MANILA, Philippines - Whoever said “money can’t buy you happiness” might be dining in the wrong places.
Simply because those who are passionate about all things yummy know too well that there’s only one place to go when the craving for Japanese, Thai or Italian dishes knocks on their palate – Dusit Thani Manila. And yes, they leave the hotel satisfied and with big smiles on their faces after a hearty meal.
This we realized when we embarked on a Gourmet Tour organized by GM Prateek Kumar and PR manager Danelle Palang at the hotel recently.
The Royal Treatment
At Dusit Thani Manila, each guest is treated like royalty. As we walked through the well-lit foyer, we were welcomed by pretty maidens who greeted us the Thai way — with hands pressed against each other and a warm smile. One of them even ushered us to the grand wooden staircase leading to the Club Lounge where we checked in.
While waiting for our key cards, the front desk officer made sure we had our fill of the yummy refreshments before heading to our respective rooms.
Our host Danelle Palang is such an expert when it comes to pampering guests; she planned everything well, from the Junior Suite where we would be spending the night to the tempting gourmet “itinerary.”
Let the Binge Begin
The Gourmet Tour kicked off at the Lobby Lounge where we enjoyed artfully blended cocktails and mixed nuts while waiting for the rest of our colleagues to arrive.
Open from 8 a.m. to 12 midnight, the lounge is frequented for its afternoon High Tea from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., and the wine and cheese buffet from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. for only P750/person. A closer look at the menu convinced us that on this spot alone, one could savor the world without leaving the premises.
The aroma of seafood robata (grilled delights) wafted through the air as we made our way to our next stop: the Umu Japanese restaurant.
The first thing you’ll find appealing about Umu is the layout and design of the resto. The wall facing the sushi counter is artistically covered by black wooden blocks that look like giant Domino tiles. The wooden tables and silk upholstered stools complemented the elegant interiors.
“Umu” means “born of nature” in Japanese. It refers to the materials used in the design and interiors of the resto such as wood, rough granite stone, onyx and the unique three-dimensional feature wall.
Designed by Bangkok-based and award-winning firm Designs Partnership Worldwide (DWP), Umu was a finalist in the Hotel World Global Hospitality and Design Awards held recently in Las Vegas. The resto reached the final four together with restaurants from Hong Kong, Macau and Miami.
Japanese chef Kiyoshi Ogawa prepared a succulent gourmet treat especially for us. The kaki chili mayo (baked oyster with spicy mayo) tasted divine with the salmon potato salad (light broiled salmon fillet and Japanese potato salad) and anakyu sushi rolls. The servings are just right… enough to tease our palates for the hot and spicy fare that awaited us at the Royal Thai Benjarong.
This famous Thai restaurant got its name from the unique type of Thai porcelain with five colors. Benjarong serving plates, renowned for their intricate and exquisitely executed patterns, were originally reserved for Royal and ceremonial use. It is thus a most fitting name for a restaurant that preserves the tradition of the Royal Thai cuisine.
The amiable Thai chef Pacharaporn Noinak whipped up four authentic Thai dishes that have found their way to the hearts of food-loving Pinoys: tom yam gung, tord man gung (deep-fried shrimp cake, phad thai and catfish salad).
Served in a coconut shell, the tom yam was a little mild for my taste (I prefer it uber-spicy) but the flavors of kaffir, coconut milk and the sweet prawn meat could be savored in every spoonful.
The sweet and salty phad Thai was just as filling and delicious. The tord man gung topped the menu. This crispy and juicy shrimp cake with a light curry flavor is definitely worth coming back for more.
We were already half-full when we reached Tosca, a three-time recipient of the New York-based Wine Spectator magazine’s “Award of Excellence” for having an impressive wine list. Sadly, we weren’t there for the wine. Instead, we indulged in the yummy desserts whipped up by Dusit Thani Manila’s executive chef Armin Brandtner. We had a sampling of panna cotta, tiramisu, chocolate mousse, ending with a shot of the Italian wine liqueur limon cello.
The long but fun night was capped with a quick tour of the hotel facilities. With calories to burn, off we went to the boardroom (which is available for corporate meetings and seminars), the Devarana spa (pronounced “te-wa-run,” which comes from the Thai-Sanskrit word that means “garden in heaven”), DFit Fitness Center (which boasts the best equipment to meet the different fitness goals and varying needs of its members), and the pool area where we had more fun and games.
For me, the best part of the tour was the last stop: the Junior Suite with a living room, an LCD TV, free Wi-Fi, a huge bed with comfy pillows, and a luxurious bathroom with equally luxurious L’Occitane toiletries, among others. Well, if these things don’t make you happy, what else will?