Food Exchange Manila—Novotel Manila at Araneta Center in Cubao—may not have the ginormous buffet size of legendary Spirals at fellow AccorHotel brand Sofitel Manila, but diners are always quick to praise the former’s thoughtfully curated culinary offerings.
See, Food Exchange Manila has all the sections one looks for in a buffet: appetizers, salads, cheeses, cold cuts, pastas, carving station, grilled seafood, Japanese station, Indian station, pizza station complete with brick oven. Check, check, check.
And it’s attractively priced as well—in short, it’s the place to go if you want to eat really well but for a reasonable price.
Small wonder this stylish and spacious restaurant in the heart of Cubao is getting to be a foodie destination.
Bringing Asian Street Food indoors
Still ongoing at Food Exchange Manila is its Asian Street Food Festival that kicked off last August 15 and runs till Sunday, September 3.
Savor the iconic street foods in the region as the restaurant honors the 50th anniversary of ASEAN. Here, diners get to taste the famous street foods of all eight member countries—from Thailand, India, Korea, Japan, Philippines, Vietnam, Singapore, to China.
Asian street food is all the rage, after all, and has even gotten the attention of international celebrity chefs like Anthony Bourdain who is set to open (in 2019, according to his website) the much-awaited Bourdain Market in New York City featuring street food vendors from across the globe.
And to make sure everyone gets to truly relish the authentic tastes and flavors of each ASEAN-driven dish, Novotel Manila has collaborated with Chef Sau del Rosario who, early this year, was tapped by KF Seetoh of Makansutra to be a consultant at the well-attended World Street Food Congress.
This is Food Exchange Manila’s second team-up with Chef Sau, who also led the Kanyaman Filipino Food Festival in June this year.
Seems like Chef Sau took inspiration from the ASEAN spirit of unity and cooperation by tapping other Asian chefs to participate in this food festival. He has teamed up with Thai chef Aof Suwannalert, Korean chef Michael Kim, Indian Chef Rajan Veeranan, Japanese chef CJ Takajama, and Filipno chef Edwin Infante.
For his part, Chef Sau has also collaborated with Food Exchange Manila’s culinary team in preparing authentic versions of various Singaporean, Vietnamese, and Malaysian street food items.
In keeping up with the food promo’s theme, Food Exchange Manila enlivened the restaurant further with a special setting consisting of an Asian hawker food stall replica complete with a large photo of the participating chefs. A fun and warm welcome, indeed, for those who step inside the restaurant.
Diners also get that “street food stall” feel with interactive areas such as the grilling station where they get to choose an array of skewered items like chicken satay, beef kebabs, and fish balls that will be grilled or deep-fried on the spot for them.
Plus, the buffet price is enticingly packaged as all-in with refreshing juices, teas, and coffee—all for the price of Php1,299 nett during weekdays for both lunch and dinner, and Php1,499 nett for weekends and public holidays.
Wash down those spicy, flavorful barbecues or noodles with the Novotel signature pandan iced tea, or with fresh buko juice and sago’t gulaman (both in samalamig plastic jars).
Family trips to Asia
After enjoying a bowl of ramen, some chicken satay, or bibimbap, most diners may feel the food festival has only whetted their appetite for some Asian travel. Be assured then that Novotel Manila has heard their collective wish.
Come and try the lunch or dinner buffet at Food Exchange Manila today or tomorrow and get the chance to win the hotel’s special raffle draw. All diners who avail themselves of the ongoing Asian Street Food Fest promotion of Food Exchange Manila get the chance to win 4-day, 3-night stays in participating AccorHotels’ Asian properties.
Enjoy a dream vacay in hotels like Novotel Singapore Clarke Quay, Novotel Saigon Center, Novotel Bangkok Platinum Pratunam, Mercure Tokyo Ginza, Novotel Ambassador Seoul Gangnam, and Novotel Manila Araneta Center,
And yes, there’s more! This super tempting deal includes round-trip airfares for two to Incheon Korea courtesy of Cebu Pacific, terms and conditions apply.
For more information and reservations, call (+632) 990-7888 or e-mail [email protected]. To know more about Novotel Manila Araneta Center, visit www.novotel.com or www.accorhotels.com.
