#WeekendinProvence

[thehungrykat1]

Mireio Offers “A Weekend in Provence” Plus Champagne Happy Hour

Mirèio at Raffles Makati is offering something different from the usual hotel weekend brunch buffet. Instead of lining up at the buffet counters and jostling against other guests at the carving station, enjoy a leisurely-paced brunch inside a bright and charming restaurant where you can sample the finest Provencal-inspired cuisine that will take you on a trip to the romantic French region.

A Weekend in Provence promises to deliver a family-friendly gastronomic experience that will take its diners from Makati all the way to France. Available from 12:00nn to 3:00pm at Mirèio on Saturdays and Sundays, this semi-brunch buffet is a great way to celebrate any occasion with endless servings of savoury appetizers, salads, egg dishes, live-station of freshly-made risotto, a family sharing of main courses, and a delightful dessert and cheese buffet, all for only P1980++ per person. Raffles Makati continues to impress me with their sophisticated dining experiences and this is one brunch buffet that distinguishes itself from the rest.

Mirèio is an elegant brasserie-style restaurant located on the ninth floor of Raffles Makati offering authentic Provençal-inspired cuisine. Pronounced “mee-reyo,” this upscale French restaurant is named after Mirèio, a celebrated poem in 1859 by Nobel Laureate and French writer Frederic Mistral, who hails from Provence. You can find a mural by contemporary Filipino painter Marcel Antonio illustrating the famous poem which depicts a beautiful but tragic forbidden love story between the daughter of a rich farmer and a modest basketmaker. I celebrated my last birthday right here at Mirèio during their media preview dinner (read about it here) so this is always a special place for me.

Lavender Tea was served as a refreshing welcome drink while we were browsing over the menu selection. A Weekend in Provence is not your typical full buffet. Appetizers are brought to the table and you have selections for your main courses and other dishes, but it also offers a cheese and dessert buffet so no one is going home hungry.

Freshly-baked breads are served and diners have a choice of sourdough, tomato roll, French bread and others. You can find some butter on the table to have with your breads.

A cheese buffet is also included and you can start your meal with endless servings of French cheese. For cheese lovers, this is heaven because Mirèio offers some of the best cheese you can find in the city, imported all the way from the best cheese suppliers in France.

A set of appetizers are then served on the table starting with the Niçoise Salad which comes with baby potatoes, green beans, black olives, onions, and boiled egg.

We also had this appetizer platter which included Homemade Terrine with garlic and pickled shallots plus fresh Mahi-Mahi Gravlax with coriander, lemon, olive-oil and herbs.

Guests can then select an Egg Dish from two choices. I highly suggest you order the Egg Benedictine with beef tongue, bearnaise, generous slices of Iberico ham and herbs. The creamy egg is just so good especially with the salty Iberico hams. You can also opt for the Scrambled Eggs with black truffle juice and chives if you want something more simple and homey.

Charming restaurant manager Nicolas Bracq came out with a surprise risotto station which is not listed on the menu but is actually part of A Weekend in Provence. Diners have a choice of either Pesto Risotto or Tomato Risotto prepared on the spot.

Each guest can order one main dish from the selection of Provencal-inspired fare. These are served in family-sharing plates so everyone can have a taste for themselves. The Mackerel Fillet in ratatouille-style and potatoes is one of the healthier options. 

Diners can also have the classic Roasted Chicken in soy bean, meat jus and garlic. This is served with sweet potato puree on the side.

For something light but tasty, try the Clams Marinière which comes sautéed in white wine and is served with a cup of french fries on the side.

Another option for your main course is the Grilled Tuna with chorizo, piperade, and Kalamata olive. The tuna is cooked perfectly with a half-cooked and reddish inner portion.

As for myself, I ordered one of my favorite dishes at Mirèio, the hearty Slow-Cooked Oxtail Parmentier in black truffle jus topped with potato mousseline. This item never fails to satisfy me with its tender beef inside a creamy and crusty mashed potato.

A Weekend in Provence is an occasion for the entire family, including the kids. Diners can cap-off this comforting meal with a delightful dessert buffet. Children will also be given special dishes prepared a la minute by the friendly chefs.

The dessert table is just loaded with colorful creations such as the Coconut Lime Pannacota with Mango Compote and the Strawberry Blueberry Mille Feuille.

Other sweet items you can find include the (clockwise from top left) Vanilla Raspberry Mille Crepe, Coffee Cream Puff, Chocolate Tartlet, and the Apricot and Thyme Macaron.

The Chocolate Cake with Strawberry Jam really looks inviting!

But my favorite dessert at Mirèio is the Salted Caramel Chocolate Mousse. I was already eyeing these when I came in and I could not resist getting one even before the appetizers were served. 

Of course, I had some more during the main course and afterwards during dessert. I think I gobbled up around four glasses of this Chocolate Mousse, but I did leave a few for the others.

They also have a live Crepe Station and you can choose from Sugar & Butter, Nutella, Crepe Suzette, or Banana crepes that you can also top with Vanilla or Chocolate Ice Cream. Add some rainbow sprinkles, Oreos, and chocolate syrup to your crepe for more happiness.

Aside from A Weekend in Provence, Mirèio is also launching its new Champagne & Martinis Happy Hour at the Mirèio Terrace on the 10th floor. This classy happy hour is available from 5:00pm to 8:00pm daily where guests can luxuriate in endless pouring of Taittinger Champagne and a choice of martinis as the sun sets over the Makati skyline.

Mirèio Terrace is a rooftop terrace just above the Mirèio dining area. This breezy bar and lounge has space for around 70 guests and offers one of the coolest drinking spots in the city with unique cocktails created by the hotel’s expert mixolgists.

Friends gathering for this luxurious happy hour not only enjoy unlimited servings of bubbly and martinis, but can also request to have this classic cocktail prepared to one’s preference. Cocktail connoisseurs can take their gin or vodka and vermouth blend dry, straight and on the rocks, or opt for other twists on this all-time favourite such as the Dirty Martini, Lychee Martini, and Rosemary Martini. 

Whether you are a champagne or martini lover, guests can enjoy all the drinks they want and add a few bar chows and appetizers from the menu. This is probably the best spot to relax after a busy day at the office. I had quite a few glasses of champagne and it is so worth it because the Champagne & Martinis Happy Hour is only P995++ per person. That is quite a steal, especially for someone who loves champagne such as myself.

If wine is more of your preference, then there is still another option just downstairs as Fairmont Makati offers their Oyster & Wine Nights at the Fairmont Lounge. Indulge in endless servings of the Wine of the Month, Obikwa Wine, and you can have your Chardonnay (white wine) or Merlot (red wine) paired with unlimited platters of oysters prepared to your liking. 

You can have your freshly shucked oysters raw, or have them cooked as old fashioned Rockefeller Baked Oysters, Grilled Oysters with crab and shrimp topped with Gruyere cheese, or Oyster Tempura with bonito and spiced Togarashi mayonnaise. Oyster and Wine Night is available daily from 5:00pm to 9:00pm for P1,100++ per person.

Whether you are having a weekend lunch with the family, or looking for a cozy place to unwind after a busy day, Raffles and Fairmont Makati offer exciting venues and dining destinations for just about any craving. These new dining offers give me even more reasons to keep visiting my favorite luxury hotel in Manila.

Mirèio

9/F Raffles Makati, 1 Raffles Drive, Makati Avenue, Makati City

795-0707

www.raffles.com/makati

www.facebook.com/RafflesMakati

[axismundirecords]

🐝🐝🐝 Dead Bees 🐝🐝🐝 Link in bio for our @Spotify playlist to listen to this album and more. Up on all digital outlets as well. #deadbees #weekendinprovence #axismundirecords (at Marseille, France)