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thehungrykat1 · 4 years ago

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Food Exchange Manila Opens Weekend Buffet at Novotel Manila Araneta City

It’s been almost a year since the global pandemic started, but now we are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel as the national vaccination program finally begins this month. While it may still take some time before we really go back to normal, I’m glad to see that a lot of my favorite restaurants and hotel cafes have already reopened to the public. It’s also been a while since I have seen some of my friends, so it was great to catch up with them last week over a delightful weekend lunch buffet at Novotel Manila Araneta City.

The hotel’s signature cafe, Food Exchange Manila, finally reopened last December to serve its Quezon City diners who have long been waiting for a venue to meet up with friends and business acquaintances. Guests can go on a gastronomic adventure in this culinary theater as talented chefs show off their skills at the different interactive cooking stations. For only P1,288 nett per person, diners can now enjoy all these at their lunch and dinner buffets on Friday and Saturday, and also during their hearty brunch buffet on Sunday.

Food Exchange Manila is located at the ground floor of the Novotel Manila Araneta City. We have had some memorable staycations here over the past years (Read: Novotel Manila Araneta Center: My New Staycation Hideaway) so I was happy to see it back on its feet. Just like before, Food Exchange Manila radiates a bright and cheerful ambiance with natural light coming from its full-length windows and a colorful contemporary design for its interiors. The main difference is that tables are now spaced farther apart, with social distancing measures and 50% maximum capacities strictly in place.

The restaurant is filled with classic and modern ornaments and decorations representing the beauty and diversity of the Philippines. This is a great way of promoting our Filipino culture.

Face masks and face shield are required to be worn when entering and walking around the hotel, but you can remove these once you are seated on your tables. Since restaurants are still subject to IATF protocols and guidelines, only guests 18 to 65 years old are allowed to dine in at the buffet. However, Novotel Manila also offers a food delivery service called Take Me Out by Novotel for those who still can’t go out.

My friends and I were seated at one of the colorful semi-private dining rooms at Food Exchange Manila. The place is quite spacious so it feels safe to dine in, especially with all the safety protocols in place.

Cups and utensils are sterilized and sealed in plastic covers so everyone can enjoy their meals in a safe way. All Accor hotels including Novotel practice intensified hygiene & cleanliness protocols called ALLSAFE to ensure guest’s safety.

Executive Chef Massi Pauletto showed us around the different culinary stations which have now been adjusted to conform to the new normal dining environment. Most of the food are now cooked and served a la minute, instead of before when the items are simply placed in chafing dishes.

Other items are placed in handy individual cups and jars so you can just grab them and go. The Salad Station offers a healthy and sustainable selection that includes Greek Salad with Feta, Caesar Salad, Salmon Lax, and more.

The Cold Cuts and Cheese section is always a welcome sight. I asked for a platter of cheese which was already pre-packed and given to me immediately.

The Food Exchange also has a themed section where they highlight their special “fruit of the week.” For this week, they were featuring mangoes so you can find several mango-themed items on display here.

I found this Mango with Cilantro, Lime and Cucumber Salad here so I grabbed one for myself. I also got their Pineapple and Prawn Salad which was also a refreshing appetizer.

Juices are also included in the buffet so I got some of their featured beverages. The Mango and Basil Iced Tea was quite a delightful drink.

Japanese cuisine is really my favorite so this is always the first station I visit whenever I go to a buffet. With the new normal dining setup, guests can just point to the items they like and the servers will plate the items for you. I got some Tuna and Salmon Sashimi but they also have octopus, California maki, and more.

One popular area at the Food Exchange Manila is the live Takoyaki Station. You can request as many pieces of takoyaki as you like and the server will prepare it for you. I actually went back here for a second round of takoyaki balls.

The Italian Station has their wood-fired brick oven ready to heat up exciting pizzas for everyone. We asked for their Six-Cheese Pizza, yes, that’s six different cheeses on one pizza! Other pizza variants you can try include Margherita, Meat Lovers, or Hawaiian. They also have a pasta station where you can ask for some carbonara and other pasta choices.

But the most exciting area at the restaurant probably has to be the Seafood Station where all these yummy crustaceans and seafood options are available. You simply have to choose an item and ask the server to cook it the way you want.

I had some Baked Mussels and Baked Oysters prepared for me topped with lots of melted cheese.

I just love eating prawns, especially the big juicy ones, so I asked them to cook some Prawns and Crabs in Garlic Butter. This is a simple but very delicious way of enjoying your seafood.

Another option is to simply have them grilled. The Grilled Salmon and Prawns was also a popular choice at the buffet.

For meat lovers, the Chinese Station has several roastings available such as the Pork Chashu and Soy Chicken. You can also have some Roasted Duck paired with Crab and Egg Fried Rice on your plate. Other items include the Pata Tim, Pancit Canton, and Vegetable in Oyster Sauce.

Our trip around the world isn’t done yet, because we still have to make a stopover at the Indian Station. Here you can ask for some Fish Curry, Prawn Masala Fry, and Chicken Butter Masala to pair with your roti.

They are also joining the mango theme this week because aside from the plain lassi, they are also featuring their Mango Lassi which is really so good and refreshing. I think I consumed three bottles.

Of course, don’t forget about our own Filipino Station which offers favorites such as Pork Sinigang, Kaldereta, Kare-Kare, Porchetta, Beef Ribs BBQ, Roast Lamb, and Roasted Chicken.

Even the Dessert Station is full of surprises. Some of the cakes and pastries on display include Oreo Cheesecake, Blueberry Tart, Brazo de Mercedes, Egg Pie, Chocolate Mousse, and Tiramisu.

You can also find some mango-themed desserts like the Mango Panna Cotta, Mango Tapioca, and Mango Mousse Cake.

I also had a few scoops of their Ice Cream of the Day together with some Bibingka and Puto Bumbong that you can even dip in a warm cup of Chocolate Batirol.

I truly enjoyed our weekend lunch buffet at the Food Exchange Manila. They really have one of the best value for money buffets in the city for only P1,288 nett. Friday and Saturday lunch buffet starts at 12:00nn to 2:30pm while the dinner buffet is from 6:00pm to 9:00pm. The Sunday Brunch Buffet starts at 11:00am to 2:30pm. Thank you Ms. Chana Mo and Novotel Manila for hosting our little get together. I’ll definitely be going back here soon!

Food Exchange Manila

G/F Novotel Manila, General Aguinaldo Avenue, Araneta Center, Quezon City

8990-7888

www.NovotelManilaAranetaCity.com

www.facebook.com/NovotelManilaAranetaCity

#FoodExchangeManila #NovotelManilaAranetaCity #NovotelManila #Novotel #Buffet #Hotel

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