By Mia Rodriguez
Published on Spot.ph August 8, 2023
The Manila Hotel has teamed up with Chef Rafael “Tibong” Jardeleza, Jr. to bring over the tastes of Western Visayas to Café Ilang-Ilang. Drop by for lunch or dinner buffet to be treated to flavors and techniques that are unique to the region, including, yup, Batchoy Ice Cream. Our friends from Spot.ph wrote about their experience when we invited them to a press launch of Flavors of Western Visayas.
As you can see, the Ilonggo heritage cuisine is talagang linuluto ng maayos, na galing pa sa mga lolo’t lolohan natin,” said Chef Tibong during the media preview night on August 4. Chef explains that there will be around eight cycles throughout the buffet’s run. “Hindi ito 30 days na pare-pareho lang ang pagkain.” This means that apart form Cafe Ilang-Ilang’s already expansive fare (a visit to their buffet means lining up more than once at their Japanese station), you can expect to find Ilonggo and more Visayan dishes in the mix. “A total of 120 dishes will be presented [this] month,” said chef.
We have La Paz batchoy ice cream for the adventurous. Apart from the batchoy dessert, you can expect dishes like Guimaras Mango with Ginamos sa Tulapo, KBL (Kadios, Baboy, Langka), Laswa, Pancit Molo, Pancit Efuven, Beef Morcon, Chicken Binakol, Lengua Estofado, Bitchuelas, Sopa de Ajo, Fabada, Kinilaw na Tanguigue, Paella Negra with Chiperones, Canonigo, and more.
The Flavors of Western Visayas at the Manila Hotel’s Café Ilang-Ilang will run until August 31. Try Ilonggo dishes and more at their lunch buffet, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and their dinner buffet, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Lunch rates are at P2,995 from Monday to Saturday and P3,145 on Sunday; Dinner rates are at P3,145 from Sunday to Wednesday and P3,790 from Thursday to Saturday.
The Manila Hotel is at 1 Rizal Park, Ermita, Manila
