked up this creative piece at the Filipino-Chinese section by sheer virtue of its name: "Son in Law's Eggs". It was very tasty, though! The bottom is crispy and on top, the addition of fried onions and chili gives it an extraordinary and unique flavor.
4. And a round of pre-entree entrees. For this round, I had some Peking duck, although this was disappointing. Edsa Shang or Hei Shin Lou pa rin. But the Indian and dumplings sections deliver: the Dhal Tadka and Chana Masala are delicious with the fresh-from-the-oven Naan bread and the dumplings are have sheets that are soft like silk.
5. Save a lot of room for the entrees. Do not waste digestive space on rice or pasta. The paella is better appreciated at Alba's or La Tienda and rice is best appreciated at home. Instead, take advantage of the eat-all-you-can prime rib with gorgeous marbling! And faaar away near the sashimi counter, go for the fresh crabs. (This is why the "ocular" before you attack is essential!)
6. Save even more room for dessert. Every chocoholic must have the Truffle Cake. Don't be a wimp and settle for the small truffle cake - go for the big cake. The Pistachio Financier ... you can skip that ... it's hard and pointless to waste calories on. Invest calories instead in the Vanilla and Caramel Creme Brulee which is OMG to die for.
You can also do it the Italian way - although I think they usually do this as an appetizer. Picked this up from Eat Pray Love. Got a few slices of melon from the dessert section then added the parma ham (there was no prosciutto) from the appetizer section. Tada ...
Or go French and move back to cheese section (not by the dessert bar). Or go Neverland and - while I assume this is for the kids - grab a bit of these goodies for the road.
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| How pretty is this? |
7. Then try to stay awake for the drive home by capping the evening with a cup of their excellent coffee, which comes with the buffet.
Oh, if you must drink, have a bottle from the trolley. Forget getting a cocktail - THAT you can have at Martinis.
8. Finally, shout out a thank you to God for a really great meal!
Spiral. Sofitel Philippine Plaza. CCP Complex Roxas Blvd, Pasay City. +63 2 551 5555. Valet parking available (you can have this validated but will still need to pay P100). Parking is not near so bring a driver or be ready for valet. Wheelchair accessible (take the elevator at the left side of the lobby to the Plaza level). Approx. P2000/head, without drinks.
