Coffee, Tea, Curry, or Me: A Long Weekend in Manila
Another long weekend, this time an extra hot one. We decided to forego trying to make a beeline out of the city to avoid the traffic snarls that greet just about every holiday. Here are some suggestions on how to enjoy a long weekend in Manila.
No Hurry Curry
We’ve always had a soft spot for Benjarong at Dusit Thani Manila, as the old-school restaurant was Dad’s favorite restaurant in the city. This weekend it’s all the more special with two fabulous six-hands dinners by chefs Bo Songvisava and Dylan Jones of the Michelin-starred Bo.Lan in Bangkok, collaborating with Benjarong’s Watcharaphon Yongbanthrom.
Bo.Lan is known for the contrasting flavors and textures in its contemporary Thai cuisine. We watched as they painstakingly ground their green curry by hand using over a dozen ingredients (they flew in their chilis, coconuts, palm sugar, and about 100 kilos of other items from Bangkok) which they simmered with beef ribs, and more chilis. Can’t get it out of my head. After the Bo.lan chefs return to Bangkok, the Benjarong Experience Menu will be available through the end of May.
dusit.com/dusitthani-manila/dining/benjarong/
Sakura Afternoon Tea at the Raffles Makati
Exquisite Japanese cherry blossoms are the focal point of this season’s afternoon tea at the Writers Bar of the Raffles Hotel. The menu was put together by Japanese guest chefs from Swissotel Nanakai Osaka—its head chef Yoshida and executive pastry chef Nakamura, with partner Tea Master Kenta Ikeda of Ikeda Seicha co., LTD.
The tea features a choice of TWG luxury tea flavors with an option to upgrade to secha, which has a seaweed-like flavor; genmaicha, pop rice; or matcha, Ikeda Seicha green tea. It accompanies a tiered tray of sweet and savory canapes, including matcha sesame tofu with black beans and lotus root, chicken and egg salad sandwiches, a salmon roll with tofu and daikon radish, matcha madeleine, mitarashi dumpling, sakura and berry Mont Blanc, Sakura and cream cheese mousse, strawberry panna cotta and yuzu jelly.Â
By reservation only through May 31 from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and from 4 to 5:30 p.m.
Flights of Fancy
Behind an unmarked door in Legazpi Village is one of the city’s best-kept secrets, ITO Space. Partners Niko Tiutan and Alex Atienza offer flights of coffee, tea, cocktails, and conversation. The intimate space designed by Keiji Ashizawa has seven seats at the sleek stone bar and is by reservation only.
Tiutan and Atienza move about the tiny workspace of brick, wood, and copper in synchronicity, and it is a joy to watch them take their time enjoying the process of it all: the brewing of their roasted buckwheat tea, to the filtering of their coffee grounds from beans sourced the world over, the delicate dusting of confectioner’s sugar on their cookies, even.
Coffee Corner
Mom’s latest toy is a bright red Nespresso Vertuo, which she received for her 80th birthday. She pops in a pod, presses a button, and out comes a cup of coffee with a perfect crema, and the aroma of freshly roasted beans. A bigger pod can be used to make a whole carafe of coffee for friends. She was so excited to have them over, she even purchased an Aeroccino 3 milk frother, with a choice of cold or warm milk for lattes.
Me Time with Parlon
Log on to Parlon, and book some me time at the salon. The online beauty platform has the largest network of salons in the country, with close to 500 partners and 1,500 branches.
Book a relaxing facial or a haircut. Tame those wild brows or get a foot spa and pedicure. Check out the hundreds of deals and steals. There’s something for everyone, really.
Relax at the Clarins Spa
The Clarins Spa at Rustan’s has a tri-active facial for you, no matter what age bracket you fall in: the radiance smoother for those in their 30s, the power firmer for the 40-somethings, the lifting replenisher for the golden gods. And for men on the go, there’s a For Him 60-minute skin booster. Make sure to snag a pump of Clarins double serum before heading home.
