Celebrate The Flavors of the Season at Novotel Manila Araneta Center's The Food Exchange

With the holidays just around the corner, it's time to gather and celebrate...at Novotel Manila Araneta Center.

Novotel Manila Araneta Center introduces its special staycation packages including a sumptuous buffet spread at The Food Exchange with the Gather N Celebrate offer for the holidays. Make this year's celebration even more special...at Novotel Manila Araneta Center.

Organizing that special family holiday get-together is easy. Simply pick your accommodations and make your reservation for a memorable holiday staycation with Gather N Celebrate at Novotel Manila Araneta Center.

No holiday will be complete without a lavish feast. And the culinary team at Novotel Manila Araneta Center's The Food Echange have been busy preparing all the tasty holiday treats for guests. Here's a sneak peek at what's cookin' with another epic buffet spread to complete the holidays...

Start with some tasty appetizers with shots of Caprese in Skewers, with fresh cherry tomatoes and burrata drizzled with pesto...

...or laid on a basil leaf and polenta, take your pick. The Food Exchange is going all-out for the holidays with another impressive buffet spread (for more on Novotel Manila's The Food Exchange, see my previous posts, Bringing The Vibrant Flavors of Asian Street Food to Novotel Manila's Food Exchange, Flavorful Celebrations at Novotel Manila Araneta Center, and International Flavors at Novotel Manila's Food Exchange).

At the buffet spread, you'll also find some old favorites from previous food festivals like Chef Sau del Rosario's Tamales Pampanguena. Chef Sau's creative spin reinvents the traditional regional tamales with rice flour, annatto seeds, garlic, onion, chicken powder, coconut cream, salted eggs, salt, pepper and spring onions presented in a fresh new way (for more on the recent Kanyaman Filipino FoodFestival by Chef Sau del Rosario at The Food Exchange, see my earlier post here at Flavors of Pampanga: The Kanyaman Filipino Food Festival by Chef Sau del Rosario at Novotel Manila's Food Exchange).

Over at the Japanese Station, have your fill with freshly prepared sushi...

...and assorted rolls and maki to kick off your holiday feast. The Japanese Station offers an extensive selection of fresh tuna, salmon, prawns, and octopus along with other seafood options for that perfect starter plate at The Food Exchange.

But if its more rice you want, indulge in The Food Exchange's Seafood Paella with arborio rice, mixed seafood and saffron flower...

...or go for some pork love with the Sisig Paella, an inventive variation of the classic paella with tender pork cheeks, margarine, onions, chicken, liver, calamansi, seasoning, pepper, chili, coriander and Japanese rice.

At the main Carving Station of The Food Exchange, you'll find a tempting selection of savory treats including Lechon, or whole roasted suckling pig (L) and the impressive Cherry Balsamic Pork Loin (R) with tender pork draped with brown sugar and balsamic vinegar and fresh herbs. But there's more...

Craving for beef? The Canadian-Style Herb-Crusted Prime Rib (R) with fresh herbs, bread crumbs, garlic, Parmesan cheese, and mustard should do the trick. Of go for a healthy and lean option at the Carving Station with the Herb-Stuffed Roasted Turkey (R), whole turkey roasted with parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme.

Explore diverse Asian flavors with the Pork Char Siu, Chinese style sweet pork barbecue at the Chinese Station...

...or go for some Roasted Duck for that special holiday vibe. You've got to hand it to the culinary team at The Food Exchange for creating one of the best buffet spreads this side of the metro. Finally, Quezon City now has a buffet dining experience at the same level with both quality and variety from the usual options down south. 

Part of the linear layout at The Food Exchange are the various central stations in the middle of the well-designed space offering a variety of savory mains, like the Crispy Lechon Kawali Kare-Kare with crispy pork belly, annatto oil, peanut sauce, banana heart, long beans and shrimp paste. It's kare-kare with a whole new savory richness and delectable texture for something refreshingly new and different yet familiar and comforting.

You'll also find other savory specialties like the Singaporean Chili Crab (L) with succulent mud crabs, black peppercorn, sweet chili sauce, garlic and ginger and the Lamb Shank Kaldereta (R), another favorite with rosemary, mushrooms, garlic, onion, herbs, carrots, potatoes, bell pepper and olives.

You can't go wrong with the classic Sweet and Sour Pork (L), deep-fried pork draped in sweet and sour sauce with onions and bell peppers. You'll want some extra fried rice with this one. Or be daring and savor some comforting heat with the Spicy Chicken (R) with chili sauce, onion, garlic, and mixed vegetables. 

Another favorite at The Food Exchange is the Galbi-Jjim, the traditional Korean beef stew with vegetables. Fork-tender beef in a mildly sweet and spicy thick sauce sprinkled with sesame seeds, this one is best paired with The Food Exchange's wide selection of kimchi, including spicy radish for that perfect combo.

At the Fresh Seafood Station, diners have their pick of the daily ocean harvest with succulent crabs...

...plump clams, mussels and prawns. Enjoy it as is for fresh and clean flavors with a squeeze of lemon, or have it baked with cheese or sauteed in garlic butter. The daily selections may change day to day depending on the catch and supply, but you'll always find your favorite fresh seafood at The Food Exchange.

More seafood? Knock yourself out with the Stir-Fry Seafood with Thai Basil and Ginger Chili with shrimps, squid, mussels, snapper, Thai basil, ginger, oyster sauce, red chili and garlic. At The Food Exchange, there's something for everyone, so enjoy your feast one plate at a time, no need to rush. 

Another favorite at The Food Exchange are the authentic Indian dishes prepared by Chef Rajan. I've said it before and I'll say it again, it's authentic Indian cuisine that you won't easily find in this part of the metro, but you can enjoy it daily at The Food Exchange. Just let Chef Rajan prepare some tasty bites and you'll have to agree.


Hungry? Simply choose a date for your holiday feast with the family at The Food Exchange, and leave the rest to the friendly and courteous staff at Novotel Manila Araneta Center.

But save room for dessert. At the Dessert Station, you'll find intricate pastries and decadent cakes as well as local delicacies and a do-it-yourself Halo-Halo Station. And stop counting the calories, it's the holidays so skip your diet. Classic or Cinnamon Churros? Enjoy it fresh and prepared a la minute, and start dippin'. 

But save room for Novotel Manila's signature ice cream with Ice N Cream by Novotel...

And with new holiday flavors each wittingly named to get you in the spirit of the season, you'll get in that festive Christmas vibe in no time. The Holiday BAEbingka, You've Stollen My Heart, REDdy to Jingle, and Holi-nuts, take your pick. The Holiday BAEbingka (L) recreates the local delicacy for one of the most inventive ice cream flavors yet from Ice N Cream by Novotel,  complete with chunks of salted red egg for rich flavors. For me, it's the Leche de Almond (R), a long-time favorite (for more on Novotel Manila's indulgent Ice N Cream, see my previous post, Chill. At Novotel Manila's Ice N Cream...).

A holiday staycation and a sumptuous feast, it's time to Gather N Celebrate at Novotel Manila Araneta Center...