Novotel Manila's fresh approach to buffet dining
By Poch Eulalia
At A Glance
- Each station offers familiar favorites for Filipino diners, with cuisines coming from Japan, Italy, and India.
SUSTAINABLE BUFFET Food Exchange Manila's Freshfinity experience promises a new approach to buffet dining. (Photos: Novotel Manila)
Buffet dining, more often than not, focuses on the abundance of options.
Though for some, it leaves a lingering question regarding the sustainability of it all. Sure, most venues have a no-leftover policy to keep diners in check, but there’s still a curiosity regarding what happens to any food that goes untouched at a buffet. Enter Food Exchange Manila and its Freshfinity buffet experience, which is set to change the all-you-can-eat experience.
From left: Chef Angelique Llatanda, Chef Athena Tuble, and Chef Michael Ramos
Under the helm of Chef Athena Tuble, the Freshfinity experience opens up six culinary stations that follow a more focused culinary identity. Each station offers familiar favorites for Filipino diners, with cuisines coming from Japan, Italy, and India. Every serving is proportioned in a manner that ensures no food goes to waste. Ingredients are also certified fresh and sourced locally to ensure Filipino farmers and fishermen gain the proper support they need to maintain their livelihoods.
With all this in mind, indulging in the buffet’s offerings feels better knowing it’s all in good hands. Should you find yourself unsure of where to start, we recommend stopping by the fresh sushi station to request slices of your desired fish. Whether it’s tuna or salmon, the umami brought in each bite is sure to kickstart your meal with excitement. Afterwards, take it easy by picking out several different cheeses and cold cuts on display in the middle aisle, all arranged in a wonderful charcuterie-style arrangement. It’s best paired with the cocktail drinks on offer as well.
For the heavier side of things, you can never go wrong with the Butcher’s Block carving station. Opt for a generous serving of the premium roasted meats on offer and the chef-selected cuts. Then, there’s the Brasserie Maison station where you can request your grilled meat of choice or from the fresh catch of seafood on offer. Our personal favorites, however, are the freshly baked pizza offerings. Go for either the four-cheese pizza or the sisg pizza for a savory treat. We also recommend having a generous serving of Chicken Biryani from the Indian section of the buffet.
Once you’ve had your fill, there’s always room for a sweet treat to wrap it all up. Try the gelato if you’re looking to cool down from the heat. Or, if you’re looking for the opposite feeling, go for the Chili Cacao Truffle to get a literal bite of sweet and spicy. Of course, you can also never go wrong with a slice of cake, of which there are many different types to choose from.
Food Exchange Manila’s Freshfinity buffet can be experienced within Novotel Manila at Araneta City, Cubao, Quezon City.
