One, I can’t imagine living, or growing up in another continent.  Two, I just love the variety of foods we have!  I believe, when it comes to flavorful food, Asia wins in this category!

Many will agree that one of the best ways to experience Asia is through its food—historic, flavorful, and vast. Especially for the Southeast Asian region that boasts a multi-cultural and hard-hitting influence with the way we enjoy cooking and eating, it’s no wonder why dishes that hail from these regions are considered a feast for the senses.  

 

 

Marriott Manila brings home four of the Asia’s most famous cuisines.  From Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam, Marriott Cafe prepared a masterpiece through a month-long celebration of Oriental flavors that’s uniquely Marriott. 

 

What else could be more exciting other than a larger than life encounter with Renaissance Kuala Lumpur’s Ruhizad Muri, JW Marriott Jakarta’s Dadang Wahyudi, Renaissance Riverside Saigon Phan Tien Hoa, and JW Marriott Bangkok Thanatorn Krobsuay. Boasting with culinary career track that is dynamically diverse, expect only authentic and a palate tickling adventure anyone could get.  

 

 

Price is at P2,300 net from Sunday to thursday and P2,500 net for Friday and Saturday.  So make sure to bring your appetite!

 

Back by popular demand, Thai food definitely deserves all the hype for its four fundamental tastes that we Filipinos love: sweet, sour, salty, and bitter. Chef Thanatorn Krobsuay who trail blazed the first two consecutive most-talked about Thai Food Fest at Marriott Café, there’s no denying that it’s one of the cuisines we regularly crave for. This year, chef Thanathorn makes the selections more lavish and worth discovering with his new menu line up such as: deep fried sea bass with chili sauce, sautéed squid with pineapple and cucumber, beef balls cooked with typical Malay sauce, and braised beef spiced with turmeric and coconut. 

 

 

 

More than its legendary nasi lemak, chef Ruhizad Muri gives foodies a taste of Malaysia’s noteworthy nyonya cuisine.  A signature Penang-type of cooking that blends spices from roots (galangal, turmeric, and ginger); leaves (pandan, lime, and laksa); fruit (lemon, tamarind, and green mangoes); together with other ingredients like shrimp paste and chilies.  Imbibed from Thai cooking style, chef Ruhizad puts an interesting twist with the time-honored wok dishes of Malaysia. This section invites everyone as well to get creative with blue crab, shrimps, dilis fish, beef tenderloin, chicken, clams, barbeque chicken, steamed fish, assorted vegetables peppered with Malaysian spices. 

 

 

Another Southeast Asian cuisine that deserves to be in the limelight is Indonesian. Popular for their satay which shows Asians’ love affair for grilled meats, chef Dadang Wahyudi makes skewers tastier and more appetizing with these selections: chicken, shrimps, calamari, beef, goat, pork and fish in assorted marinations! Another must-try is the bebek betutu klung klung, an all-spiced up Balinese dish enhanced by a host of pungent roots, herbs, and seasoning. Both locals and visitors are just so psyched about this heavenly roasted duck recipe that it’s considered a dish specially reserved for big banquets and ceremonies. 

 

A native of Ho Chi Minh, chef Phan Thien Hoa presents well-rounded Vietnamese dishes notable for its minimal use of oil, bountiful use of herbs and vegetables– which shouldn’t make one wonder why it ranks as one of the healthiest foods in the world! Most travelers would agree that a Vietnam trip is never complete without tasting a steamy and flavorful bowl of pho. Considered the heart and soul of Vietnamese cuisine, it features a delicious play on broth, rice noodles, meat, herbs and spices. Another delicacy that Vietnam is famous for is the Vietnamese spring rolls—soft rice wrappers filled with choicest meats and vegetables such as shrimps, tofu, chicken, and beef. Enjoy it fresh and slow at this special section which will make you feel the charming street-food style eating in Vietnam. 

And with the Philippines long coast line, it’s a crime to miss out our very owns seafood choices. Your meal will never be complete without the tiger prawns, steamed lobster on ice, marinated marina clam and curacha crab which are all highly regarded for its freshness, standout taste and quality. So make sure this cold section is part of your eating plan.

 

 

I like my seafood with butter and garlic!

You can have them cook it however you want, buttered cheese, garlic cheese, steamed.  Just tell them!

 

 

 

Sweet chili is also popular!

 

 

While the West is abundant with milk for most of their dessert recipes, Southeast Asians on the other hand capitalize on the creamy goodness of coconut milk, whether it’s for glutinous rice or fruits. A mix of sweet, savory, hot and cold, these should be a flavorful last hurrah for a really good meal: pandan crepes rolled with caramelize coconut, stewed green bean with palm sugar, banana in sweet coconut, pandan leave jelly plus other famous delicacies that will surely strike anyone’s fancy.

 

Kolak  Biji Salak

 

 

 

 

Pumpkin Custard

 

 

 

 

Xoivi (Mango Sticky Rice Cake)

 

 

 

 

More sweets!

 

 

 

 

My favorite: the Gellato Bar

 

 

 

 

(All flavors are homemade!)

A Marriott Buffet won’t be complete without this!

 

 

 

 

Chocolate Fondue!

Sweet Pineapple and Chocolate is my favorite!

 

Food and travel are a perfect way to go if someone wants to have an in-depth experience of a local destination. With this in mind, Marriott properties in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam, are giving away three days and two nights gift certificates to four lucky diners of Flavors of Asia—all you need to fully enjoy a one hundred percent Asian experience!

 

Bringing an authentic taste of local life and hospitality, four chefs working on Flavors of Asia, Marriott Manila will also conduct a special cooking class for only P1, 500 net inclusive of a hearty lunch: July 9, Thai; July 16, Malaysian, July 23 Vietnamese; and July 30, Indonesian. If you wish to experience this treat that’s injected with fun and information, consider enjoying Asian cuisine by learning to cook it yourself! 

 

Instead of hitting the usual haunt, invite the group over and explore a night of culinary adventure at Marriott Café, guaranteed to give anyone a quick passport to Asia. 

 

For inquiries or reservations, call Marriott Café at 988-9999.

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