A glass of bubbly makes Sunday lunch

If you think Sunday lunch is just like any other lunch affair, then you haven’t been to the Sunday champagne lunch at Paseo Uno of the Mandarin Oriental, Manila. One of the few champagne lunches in Metro Manila, it serves guests free-flowing glasses of Moët et Chandon’s Brut Imperial. And no, you don’t have to ask for it. Your server will top up your glass each time you empty it. Isn’t that a wonderful deal?

Paseo Uno manager Sebastien Pequeux says Filipinos are still quite timid when it comes to bubbly, comparing it to wine. "But in other Asian countries, like Hong Kong and Singapore, they’ve come to associate Sunday brunches with champagne. These brunches are not that big yet in Manila. Very few hotels are serving them. But here at the Mandarin we boast serving Moët et Chandon, one of the few brands that people often associate with champagne."

Indeed. When we think of champagne, we think of the glamorous life. Go back into history, and you’ll find champagne at the tables of the nobility, accompanying almost all sorts of feasting. Nowadays, champagne is served during toasts and at almost any grand celebration. Why shouldn’t we drink it on Sunday, the day of the week when we should be at our most relaxed, before we resume the grueling grind of the work week.

If you rarely have champagne or would want to discover its effervescent charm, the Paseo Uno Sunday lunch offers the best deal in town. The Sunday lunch with a glass of Moët et Chandon is at P1,499+++, while for free-flowing champagne it’s P1,999+++. That’s just an extra P500 for refillable champagne. Now consider this: a bottle of Moët et Chandon champagne retails at around P6,000, with a bottle good for eight flutes. You do the math, and you can be sure that this brunch is a steal.

Of course, Moët et Chandon champagne is only half the bargain. Paseo Uno’s lavish buffet of international and Asian specialties is enough to keep any gourmet happy.

There’s an extensive selection of cold hors d’oeuvres, appetizers, salads, and cheeses, including fresh oysters and steamed prawns. There are also live cooking stations for Asian noodles, pasta, tempura, grills and roasts, and crepes, all prepared according to your preference. Washed all this down with glasses of bubbly and you’re sure to find yourself all smiles by the end of the afternoon.

The kids will also not find themselves hungry at the Paseo Uno champagne brunch. The children’s buffet (kids five to 12 years old) priced at P650+++ comes with free-flowing soft drinks or chilled juices.

If that’s not enough, availing of the Sunday champagne lunch entitles guests to free use of the pool for the rest of the afternoon. Mom and Dad can enjoy an afternoon dip, while the children will have a grand time at a clown and magician show. What more can you ask for?

Paseo Uno is open from 5 to 10:30 a.m. for breakfast, 12 to 2:30 p.m. for lunch, 3 to 4 p.m. for snacks, and 6 p.m. to 12 midnight for dinner. For inquiries and reservations, call Paseo Uno at 750-8888 local 2411 and 2412.