3 Filipino food festivals that celebrate PHL Independence Day

Every year in June, hotels and restaurants pull out all the stops to offer the best in Filipino cuisine. This month is when we mark Independence Day, after all. There’s a lot to choose from if you want to dig deep and celebrate your Filipino heritage.

Here are three must-try buffet spreads in town.

1. Kanyaman Filipino Food Festival
Food Exchange, Novotel, Araneta Center, Quezon City

None other than celebrity chef Sau Del Rosario is at the helm of Novotel’s Kanyaman Filipino Food Festival, ongoing until June 22.

Kanyaman is Pampangueño for delicious, which is apt because the festival highlights cuisine from the province that stakes a pretty good claim of serving arguably the best in Filipino regional cuisine.

At Novotel, Chef Sau has prepared native Pampanga dishes with his own signature touch, like Truffled Sisig Paella, Foie Gras Sisig, Crispy Lechon Belly with Chocolate and Cheese Stuffing, Pancit Luglug, Pochero, Duck Adobo and brick oven-baked Longganisa Pizza.

Of course, there’s a dessert section with both Pinoy favorites like kakanin (maja blanca, sapin-sapin, puto, bibingka, puto bumbong) and Western items like ice creams and cakes.

“My mom said, ‘When you cook and you’re smiling, the food turns out good,’” said Chef Sau, who has apprenticed with Michelin-starred chefs and has worked in kitchens around the world.

Kanyaman Food Festival, ongoing now until June 22. Buffet rate is at P1,200 during weekdays, and P1,600 on weekends (Friday & Saturday dinner service and Sunday lunch and dinner service). It comes  with one glass of wine. +63 2 99078888.

2. Philippine Archipelago Food Festival
Corniche, Diamond Hotel, Roxas Boulevard, Manila

Chef Myke “Tatung” Sarthou, who is a cookbook author and a host and producer of an innovative cooking series on Facebook, has been tapped by Diamond Hotel for the Philippine Archipelago Food Fest.

“The idea is to showcase the different regions around the country through their dishes,” Chef Tatung said during the festival launch last Friday, June 2. “I don’t think there’s really a ‘national Filipino cuisine’ because there’s so much to discover all around the Philippines.”

Chef Tatung’s passion—which is “the search for the roots of Philippine cuisine through which he rediscovers indigenous cooking methods”—is evident in the wide array of regional dishes in the spread at Corniche, the Diamond Hotel’s buffet restaurant.

It opens with an impressive trio of soups: Chicken Tinola na may Mais, Classic Molo, and Traditional Nilagpang. Must-try mains include Chicken Pianggang (which is similar to the Bicolano dish laing), classic Kare-Kare, Embutido, Adobo Glazed Roast Beef, and Bagnet.

Make sure to leave some room for dessert as Corniche has an impressive selection of sweet offerings, including creative takes on Filipino favorites like Champorado Mousse (topped with dilis instead of the staple tuyo), Durian Triffle, Salted Egg Brazo de Mercedes, and Buco Meringue Pie.

There’s also a halo-halo station, if you feel like creating your own version of the summer favorite.

The Philippine Archipelago Food Festival ongoing until June 12, 2017. Buffet rate is P2,380 net per person. +63 2 5283000 local 1121.

3. Vegan Filipino Food Festival
Marriott Café, Marriott Hotel Manila, Resorts Drive, Pasay

Filipino food isn’t exactly the friendliest toward vegans and vegetarians, but this month, Marriott Hotel Manila made sure our herbivores can take part in the Filipino food trip. The hotel is offering a full vegan selection of local favorites.

“We thoroughly studied and searched for quality plant alternatives that provide the same aroma, texture and flavor to replace meats,” says Executive Chef Meik Brammer. The result is all-vegetable versions of classic favorites like Bicol Express, Sisig and Bacolod Inasal.

Instead of pork in Bicol Express, Chef Meik uses a variety of mushrooms that have a rich and meaty texture like portabello, shitake, and Tagaytay’s oyster mushroom. Combined with their homemade spicy coconut cream, Marriott’s vegan Bicol Express looks, feels and tastes almost like the real thing.

The vegan version of sisig, meanwhile, uses banana hearts (puso ng saging) and breadfruit (kamansi);  while Bacolod Inasal features chargrilled high-protein alternative tofu that’s been dipped in traditional Iloilo vinegar, sinamak.

Vegan Filipino Food Festival Marriott Café, available until June 30, for dinner service only. Buffet rates are P2,500 Saturdays to Fridays, and P2,100 Sundays to Thursdays. +63 2 9889999 —LA, GMA News