Chef MYRNA SEGISMUNDO brings FIESTA FILIPINO at ESCOLTA

By Ana Marie Aran |

The Peninsula Manila celebrates Philippine Independence this month with a gastronomic FIESTA FILIPINO buffet at ESCOLTA.  From June 8-19, diners will be treated with select Filipino heirloom dishes prepared by guest Chef Myrna Segismundo.

Chef Myrna, author of the well-loved Kulinarya book, is a passionate advocate of Filipino cuisine and was one of the key personalities in the very first Madrid Fusion Manila, the prestigious world culinary symposium held in Manila just this April. She promises to bring diners to a culinary expedition, retracing and rediscovering the Spanish influences in the country’s vibrant and colorful culture through the rich flavors of well-loved hearty Filipino dishes in a two-week festival.

Escolta will highlight Chef Myrna’s special brand of cuisine that honors generation-old, time-honored dishes that she inherited from her family. The flavor palates of her culinary creations range from sweet and spicy to smoky and tangy, but also hold a treasure trove of stories from the kitchens of her childhood to those learned from some of the very best (and at times unheralded) provincial kusineros or cooks.

FIESTA FILIPINO’s dishes include the classic Lechon Kawali (twice-cooked crispy pork belly), Pastel de Pollo (chicken casserole), Pork Binagoongan, Paella, Roast Beef a la Pobre (garlic-rubbed roast prime rib) and Lechon de Leche (roast suckling pig).

The feast will also include comfort dishes such as Mini Shrimp Okoy (crispy shrimp fritters), Sopa de Molo (chicken broth with vegetables, shrimp and pork dumplings), Kinilaw Shooters (ceviche of shrimps, tuna and tanigue), Chicken Tinola (ginger-flavored chicken broth with green papaya and chili leaves), Batchoy (noodles with pork crackling) and Fabada Filipina (bean stew with ham and chorizo).

As no fiesta is complete without desserts, traditional Filipino sweets like:

Leche Flan, Banana Langka Turon (caramelized banana and jack fruit spring roll with sorbet), Batangas Coffee Jelly with Macapuno Balls, Glazed Kamote Fries (caramelized sweet potato fries with sorbet) and the all-time favorite, Chef Myrna’s signature Queso de Bola Cheesecake will be offered.

FIESTA FILIPINO is available at Escolta’s lunch and dinner buffet from June 8 to 19 with prices at P 1,530 for lunch from Monday to Saturday and P 1,750 for dinner from Monday to Thursday. The Seafood buffet dinner every Friday and Saturday is at P 2,000 while the Ultimate Sunday Brunch is priced at P 2,200++. Prices are subject to 10% service charge and prevailing government taxes.

For inquiries or reservations, please call The Peninsula Manila at Tel (02) 887-2888 or email diningpmn@peninsula.com or visit www.peninsula.com