Ho-ho-holidaze

A royal Christmas at InterContinental Manila

Celebrate the holidays at InterContinental Manila with a selection of holiday sweets from The Jeepney Bakery and Christmas hampers made out of elegant leather gift boxes, filled with festive goodies.

Celebrate with style in Prince Albert Rotisserie’s private dining rooms and enjoy an exceptional 6-course set dinner paired with the finest wines. For a more casual holiday dining experience, choose from a sumptuous buffet at Café Jeepney, or set menu selections at Gambrinus Bar and Sol Y Sombra.

Make holiday celebrations at home an elegant affair with savory take aways from the InterContinental kitchen. Impress your guests with roast prime rib, turkey, honey glazed ham, and chicken relleno. All items are available for order 48 hours in advance.

For reservations and information, call 793-7000.

Pinoy Pasko with C2

 Make C2 Classic Cuisine part of your holiday celebrations. Its holiday menu includes favorite Pinoy dishes with a twist both as a meal package and cater plans.

Set A (good for 4) includes fried rice, manok sa pugad,  pancit lucban and buko pandan salad.  Set B (for 4) has fiesta fried rice, bam-i guisado, and buko pandan salad.  Set C (for 5) is a feast with fried rice, lapu-lapu escabeche, inihaw na liempo, special chopsuey, and buko pandan salad.

Other take home dishes include chicken relleno, seared tilapia in coconut emulsion, crispy kare-kare, and more.

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/C2Philippines.

Dusit’s Elf relaxing massage

Take a break at Dusit Thani Manila and go for an hour of Elf relaxing massage before the next round of Christmas gift productions begin. This massage focuses on the neck, shoulders and back. Therapist places lightly steamed gingers on the back, followed by the aromatic vanilla warm compress.

The, the scent of fresh warm ginger is combined with the gentle vanilla aroma and turned into aromatic ginger bread cookie aroma to soothe all the tensions and tiredness. The therapist works into the muscle and soft tissue to further relieve stress and tension. For reservations and inquiries, call 238-8888.

Yuletide at Acacia Hotel Manila

Book an early holiday treat with the Ho Ho Holiday room package. Stay overnight in a deluxe room inclusive of buffet breakfast for two, 15 percent discount at all restaurants, welcome drinks and a Christmas token. Applicable for stay dates from Dec. 16 to 30 and Jan. 1 to 10.

The Lobby at Acacia features its life-size gingerbread house. Acaci restaurant offers a rich and delicious Christmas buffet spread.

Acacia’s Create A Smile: Toy Drive is ongoing until Dec. 21. Donate unwrapped old or new toys for the benefit of Virlanie Foundation and My Father’s House. The first 200 donors to donate a minimum of 2 toys with at least a total retail value of P300 will be treated to a complimentary Christmas buffet breakfast on Dec. 21.

For more information, call 720-2000 or visit www.acaciahotelsmanila.comwww.acaciahotelsmanila.com.

Corregidor Christmas getaway

Sun Cruises Inc. offers fast ferry transfers, hotel and restaurant services, and guided tours around Corregidor as well as the Amazing Race-inspired Adventure Challenge where guests can explore the ruins, hidden tunnels and historic spots. A new way of discovering the island is via the Old Manila Walks.

Rocket Zipline takes guests from Corregidor Inn to the South Beach in 30 seconds. Overnight guests can take a romantic sunset tour at Battery Grubbs overlooking Bataan Peninsula. Tourists have the option of hopping in the neighboring isles and try their hand at fishing. Cap your trip upon docking at Manila Bay with a sunset dinner cruise.

Visit www.corregidorphilippines.com for details.

DADS world buffets

 From the Filipino’s favorite DADS buffet comes an even bigger and better dining destination.

The all-new DADS World Buffets at SM Megamall now offers a world of famous culinary specialties, all on top of its signature lineup of continental, Japanese, and Filipino dishes through its DADS, Kamayan, and Saisaki buffets.

Thanks to these treats from DADS World Buffet, you and your family can discover, savor, and enjoy an epicurean voyage through the world with the restaurant’s wide range of culinary delicacies this Christmas.

For reservations and inquiries, contact 636-3785 or 633-1758 or visit www.kamayansaisakidads.com.

Fog City Creamery Christmas cheer

Fog City Creamery is offering four new Christmas flavors.

Enjoy brandy-flavored ice cream with a luscious mix of apricots, pistachio and almonds in Fruit and Nuts Deluxe. Brandied Cherries is dark, red cherries soaked and smothered in Emperador Deluxe brandy. 

Savor the fusion of fudgy chocolate and peppermint in Peppermint Brownie. For those who need to watch their sugar levels but still want to indulge, Tablea is for you. Pair this with a scoop of Ensaymada ice cream, brown butter ice cream with ensaymada bits and queso de bola. Personalized flavors for events or gifts may also be made.

For more information, email [email protected] or call 0917-883-3344.

Cornucopia of feasts at Diamond Hotel

Celebrate over a scrumptious spread of international dishes at Corniche with its Christmas Eve and Christmas Day lunch and dinner buffets with a complimentary glass of sparkling wine.

Partake of a traditional Japanese meal at Yurakuen with its 8-course set dinner inclusive of a complimentary glass of plum liquor or sparkling wine before dinner and free flow of wine during dinner, available on Dec. 24 and 25.

On Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and News Year’s Day, celebrate at the Lobby Lounge with a set of signature tapas and a bottle of Emilio Morro for 2 persons. Holiday goodies as well as savory treats are also available. 

For inquiries and reservations, call 528-3000 ext. 1121.

Balikbayan promo at City Garden Hotel

City Garden Hotel Makati extends a warm embrace to homecoming Filipinos via its balikbayan promo – a welcome treat for hardworking kababayans.

The promo includes an overnight stay, buffet breakfast for two, wi-fi access, complimentary use of the health club and swimming pool, and discounts at Le Jardin and Roofdeck restaurants, as well as on laundry services.

The balikbayan promo may be availed of until Jan. 31.

For bookings and inquiries, call 899-1111, email [email protected] or visit www.citygardenhotelmakati.com.

Cheery offerings from Raintree restaurants

Leave the chopping, stuffing, and cooking to Raintree! Choose from their array of mouth-watering gourmet items. There’s porchetta, a tasty pork belly roll stuffed with double smoked bacon and aromatic herbs, served with sultana sauce, baked double smoked bacon slab with maple cinnamon glaze and roasted U.S. beef belly and rosemary with peppercorn sauce.

US chuck ground beef, chorizo bilbao mixed with Big Mama’s secret spices and topped with roasted herb tomato gravy and chicken gallantina, roasted chicken stuffed with pork sausage and served with sultana sauce, are sure to satisfy many taste buds.

Available for advanced order in all Raintree restaurants. For more information, call 752-5678 or visit www.raintreerestaurants.com

Magnifico Christmas dinner with Lombardi’s

Have an Italian noche buena that is truly bellissima! You will adore this year’s holiday set menus as Chef Davide Lombardi has combined classic Italian dishes that will surely satisfy your palates. 

Those who want to sample traditional Italian Christmas treats can order Paluani’s pandoro and panettone, two Christmas breads with a good Italian dessert wine.

Visit Lombardi’s at the 4th Level, East Wing, Shangri-La Plaza Mall, Mandaluyong City or at the 2nd Level, Robinsons Magnolia, Aurora Boulevard, Quezon City.

Holidays Full of Cravings!

“My Holiday Cravings 2013” is Cravings’ unique, elegant catering and events packages that is sure to warm hearts, fill tummies. Those who want to eat out during the holidays may opt to have Cravings’ Bundle of Joy dinner packages with a choice of 3 sets, each dinner set, good for 10 to 12. 

Cravings’ Bakeshop has some of its popular bestselling cakes and cheesecakes available for take home. Also try their pasta sauces, signature salad dressings, and coffee blends.  Better yet, give Cravings’ deli gift baskets and deli trays as Christmas presents.

For more information, call 426-6053 or visit www.my-cravings.com or www.cravingsgroup.com.

Tidings of comfort and joy at Discovery Suites

Discovery Suites’ Christmas room packages are inclusive of breakfast buffet for two, wifi en suite, and access to hotel gym and swimming pool. An additional P1,000 will be charged for 2 or 3-bedroom suites on Dec. 24 and 25. Valid from Dec. 10 to 23, 26 to 29, and Jan. 2 to 15.

The lobby features a 20-foot tree and a life-size gingerbread house offering artisan goodies and premium products from VMV Hypoallergenics, Smitten, Theo Philo chocolates, Deli Master, Better Than Ice Cream and Happy Living Corporation.

Christmas Eve dinner buffet at 22 Prime is from 7 to 10:30 pm.

On Dec. 25, the hotel will hold a Christmas Day Mass open to the public at 10 am. A hearty Christmas Day lunch buffet at 22 Prime follows.

For inquiries and reservations, call 719-6822/719-8888.

Holiday celebrations at Seda BGC Hotel

Meet and greet Santarina at the lobby as she encourages sharing of blessings through the “Tree of Hope” filled with messages for those affected by Typhoon Yolanda. 

Livening up the mood is a musical ensemble with their repertoire of holiday tunes from 6-7 pm at the lobby.

The season’s beverage specials are Christmas Cookie Martini and Holiday Freeze, both served with a stuffed toy giveaway.

Seda BGC offers a room promo on Dec. 24 and 25, with breakfast and a set dinner for two.

At Misto, on the night before Christmas, the chef offers a 5-course set dinner. Christmas Day honors tradition with a 4-course repast.

For reservations, call 945-8888 or email [email protected].

The season of joy and giving at The Bellevue

Gather family and friends for an appetizing, one-of-a-kind holiday treat and head on to Café d’Asie. Enjoy a delectable feast of well-loved holiday dishes and pastries available for lunch and dinner.

On Dec. 24 and 25, indulge your palate in a plethora of sumptuous, classic dishes and desserts served on the holiday table. Santa visits Café d’Asie during dinner on Dec. 24 and during lunch on Dec. 25.

Make the yuletide celebration extra-special by bringing your family and friends to The Bellevue Manila’s Phoenix Court to have a taste of their holiday set menu available from Dec. 24 to Jan. 1.

For inquiries, call 771-8181 or visit www.thebellevue.com.

Holiday season at the Forest

The Forest Lodge at Camp John Hay has a full two-week calendar from Dec. 20 to Jan. 4 this festive season! 

Fanciful season’s treats at The Twist from 11am to 6 pm. Saxophonist Victor Hugo plays Yuletide melodies at the lobby daily from 6 to 7 pm. 

Santa will be appearing at the Lobby everyday from 6 to 7 pm.  Mass will be celebrated at the 19th T on Dec. 24, from 5 to 6 pm. 

Learn at the Jungle-Environment Survival Training (JEST) Camp as instructors take you on real wilderness expeditions on Dec. 20 to 23 and 26 to 30.

High energy evening entertainment featuring popular 80s disco every night starting Dec. 22.

The Twist offers Christmas Eve and Christmas Day buffet dinners.

For inquiries, email [email protected].

Have yourself a merry Wicked Christmas

Christmas will be sinfully good at Wicked, the newest patisserie by the Cravings Group.

Try Wicked’s macaron de Paris gift box with six pieces of: banana split, earl grey, salted caramel, and strawberry pastillas macarons.

The bars and brownies gift basket contains revel bars, fudge walnut brownies, butterscotch, food for the gods, cherry streusel bar, mango bar and calamansi square. 

The cupcake gift box contains vanilla, chocolate, Reese peanut butter, campfire marshmallow, red velvet and yema.

Those who fancy cheesecake will love the sampler that contains four junior-size versions of cherry walnut, blueberry, Twix, and guiltless cheesecake.

Cake fanatics will also have a grand time with Wicked’s holiday bundt mini cakes. Choose from almond crumble, triple chocolate, and strawberry swirl.

Kids will also find the Christmas Cupcake Kit a totally enjoyable and edible gift. 

Wicked by Cravings is at the 5th Level, East Wing, EDSA Shangri-La Plaza Mall, Mandaluyong City, tel. no. 654-0614.

PHLPost issues special edition Christmas stamps

The Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost) announced its 2013 Christmas Stamps featuring artworks made by members of the Association of Mouth and Foot Painting Artists (AMFPA), Jovy Sasutona, Amado Binuag Dulnuan, Bernard Pesigan and John Roland Feruelo. These artists have all learned to draw and paint with brush held in the mouth or with the toes. Stamps and Souvenir Sheet Official First Day Covers are now available at all PHLPost Post Shop and Post Offices nationwide.

For inquiries, call 527-01-32.

Christian fellowship of businessmen toy drive

The Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International (FGBMFI) and SEAOIL Foundation recently initiated a toy donation drive for child survivors of Super Typhoon Yolanda.

A worldwide body of businessmen and professionals who minister to the spiritual needs of its members, FGBMFI is an interdenominational group with no political affiliation.

Those who wish to donate toys, even books and other things children would need can drop them off at SEAOIL gasoline stations until Dec. 30. The FGBMFI team will do stress debriefing and counseling early next year in Northern Cebu, Samar, Leyte and Panay and will bring the toys with them.

Mama Sita’s festive flavors

Put extra zest into every Filipino Christmas celebration with the flavorful classic caldereta that Mama Sita herself used to concoct with passion and flair.

The heirloom recipe can now be recreated in two convenient ways: Mama Sita’s caldereta sauce, ready to simmer, and the caldereta mix, a dry spice mix. Its rich flavor imparts a real holiday spirit to festive dishes such as paella, empanada, pastel, and grilled chicken kebabs.

Celebrate with the comforting flavors and aromas of real Filipino food that warm the heart.

Kusina ni Mama Sita has opened its specialty shop at Shangri-La Plaza Mall which offers the sought-after specialty food of Mama Sita, Kusina ni Mama Sita gift sets, food card collections, and more.