Staycations are now even more popular while tourism is picking up with precautions. Taking a break in a nice and safe hotel or just dining out can give us the necessary respite from the tasks at home. Otherwise, having premium food delivered or picked up is a treat, too. Here are some offerings from local establishments, make sure to inquire at least two days ahead.
Richmonde Hotel Iloilo—In-house restaurant The Granary offers savory items that come in a Black Box, plus a selection of freshly baked cakes, bread and pastries such as the signature ensaymada, moist chocolate cake, French macarons and the special Iloilo Paris bun. Premade Holiday Boxes in buri boxes from Guimaras are available, too, but you can also personalize and add tablea tsokolate and muscovado sugar from Cabatuan farmers, and premium coffee from Superhouse Solutions of Iloilo. A luxurious staycation at Richmonde Hotel Iloilo is available at a special rate until Jan. 15, 2021, inclusive of breakfast, welcome drinks, in-room private dinner, and discount on select wine and liquor.
Richmonde Hotel Iloilo, tel. 0917-5809642; www.richmondehoteliloilo.com.ph.
Discovery Primea—Make it a Mediterranean get-together and order the Seafood Spaghetti alla Tornola, Penne al Funghi and oven-baked pizzas from the Makati hotel’s Restaurant Tapenade. Holiday platters for sharing available until Dec. 31 includes slow-roasted beef short plate, sugar-crusted Ham, and signature wagyu beef and mushroom and chicken and chorizo paellas. For dessert, the best-selling Manchego Cheesecake and Baked Brie Cheese in Puff Pastry Crust are a must-try. The Gin Hamper with bottle of flavored Whitley Neill gin, tonic water, lemons and limes can be a New Year gift. Check out the Discovery Primea Welcome Deals for staycation vouchers valid until 2022.
Tel. 79558888; discoveryprimea.com
Cravings—The homegrown restaurant in Katipunan has expanded its menu with party boxes and takeout sets. Cravings items include salads such as Pomegranate Goat Cheese and Caesar Salad. For mains, choices are succulent Roast Beef with Mushroom Sauce, Lengua con Champignon, Chicken Pastel, Roast Pork Belly, Chicken Galantina, Chicken Relleno, and Roast Chicken with Chorizo and Raisin Stuffing. For seafood, Prawns à la Thermidor, Roast Salmon with Parmesan Crust, and Almond Crusted Fish Fillet with Tartare Sauce are a crowd-pleaser, as well as the Chorizo Pasta, Meaty Bolognese and Lasagna. Complete the dining experience with a cake since Cravings has a lot to choose from: Chocolate Caramel, Chocolate Midnight Madness, Devil’s Food Cake, Cherry Walnut Cheesecake, Carrot Cake, Mocha Praline Crunch Cake.
Tel. 0908-1693422; follow @cravings.philippines on Facebook and @cravingsphils on Instagram.
Drinkies.ph—How to recreate the happy Filipino party without a crowd? Heineken beer have some suggestions for a 5-Star Christmas Party: Get some fairy lights, festive balloons, food for sharing and listen to DJs. The limited-edition Heineken Magnum 1.5L bottle and other liquor are available on Drinkies.ph (use the code: DRINKIESFIRST to get P250 off on your first order with a minimum purchase of P1,500) and in supermarkets. Throwing an intimate party can still be fun until we can travel and enjoy the outdoors.
heineken.com/ph