Celebrating the new year with a whole lot of good vibes...
F1 Hotel Manila has been a part of my blog's journey from the beginning since 2013, being my very first hotel post as well as my first hotel staycation feature on my blog. And starting the new year with the first weekend staycation feature on my blog for 2018 with F1 Hotel Manila just seems so right...
Since 2013, F1 Hotel Manila was my home away from home with each stay as memorable as the last. The spacious Fort Suite has everything you need for that weekend escape, including a separate living room area with its own flat screen TV and a sofa that can be transformed into a bed. Makes you wish weekends had more than just two days... 
Looking back through the years, my blog's journey has been a rewarding adventure of friendships and good vibes with F1 Hotel Manila playing a key role in a continuing story. From my very first staycation at F1 Hotel Manila back in 2013 (see my post here at A Cool Staycation at F1 Hotel Manila), it's been a journey filled with good times and good vibes since that first memorable experience at F1 Hotel Manila. And the new year is a good opportunity to reminisce and look back (for more on my previous staycations at F1 Hotel Manila, see my posts, An Independence Day Staycation at F1 Hotel Manila back in 2014, Back at F1 Hotel Manila..., Home for the Holidays at F1 Hotel Manila in 2015, A Palm Sunday Weekend Staycation at F1 Hotel Manila, Good Vibes: A Bonifacio Day Staycation at F1 Hotel Manila in 2016, and An Easter Weekend Staycation at F1 Hotel Manila from last year). This year, my weekend staycation at F1 Hotel Manila's spacious Fort Suite gets a tasty start with a platter of gourmet cheeses and nuts, but it's time for lunch...
At F All-Day Dining Restaurant, it was great to see old friends and familiar faces (L) again manning the open kitchen. With Executive Chef Angelo Chubby Timban (R) at the helm, F1 Hotel Manila is all set to delight your palate once more with its lavish culinary offerings for the new year.
From a wide selection of imported charcuterie and fine cheeses to garden fresh salads, hearty soups and freshly-baked bread from the hotel's kitchens, F All-Day Dining Restaurant laid out an impressive buffet spread guaranteed to satisfy any craving. Year after year, F All-Day Dining Restaurant continues to impress...
...and that's just the way it is at F1 Hotel Manila. Since 2013, I've seen the lavish spread evolve offering a wide diversity of flavors, from the very first edition of the long-running LuzViMinda Filipino Food Festival to its latest seasonal offerings (see my earlier posts on F All-Day Dining Restaurant's culinary festivals at Simply Awesome: The LuzViMinda Filipino Festival of Flavors at F1 Hotel Manila on the very first Filipino Food Festival at the hotel and seeing the chefs at work at An Afternoon with Master Chefs at F1 Hotel Manila, A Sneak Peek at F1 Hotel Manila's LuzViMinda 2 Buffet and A Taste of The Philippines: F1 Hotel Manila LuzViMinda2 Buffet on the second edition and signature dishes of the guest chefs at A Day with the Chefs at F1 Hotel Manila, F1 Hotel Manila's All-American United Taste of America Buffet and An All-American Dinner Buffet at F1 Hotel Manila on one of their featured culinary festivals, An Epic Celebration of Local Flavors at F1 Hotel Manila's LuzViMinda 3 Pistang Pinoy and Discovering Lotlotan at F1 Hotel Manila's LuzViMinda 3 Pistang Pinoy Buffet Dinner on the third edition of LuzViMinda, Classic All-Filipino Flavors with F1 Hotel Manila's LuzViMinda 4 Heirloom Recipes Festival on the fourth edition of LuzViMinda, and Five Years Running: The LuzViMinda Ika-Limang Serye Gastronomical Fusion Filipino Food Festival at F1 Hotel Manila on last year's edition). Pick up a plate for some tasty starters...
...and go for another round. It is, after all, a new year and you have every reason to celebrate when you're back home at F1 Hotel Manila.
A plate of fresh Salmon Sashimi keeps the good vibes going, but if you want more of the day's freshest catch...
...head on over to F All-Day Dining Restaurant's Seafood Station with heaps of plump mussels and succulent shrimps on ice. You can enjoy the fresh seafood selection as is with just a drizzle of lemon or vinegar, but you can also have the station chefs prepare your seafood any way you like it. Baked, grilled...
...or lightly sauteed with lemon butter, your call.
That day, Executive Chef Angelo Chubby Timban offered a mouthwatering array of savory mains, like Pork Pastrami topped with cherry tomatoes and peppers...
...Beef Tenderloin in Red Wine Sauce topped with garlic, carrots and herbs...
...Beef Ribs Adobo for a fresh and new interpretation of local flavors...
...and Gochujang Chicken, a spicy Korean-inspired take on fried chicken.
If you're still craving for seafood, go for the Grilled Squid Lumot topped with fresh chili. And have some extra rice too.
In between plates, take a break with some tasty starters like the Creamy Potato Salad topped with potato chips. It's one creative pairing that works.
Looking for some soothing heat? Have the station chefs prepare a bowl of comforting Laksa with fresh seafood and vegetables.
Then, you're all set for the second round headlined with some savory pork love...
F All-Day Dining Restaurant's Roast Pork Belly with its crisp crackling and roasted vegetables is one savory dish that's good for seconds and thirds. Tender and juicy pork capped by crisp skin, just can't get better than that.
But save room for dessert...
...and forget about that long-delayed diet, it's the new year. You have well over 300 days to go...
From decadent pastries and cakes to ice cream and even a do-it-yourself Halo-Halo Station, you can indulge to your heart's content at F All-Day Dining Restaurant. And you can come back for more or until the last call at 2pm. Enjoy your dessert with a freshly brewed cup of coffee for another perfect ending at F All-Day Dining Restaurant.
Later that evening, Executive Chef Angelo Chubby Timban laid out yet another sumptuous feast for a lavish dinner at F1 Hotel Manila's ballroom. And when you need the Infinity Ballroom for the gang, you know you've come a long way with like-minded friends. Good times and good vibes with the rest of the KTG bloggers and friends at F1 Hotel Manila. The impressive Roast Beef Belly with Black Forest Chocolate Sauce set the tone for the festive evening's feast...
...with a supporting cast led by savory pork and chicken dishes. And that's just one part of the massive end-to-end buffet spread at the ballroom. From starters and soup, mains and desserts, F1 Hotel Manila pulled out all the stops for a grand new year's dinner.
Milk Teas from Serenitea (L) and iced beverages from Ice Bolt (R) added to the evening's celebrations, along with alcohol and spirits. A soothing Wintermelon Milk Tea from Serenitea followed by a refreshing Mojito from Ice Bolt and a Vodka Seven from the bar, it's one more round all night long.
That evening, an all-time favorite joins the celebration. The Premium Baked Ham by The Plaza adds its own unique and well-loved flavors to the evening's celebration (for more on The Plaza's signature Premium Baked Ham, see my earlier post, The Plaza: Celebrating Fifty Years of Food Excellence). One more slice? Absolutely...
After a restful sleep at F1 Hotel Manila, it's time for breakfast at F All Day Restaurant (for more on breakfast at F All-Day Dining Restaurant, see my previous posts, Breakfast at F1 Hotel Manila's F All-Day Dining and Sunny Days and Bacon: Breakfast at F All-Day Dining Restaurant).
After breakfast, a mid-morning Sunday walk through BGC without the usual crowds and heavy traffic is just what you need to find some clarity and new perspectives for that new year vibe. It's also a good time to reflect on where you started, and where you're headed.
Five fruitful and rewarding years, and my blog's journey continues. A heartfelt thanks to everyone, friends and partners, for all the good vibes and coming along with me for the ride. But there's more to discover and experience in this new year...
F1 Hotel Manila is located at 32nd Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City or call (02) 908-7888 for inquiries and reservations. You can also send an email to inquiry@f1hotelandresorts.com or visit their site at http://www.f1hotelmanila.com/.
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