#f1hotel

The Premier Lounge also offers snacks and beverages throughout the day. It serves as an extension of the hotel rooms and guests can stay here and enjoy reading newspapers and magazines or even entertain other guests.

My room at F1 Hotel Manila is the elegant and spacious Fort Suite. This fabulous corner suite has 43 square meters of comfort and comes with high-speed internet, an ipod dock, electronic safe, mini-bar, plus coffee and tea-making facilities. It has a separate living room area complete with a sofa bed and its own 32-inch LCD television. 

I am always delighted with the admirable Filipino hospitality and service guests receive at F1 Hotel Manila. This cheese platter was already waiting for me when I arrived and these are the small things that truly make a stay extra special. Room service is also available 24 hours a day so anyone can place an order in the comforts of their room.

My king-sized bed inside the Fort Suite is just so comfortable. The plush mattress and soft pillows makes it so easy to fall asleep whatever time of the day. The bedroom also has another flat screen TV so this is perfect for families whose kids want to watch their own programs. No need to fight over the remote control!

I wanted to just stay inside my room and take a nap, but it was time for our buffet lunch at F All Day Dining, the hotel’s restaurant on the third floor. The spacious cafe offers international cuisine for its lunch and dinner buffets at only P1,399 nett per person.

I also wanted to meet F1 Hotel Manila’s new executive chef Angelo Chubby Timban who was busy preparing the lovely buffet spread at F All Day Dining. Chef Angleo is an award-winning chef who used to work at other five-star establishments such as Resorts World Manila, Shangri-La Boracay, and Discovery Suites. He takes over from Chef Decker Gokioco and is now in charge of all the hotel’s kitchen operations including the buffet plus banquet and social events such as our New Year’s Party this evening.

Lunch at F1 Hotel Manila is always special and diners can start with some appetizers from the cheese board. Other choices include salads, breads, cured meats, soups, noodles, sushi and sashimi.

Now this is my kind of appetizer, the crunchy Prawn Tempura. I always looks for these first whenever I am at a buffet and F All Day Dining never disappoints with their huge bowl full of tempura.

The cold seafood section is also a great place to grab some mussels and fresh prawns. You can eat these as they are, but it is much better to have them grilled or cooked in garlic butter at the grilling station.

The highlight of our buffet lunch that afternoon was the Lechon Cebu, a savoury slab of roasted pork belly that comes with very crispy skin. I got a plateful of lechon and poured some liver sauce for a really delectable treat.

There were many other dishes featured on the buffet table including the Beef Tenderloin in Red Wine Sauce and the tasty Pork Pastrami. Other interesting items included the Beef Ribs Adobo and the Gochujang Chicken with red chili paste.

Desserts are also plenty at F1 Hotel Manila with a selection of cakes, parfaits, cookies, breads, fruits, halo halo, and even all the ice cream that you want. I was really so full from my lunch buffet at F All Day Dining so I had a short walk around the hotel afterwards to visit some of its facilities.

F1 Hotel has three separate swimming pools located on the fifth level including a family pool, a kiddie pool, and a lap pool. It is open daily from 7:00am to 11:00pm. A fully-equipped Fitness Center is also just nearby which is open 24/7 for those early morning or late night workouts.

Beside the pool is the Canary Lounge where drinks and snacks are served all day. Set with a magnificent view of the bustling cityscape below, the Canary Lounge is also a great place for evening cocktails especially with the cool city breeze. F1 Hotel is also close to many popular retail establishments such as S&R Membership and Bonifacio High Street so everything is just a few minutes away.

Our dinner party that evening was held at the Infinity Ballroom which is a great venue for birthday parties, debuts or corporate events. The ballroom can accommodate around 200 guests and with our growing family and friends, the KTG had plenty of room to dine and mingle. The KTG’s founder, media personality and blogging pioneer Spanky Enriquez, hosted the affair which even included raffles and special gifts for the guests.

Of course, everybody was waiting for the buffet tables to open and we all started lining up for The Plaza Premium Baked Ham from The Plaza Catering. This is one of the best hams you can find in Metro Manila and it goes really well inside warm pandesal. 

Also on deck were excellent cuts of cheese from La Petite Fromagerie. I especially like their Truffle Cream Cheese Spread which is unlike any other spread you can put on your bread.

But the star of the evening was definitely the Raclette which was melted into a gooey and cheesy delight. You can have the cheese with bread, nuts or fruits, but you can also be creative and combine it with the ham pandesal. Thank you Ms. Karla Reyes for bringing these lovely treats to the party.

F1 Hotel Manila also presented their own culinary creations for the guests like the Tinapa and Aligue Pasta with its distinct Filipino taste.

Everyone was also impressed with the Stuffed Beef Belly with Black Forest Sauce from Chef Chubby. This roasted beef is stuffed with even more beef and then served with a chocolate sauce that is truly amazing. With these kinds of mouthwatering dishes, I’m sure F1 Hotel Manila is in good hands.

Most of The KTG members are now so busy that this is the only time everyone is present in one event. It’s nice to get together and see all the KTG babies growing up so fast. All the guests were happy with their glasses of yummy milk tea and beverages courtesy of Serenitea. I tried the Wintermelon Milk Tea and the Milo Dino drinks which were both really good.

There was also free-flowing cocktails and other alcoholic beverages care of Swizzle Mobile Bar. I like their Frozen Mojito which you can also book for your parties and celebrations. It was a fun and filling night which even ended with a one-hour spa treatment inside my room. How can you beat that?

The next morning, I woke up to a buffet breakfast at F All Day Dining which is served from 6:00am to 10:00am. You can find the usual breakfast staples here such as bacon, sausages, cereals, eggs, and noodles. Pancakes, waffles, ensaymada and French toasts are also available with fresh juices to start the morning right. 

F1 Hotel Manila is truly the Home of The KTG and every visit here reminds me of how important it is to spend time with family and friends. We each have our own busy schedules but it is always a pleasure to see everyone during these special holidays and events. Thank you so much F1 Hotel Manila for always taking care of The KTG and I’m sure I will be back again really soon.

F1 Hotel Manila

32nd Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig

928-9888 / 908-7888

www.f1hotelmanila.com

www.facebook.com/f1hotelmanila

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Luzviminda 4 Highlights Filipino Heirloom Recipes

My room at F1 Hotel Manila is the elegant and spacious Fort Suite. This corner suite has 43 square meters of comfort and comes with high-speed internet, an ipod dock, electronic safe, mini-bar, and coffee and tea-making facilities. It also has a separate living room area complete with its own sofa bed and another 32-inch LCD television. This is perfect for families whose kids want to watch their own shows so you don’t have to fight over the remote control.

From December 5 to 30, 2016, F1 Hotel Manila is offering their Christmas Room Package starting at P6,200 nett. This includes overnight accommodations at a Deluxe Room with breakfast buffet for two at F All Day Dining. It also comes with unlimited wi-fi access, use of the swimming pool and fitness center, plus the option for late check-out up to 4:00pm, subject to availability.

I was delighted to see this welcome treat upon entering my room. These are the little things that make guests feel truly welcome at the hotel. The strawberry cheesecake was absolutely delicious.

The Fort Suite is so big that you can do a lot of selfies and Instagram-worthy poses for the camera. Read a magazine or newspaper at the sofa, finish some chores on your laptop at the work desk, or just lie down and relax on the fluffy and very comfortable king-sized bed.

I went down to the third floor for my lunch at F All Day Dining. The restaurant offers international cuisine for its lunch and dinner buffets at only P1,399 nett per person. The place is also decked in colorful Christmas designs with fairies and butterflies hanging on the ceiling. I was already hungry so I headed to the buffet stations to see what F1 Hotel Executive Sous Chef Decker Gokioco had in store for us.

I started with some sushi which included Philadelphia Rolls and Texas Rolls. The Salmon Sashimi is always a must-have item whenever I go to a buffet. Other appetizers such as selected cheeses and a salad station are also on hand, but I would much rather have some yummy Tempura to start my buffet.

The Cold Seafood section is also a popular station with an overflowing selection of items such as Oysters, Prawns, Mussels and Shells. I prefer to have my seafood cooked so I brought them to the grilling station where you can ask the chefs to prepare them to your liking. These Baked Oysters are just so good with generous amounts of cheese on top. The grilled prawns and mussels are also outstanding.

F All Day Dining has a Make-Your-Own Ramen station where you can choose the ingredients to put into your hearty bowl of ramen. Buffets usually do not offer high-quality ramen but I really enjoyed this one with its flavorful broth that can rival any Japanese restaurant.

I saw this black bread and asked Chef Decker what it was. This is a Turkish Chicken Pizza and he says that he used squid ink on the dough which makes it black. It does look and taste quite exotic and it is nice to see these unique and unfamiliar items to broaden our culinary knowledge.

On the other hand, the Black Pepper Crab is quite familiar to me and this Chinese dish is always a favorite at any buffet or lauriat.

But the surprise highlight of the lunch buffet was the Sugar-Crusted Char Siu Pork Belly which is coated with torched sugar crystals and served with plum sauce and hoisin sauce. The sweet and savory pork belly goes well with the hoisin sauce and it will definitely make you come back for more.

Let’s have something French with the Prawn Thermidor. These huge prawns are baked to perfection and you can already get your money’s worth with a few servings of these. I think I had more than just a few servings.

The grilling station also features several items such as pork, chicken, baby back ribs, salmon belly, and most importantly, unlimited servings of tender and juicy Ribeye Steak. I was so impressed with the taste and quality of these ribeye steaks that I finished a total of five pieces. My friends were all looking at me while I was eating my steaks but that is why they call me The Hungry Kat. Goodbye diet.

Other cooked dishes at the buffet table include the Pianggang Paella which is inspired by the classic Tausug dish, Kushikatsu Ox Tongue with Nagoya sauce, Misoyaki Salmon, and the F1 Smoked Chicken with Garlic Aioli.

Don’t forget about desserts because F All Day Dining also has a good selection of pastries, treats and ice cream to satisfy your sweet tooth. The oh-so-cute Kiara seems to be enjoying her marshmallows so the desserts are kid-approved.

F All Day Dining will be also having Christmas and New Year’s lunch and dinner buffets on December 24, 25, 31 and January 1, 2017 at P1,999 nett per person. Gather the family and reserve your seats for these special Yuletide menus.

After that bountiful lunch, a little rest and relaxation is in order. F1 Hotel has three different pools including a Kiddie Pool, an Infiniy Lap Pool and a Family pool so you can just choose where you want to take a dip. 

Beside the pool is the Canary Lounge where drinks and snacks are served all day. If you want to party the year away, F1 Hotel has its New Year Countdown Party on December 31 for P1,888 nett per person. Enjoy a delectable selection of festive fares and great music from their featured DJs plus unlimited drinks from 10:00pm to 1:00am. 

That evening, our dinner was held at the Infinity Ballroom which is a great venue for birthday parties, debuts or corporate events, especially during this Christmas season. The ballroom can accommodate 200 guests so The KTG had plenty of room to dine and mingle.

Chef Decker brought out one of the more popular items on the menu, the Salted Egg Prawns. Dinner was set up buffet style but the hotel also provided waiters who took cake of the needs of the guests. The venue has its own LCD monitor and sound system so we also had a little KTV fun to make the night more memorable. 

The KTG also celebrated their Christmas party a couple of days later at F1 Hotel Manila, truly The Home of the KTG. We were set up at the Titanium function room and our F1 Hotel Manila family again took care of bountiful Christmas party lunch which included these Miso Prawns and Bonito and Longganisa-stuffed Boneless Crispy Pata.

The best way to end the night is with a pampering session at the F1 Hotel Spa located on the third floor mezzanine. I scheduled my treatment at 10:00pm but they are open even until early morning. You can also have your treatments inside your room but this time I wanted to do it here which has better ambiance and also features a bathtub and a shower. This is also perfect for couples because you can have your treatment here at the same time.

My therapist gave me the pampering I needed to soothe my aching muscles. Needless to say, I had no problem getting to sleep afterwards and I was off to dreamland.

The next morning, I woke up to a buffet breakfast at F All Day Dining which is served from 6:00am to 10:00am. You can find the usual breakfast staples here such as bacon, sausages, cereals, eggs, and noodles. Pancakes, waffles, ensaymada and French toasts are also available with fresh juices to start the morning right. 

Thank you so much to F1 Hotel Manila and Marketing Manager Ms. Twinkle Lacsamana for your generosity and hospitality. I had another wonderful Christmas staycation at F1 Hotel Manila. I never get tired of coming here every year because I always get that warm hospitality that only a Filipino hotel can offer. So plan your holidays early and book your own Christmas staycation at F1 Hotel Manila, the Home of Happy Experiences!

Related links:

F1 Hotel: The Home of Happy Experiences

Fiery & Frosty Holidays at F All Day Dining

A Splendid Yuletide Staycation at F1 Hotel Manila (with a Birthday Surprise)

Yuletide Offerings at F All Day Dining

F1 Hotel Hosts KTG New Year Children’s Party

Luzviminda 4 at F1 Hotel Manila Highlights Filipino Heirloom Recipes

F1 HOTEL MANILA

32nd Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig

928-9888 / 908-7888

www.f1hotelmanila.com

The entrance to F All Day Dining on the hotel’s third floor is decked in a traditional Filipino theme also to celebrate the country’s 118th Independence Day.

This year’s fourth rendition of Luzviminda will feature the creations of “Adobo Queen” Nancy Reyes-Lumen from Luzon; Iloilo's "palangga" Chef Pauline Banusing representing the Visayas; and Chef Kristina Collantes of Park Inn by Radisson Davao from Mindanao.

All three guest chefs were present for the opening of Luzviminda 4 and I want to thank Ms. Twinkle Lacsamana from F1 Hotel Manila for introducing me to each of them. They are all proud of their respective region's culinary heritage and are excited to share these with the rest of the public through Luzviminda 4.

Let’s start with the selection of local appetizers that are spread throughout the buffet areas. Each dish has its own nameplate indicating from which region it came from so this dining experience is also like a geography and history lesson all in one.

Chef Pauline Banusing offers her Coconut Fishballs which is an upgraded version of the more common fishballs on the streets. These big and soft fishballs are best combined with the sweet chili sauce. Another notable appetizer from the Visayas is the Kasag Crab Cakes made with blue crabs and shrimp paste, plus the Lechon Kawali Croquettas which do taste like lechon kawali.

Other unique items include these mussels with salsa and green mango strips. This is quite a different way of eating mussels.

I preferred the Baked Mussels with Moza-Feza Cheese, a specialty from the Mindanao. Don’t forget about Luzon though because we have the Taguig Panara (lower right) and the Seafood Flan (lower left) to represent our region.

Aside from the regional dishes, a big seafood station is also on hand where you can get unlimited servings of crabs, clams, mussels, prawns, scallops and slipper lobsters. You can eat them cold or better yet, have them cooked at the grilling station where you can have them prepared in butter garlic, baked or grilled.

The Talangka Pate by Chef Nancy Reyes Lumen is one of the more colorful and interesting items at Luzviminda 4. This is truly a Filipino creation that you will probably never see anywhere else.

Some more appetizers include the Apan Apan na may Inihaw na Baboy (above), Ensaladang Langka (lower left), Kinilaw na Isda sa Gata (lower right).

But if you know me, I am mostly interested in the main dishes whenever I go to a buffet and this is where I reserve most of my appetite.

Filipinos can never have a complete meal without rice so Luzviminda 4 offers the Adobo Rice care of the Adobo Queen herself, Ms. Nancy Reyes Lumen. We usually mix the adobo sauce on our steamed rice when we eat anyway, so this makes it easier and yummier.

Can’t go wrong with prawns so I loved the Prawns ala Nancy with big pieces of jumbo prawns.

Ms. Nancy Reyes Lumen also shares other Luzon heirloom recipes like the Mechado ni Aling Asiang which has tender beef mechado cubes marinated in soy sauce and calamansi. This classic Filipino beef stew is really great to pair up with rice.

My favorite dish at Luzviminda 4 is the Rodrigo’s Roast, a very flavorful roast pork which I can say is one of the best roast pork dishes I have ever tasted. The crispy skin is somewhat caramelized and the tender pork itself is just oozing with goodness. This one alone is worth the price of the buffet.

You can also try the Kare-Kare Soup which is the traditional kare kare turned into a broth version complete with all the seafood ingredients.

Chef Pauine Banusing also shares many of her Ilonggo recipes like the Pinalmahan na Salmon, a classic Ilonggo seafood dish with pink salmon simmered in ginger, tomatoes and onions. This is a different way of preparing salmon and it works just as well.

The Alimasag na may Ginisang Guinamos gives these crabs a saltier taste from the guinamos, or the Visayan version of a fish bagoong.

Mang Inasal may have made the Chicken Inasal famous here but this is originally an Ilonggo dish marinated with rice wine, soy sauce, calamansi and lemongrass for eight hours. The classic version has a more pronounced calamansi flavor and this one is much better than the fast food version.

Another popular Visayan dish is the Batchoy which originated from La Paz in Iloilo City, so Luzviminda 4 has a dedicated Batchoy Station where you can customize your own hot bowl of delicious La Paz Batchoy. Choose from among the many ingredients like chicken, beef, chicharon bits, shrimp, noodles and top it off with a hard boiled egg.

Another type of soup from the Visayas is the Kadios Baboy at Talangka, a signature Ilonggo comfort soup with kadios or pigeon peas, pork, jackfruit and simmered with batwan seeds. It is similar in taste to the sinigang but with a lot more ingredients and flavor combinations.

Chef Kristina Collantes shares with us her Mindanao dishes like the Chicken Piyanggang from Sulu, a light green chicken dish made with tumeric and coconut milk.

Mindanao is also popular for its Tuna and seafood dishes so the Grilled Tuna Belly with Native Sauce is also a recommended item.

Try the Squid Stuffed with Native Herbs which is like a calamari with fillings.

Another tuna specialty is the Tuna Tail Stuffed with Yellow Rice and you can really see how each of the guest chefs prepare their local dishes in their own unique way.

The Dessert Station is also filled with regional delicacies. Here you can see not-so-common items like the (clockwise from left) Fried Ibos with Muscovado Sugar, Mini Piaya or flatbreads with muscovado filling, Mango Empanaditas and Butterscotch.

Aside from the Halo Halo Station, Fruits, bottomless iced tea and juices that are also included in the buffet, you can also find the Sta. Cruz Kesong Puti Cheesecake (upper right), Tablea Bibingka (bottom right) and the Dayap Tart (bottom left).

You can definitely have a delicious tour around the Philippines all in one buffet at the Luzviminda 4 in F1 Hotel Manila. What better way to celebrate our nation’s independence than by taking pride in our local flavors and delicacies. So take advantage of this annual event and book your tables now!

LUZVIMINDA 4 at F1 HOTEL MANILA