Chicken inasal relleno, embutido at C2

MANILA, Philippines - C2 offers its bestselling crispy kare-kare served with steamed vegetables and rich peanut sauce or the seared tilapia in coconut emulsion. Also offered are the traditional Paskong Pinoy with C2’s new holiday fare, like the classic embutido, chicken inasal relleno and pineapple cerveza glazed hamon de bola. There is also the lumpiang hubad, a medley of vegetable strips sautéed in a sweet peanut-garlic sauce. 

Take home the Christmas bar boxes of six and 12 from Cravings’ bakeshop, with choices of choco revel, butterscotch, fudgy walnut brownies, chocolate honey-oatmeal and peanut macadamia. Pasko sa C2 is available until Jan. 15, 2012.

C2 is at the second level Archaeology Section, Powerplant Mall Rockwell, 897-8113; 3rd Floor Mega Atrium, Building A, SM Megamall, 710-4759; Level 1 Midtown wing of Robinsons Place Manila, 567-2402; sixth level, The Ledge at Shangri-La Plaza Mall, 636-1510; 18 Missouri St., Greenhills, 723-2347; and at Cravings Center, 287 Katipunan Avenue, Loyola Heights, QC., 426-6681.

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Beef, beef: The Hotshot Burger

Chicano and Kamikaze burgers at Hotshot Burgers

Hotshot Burgers offers big, tasty, and juicy burgers. Choose from the Chicano Burger with salsa and creamy cheese; the Kamikaze, a quarter-pound burger spiced up by wasabi; Garlic Cheese burger with a tangy garlic spread; Caramelized Onion burger topped with soft, lightly sautéed white onions; and the Ultimate Cheese, a double-quarter pounder for big appetites.

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Snack time: The Ciabatta Pizza Combo at P175 at Le Coeur de France

Gourmet combo meals at Le Coeur de France

Le Coeur de France and Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines, Inc. recently launched “I Love to Save” Campaign. Save P15 for the every order of Coke and a Gourmet Combo meal at Le Coeur de France.

The selections include the Ciabatta Pizza Combo at P175. The new sandwich concoctions, priced at P215, include selections like salmon, lettuce and tomato, cold shrimp, beef and pepper, tuna and mushroom, and pepperoni, pastrami, and cheese with an ice-cold Coca-Cola in can. The new all-veggie sandwich combo is priced at P170. Promo is valid until supplies last. 

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Special room rates at Mandarin Oriental Manila

To mark its 35th anniversary, Mandarin Oriental, Manila offers local residents a special room rate available until Dec. 30, starting at P3,500+. The anniversary promo runs until Nov. 12, and from Nov. 27 to 30. 

During their stay, guests can lounge around the hotel’s pool area, relax with a rejuvenating spa treatment, and indulge at any of the hotel’s seven restaurants and bars. A complimentary shuttle is also available for trips to nearby commercial centers and hotspots. Avail of the anniversary offer for a Club Suite for only P7,000. Enjoy the requisite amenities of the Mandarin Oriental Club like complimentary breakfast, all-day refreshments, and cocktails.

For reservations, call 750-8888 or e-mail at momnl-reservations@mohg.com.

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Taste the world: Pepper Lunch is one of the featured restaurants at the Shangri-La Mall Festival.

Restaurant festival at Shangri-La Mall

The Shangri-La Plaza Mall takes shoppers on a gustatory treat around the globe by playing host to this year’s Appetite’s Restaurant Festival at the Shang. Shoppers and food lovers enjoy special promos and treats at the following participating restaurants at the Shang: C2, Café Provencal, ClawDaddy, Cravings, Crustasia, Cyma, Green Tomato, Lemongrass, Pages Deli, Pepper Lunch, Pho Hoa, Secret Recipe, and Sing Hainanese Chicken. Promo runs until Nov. 30.

For information, call 633-7851 loc.113 or visit www.shangrila-plaza.com.

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Meat your match: Sweet Carolina ribs at Texas Roadhouse Grill

Best of the west at Texas Roadhouse Grill

 Texas Roadhouse Grill offers its Best of The West selections with dishes like the Wrangler’s Pork Steak, grilled and topped with BBQ sauce, chopped bacon, mixed cheese, diced tomatoes, and spring onions; Sweet Carolina Ribs with honey-mustard BBQ sauce double-basted over tender baby back ribs; Almond Crusted Fish Fillet, Parmesan-crusted fish fillet; and the Shrimp & Salmon Skewer, a combo of grilled and marinated beef and chicken. All dishes are served with Texas rice and sautéed French beans on the side. The dishes are available for a limited time only.

Texas Roadhouse Grill is in Ortigas, 635-6715 and Bonifacio Global City in Taguig, 856-1547. 

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Christmas in the bag: The Christmas gift packages from Pan de Manila

Christmas gift packs at Pan de Manila

Pan de Manila offers its 2011 Christmas paper bag theme and packaging design, “Isang Makulay na Paskong Pinoy!” With the tagline “Mainit na Pandesal, Masayang Salu-Salo, Magpasalamat Tayo Para Sa Biyaya ng Pasko,” designer Rina Albert-Llamas came up with a design that centers on distinct images that remind us of the joyful and colorful Pinoy Christmas.

The theme will also be featured in Pan de Manila’s Christmas gift pack items — in boxes that contain their specialty breads and palaman.

For information, call 636-0468 or e-mail pandemanila_jlg@yahoo.com.

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Sweet ending: Super moist banana cupcake at Seven Suites

P3,800 room packages at Seven Suites

Seven Suites Hotel Observatory offers room packages at P3,800 a night until Dec. 8. The promo includes an eat-all-you-can bonanza of coffee and cakes, a perfect treat for those with a sweet tooth. Choose between two packages: Package A at the Deluxe and Silver Rooms at P3,800 per night with breakfast for two, unlimited cakes and coffee at Sugar, 10-percent discount at the Hollywood Steak House, and free access to the swimming pool and at the hotel observatory for stargazing. Package B is at P6,800 per night with a special dinner, limitless coffee and cake at Sugar, 10-percent discount at the Hollywood Steak House, and free access to the swimming pool and at the hotel observatory for stargazing.

Seven Suites Hotel Observatory is located at Hollywood Hills Subdivision, Sumulong Highway, Antipolo City.

For more information, call 682-0330, 682-2076 or visit www.sevensuites.net.

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Something different: The chicken schnitzels at The Cuisinier Bistro

Cochinillo & boeuf bourguignon at The Cuisinier Bistro

The Cuisinier Bistro has prepared a Christmas lineup of dishes.   Chef-owner Mafe Traje-Seva suggests the cochinillo, their version of the Spanish-roasted suckling piglet that is good for 10-12 people.  Other must-try dishes are the soupe a l’oignon, a caramelized French onion soup with sherry and red wine, sopa de ravioletti, a puree of butternut and potatoes with stuffed fresh pasta or small raviolle pasta, boeuf bourguignon and the paella Valenciana, the salmon tournedos with foie gras and apple figs compote, or their mussels spinaci, which are Chilean mussels with spinach and fennel sauce. Pizza-lovers will enjoy the Calabrese pizza, topped with tuna, anchovies, capers and olives, or with the Saint Jacque topped with oysters. 

End the meal with the no-bake blueberry cheesecake or pannacotta, among many others.  

 The Cuisinier Bistro is at 102 Timog Avenue, Quezon City (fronting Caltex Station near GMA 7) and is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. (Sunday to Thursday) and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. (Friday and Saturday). For information, call 426-5872 and 586-8798 or text 0917-828chef (2433).