It’s love, suite love

When Elizabeth Barrett Browning declared "How do I love thee? Let me count the ways…," it’s unfortunate that The Heritage Hotel Manila wasn’t around yet to simplify matters for her. If you need to prove this point or merely want to pamper your loved one with a romantic night on Valentine’s Day, look no further. The Heritage has two special room packages, available from Feb. 13 to 15, that promise to make your "V" day so much more memorable.

The "How Suite It Is" room package offers guests the privacy and convenience of a suite room, priced at P9,500 per night. The "Wine, Dine and Be My Valentine" room package offers a deluxe room, priced at P3,900 per night.

Heritage Hotel Manila marketing director Maricor V. Aquino says this is the first time the property has offered a complete room and entertainment package that pampers guests on this special day.

Due to the meticulous preparation needed to dress up each suite, only 10 suites are available for the "How Suite It Is" room package. It is available on a first come, first served basis.

Guests availing themselves of the suite package are in for an evening of romance. Vases of roses adorn the room while the receiving area of the suite guest room is specially set up for a candlelit dinner for two. Two attendants will be present at dinner to see to the needs of guests during the evening.

Guests can choose from two Valentine’s Day set menus, both elaborately prepared by executive sous chef Joey Carbon. All meals come with a bottle of sparkling wine.

Guests also have the leeway to decide the time for dinner. An early evening meal can give them a full view of the sunset from the wide picture windows of the suite rooms. As the evening deepens, the rush hour traffic along Roxas Blvd. provides a backdrop of colorful lights to add drama to the candlelit affair.

Set menu No. 1 includes Cold Seafood Pleasures for appetizer, a salad of smoked mussels, prawns and marinated squid with arugula and mixed lettuce with balsamic dressing; Mushroom Cappuccino, a soup of the essence of wild forest mushrooms with pommery mustard froth; Pepitas Encrusted Beef Medallions for entrée, pumpkin seed-encrusted beef medallions with Acapulco pimiento sauce, cappellini pasta and new age vegetables; and Ice Soufflés "Le Passion," passion fruit iced soufflé with almond biscotti.

Set menu No. 2 includes Duck Liver Pate with Guava Chutney; Onion Soup; Pink Salmon and Black Cod Waltz "Orientalia," pan-fried fillets of salmon and black cod on a bed of Oriental ratatouille and potato puree; and Silken Chocolate Torte, a delicate French chocolate cake with almonds, walnuts and nutty-cinnamon crust and a sauce of Grand Marnier.

Of course, it doesn’t end there. To complete the romantic tone of the evening, the guest room’s king-size bed is adorned with rose petals. In the bath, the tub is sprinkled liberally with rose petals, while aromatherapy candles add to the extravagant setting, filling the room with its fragrance.

The "Wine, Dine and Be My Valentine" room package comes with buffet dinner for two at the Restaurant Riviera or the poolside barbecue and a free bottle of wine. Both packages come with free breakfast for two at the Restaurant Riviera.

For inquiries and reservations, call 854-88-88.