The North Asian Showdown at Marriott Cafe

Marriott Cafe takes you on an epic flavorful journey with the very best of Korea, Japan, and China with its impressive North Asian Showdown, a month-long fete of diverse and distinct flavors of the orient. From bulgogi, japchae, galbi and Korean hot pots, fresh sushi and sashimi, sukiyaki, tempura, katsu and teppanyaki, to roast meats, steamed fish and the freshest seafood and a wide variety dim sum, Marriott Cafe has it all, and more...

The redesigned interiors of the Marriott Cafe features a more spacious layout with elegant and modern design touches, and its reopening is celebrated with the rich culinary heritage of Korea, Japan, and China for a lavish feast of the region's iconic flavors and dishes as part of its regular buffet from September 17 to October 15, 2015.

At the formal launch of Marriott Cafe's North Asian Showdown, the friendly staff garbed in elegant and traditional Korean, Japanese, and Chinese garments, serve bite-sized samplers of Asian delicacies. At the entrance, one can find elaborate chocolate carvings of dolls in traditional costumes, completing the Asian vibe.

In addition to the free-flowing wine served during the pre-dinner cocktails (L), Japanese Sake and Korean Soju (R) were also served to get you in the North Asian groove in no time, along with one of Japan's oldest and iconic brands known the world over for its crisp and refreshing notes...

...Sapporo Premium Beer (L). Guests were also served unique and creative cocktails with a Sake or Soju base by Marriott Manila's GreatRoom, like the Seoul Sling (R), a refreshing blend of Soju, triple sec, and fresh pineapple juice, a sweet and bright-colored libation with a serious kick...

...or the Geisha Girl Apple Martini (L), a smooth and soothing concoction with Sake and sweet and tart apple juice garnished with a red cherry. Marriott Manila's always charming Director for Marketing Communications, Michelle Garcia (R), then invited guests for a tour of the North Asian Showdown buffet at Marriott Cafe...

Marriott Manila's Executive Chef Meik Brammer led us through Marriott Cafe's buffet spread, highlighting three new live kitchen stations created specifically for the North Asian Showdown, the Korean Hot Pot Station, a Japanese Ramen Station, and a Korean Bibimbap Station. At each station, diners can customize their dish with their choice of the freshest ingredients and prepared ala minute by the station chefs. Simply choose the ingredients, and let Marriott Cafe's skilled station chefs do the rest. And you get your customized dish in minutes, fresh and steaming hot, delivered to your table.

At the Korean Hot Pot Station, Executive Chef Meik Brammer demonstrated how easy it is to create your very own Korean-style hot pot, with a wide variety of fresh seafood and vegetables for infinite flavor combinations. And in minutes, Executive Chef Meik Brammer presents a steaming hot Korean Hot Pot, ready to serve...
   

As Executive Chef Meik Brammer guided us through the indulgent buffet spread at Marriott Cafe, the station chefs were already busy preparing dishes with the arrival of more diners. Guest Chef Suh Dong Jin (R) supervises the line, ensuring all the Korean specialties are cooked and prepared in the authentic Korean style.

A short walk from the main buffet line takes you from the Land of the Morning Calm to the Land of the Rising Sun's signature and iconic comfort food with its authentic Ramen. At the Japanese Ramen Station, Executive Chef Meik Brammer presented the wide array of authentic and fresh ingredients for that perfect bowl of ramen.

And finally, Executive Chef Meik Brammer led us to the Korean Bibimbap Station showcasing Korea's famed "Mixed Rice" dish. And just like the Korean Hot Pot Station and the Japanese Ramen Station, you can customize your dish by simply selecting your combination of ingredients. That's bespoke buffet dining for you.

Start your culinary journey at Marriott Cafe's North Asian Shwodown at the Salad Station, with its wide selection of the freshest greens and dressings, including Smoked Salmon, Salmon Gravlax as well as Korean Kimchi and Japanese pickled vegetables, perfect starters before the Asian feast.

I kick-off my North Asian Showdown at Marriott Cafe's Korean Hot Pot Station, starting with a light and steaming hot seafood broth, some fresh greens and vegetables, a little kimchi for some heat, and a load of the freshest seafood, including some fresh and plump scallops...

...a heaping mound of fresh large shrimps...

...and an equally hefty serving of fresh mussels to complete my Korean Hot Pot.

At the Korean Hot Pot Station, you can select a mild yet richly flavored seafood stock as your base (L), or go all out with the spicy and fiery hot seafood broth (R), with its vibrant red hue providing a visual hint of the intensity of its flavors. 

My soothing seafood hot pot, loaded with fresh seafood and vegetables topped with a raw egg that slowly cooked in the steaming hot broth, delivered fresh and clean flavors. The plump shrimps added a briny sweetness with a fresh "snap" in every bite, the mussels were firm with a whisper of sweetness, and the scallops soft and tender with an equally sweet hint. Just perfect.  

Continue your North Asian feast with even more fresh seafood at the Japanese station, with its extensive selection of sushi and sashimi, as well as ebi, fish, and vegetable tempura, deep-fried and prepared ala minute to maintain its crispness.

At the Sushi and Sashimi Station, the chef plated a selection of fresh and premium Mackerel with thinly sliced lemon, Hamachi, or Japanese amberjack, Salmon, and Tuna topped with ebiko on a bed of thinly shredded radish and carrots.

Your culinary itinerary to North Asia should include a stopover at the Japanese Teppanyaki Station, with its prime cuts of premium ribeye...

...and fresh fish, grilled on a flat hot grill. Other selections include fresh shrimps, squid, and vegetables as well as noodles for that perfect teppanyaki plate.

A stop at the Dim Sum Station is mandatory as you enter the Middle Kingdom and its diverse flavors. Have a plate of assorted dimsum before heading to your next culinary destination...

Over at the Chinese Station, Mariott Cafe's Executive Chinese Chef Law Wing Wui showcases traditional Chinese cuisine, with a wide assortment of smoked meats and roasts (L), including pork and duck. You can also select fresh seafood (R) like crabs, prawns, and lobster stir-fried in a wok with your choice of sweet or spicy sauce. 

A bowl of Ramen, freshly prepared at the Japanese Ramen Station, is served steaming hot, with a rich pork broth topped with firm and chewy noodles, fresh vegetables, sweet corn, pickled vegetables, nori, a soft boiled egg and thin slices of pork chasiu. Comforting and flavorful, this one hits the spot.

But there's more. Don't forget to a have a bowl of Bibimbap, freshly prepared at the Bibimbap Station, topped with a sunny side-up and a medley of fresh and pickled vegetables, including kimchi, and nutty strips of nori.

Other mains at the main buffet spread include the Korean Kalbi Jim, a slow-braised short rib beef stew...

...crispy Fried Chicken draped in Sweet Chili Sauce and sprinkled with sesame seeds...

...and the tender Stir-Fried Pork Belly with Chili Paste Sauce.

Then, you can also enjoy the rest of the signature dishes at Marriott Cafe's extensive buffet, like the fresh Slipper Lobster, great as is, or have it grilled, baked or sauteed in butter with lots of garlic...

Or go for some fresh oysters, with some freshly squeezed lemon and cocktail sauce, or vinegar. You can also have your oysters baked with cheese.

If it's beef you want, no worries. At the Carving Station, Marriott cafe served its US Choice Ribeye...

...paired with mashed potatoes and buttered grilled vegetables with a side of gravy.

One more round of ice-cold Sapporo Premium Beer to go with the US Choice Ribeye, with its deep, well rounded notes and a smooth and refined bitterness for a clean and refreshing finish.

Cap your feast with some indulgent and colorful dessert creations, each one intricately prepared. Simply pull the convenient slide-out chillers and take your pick. Better yet, have a piece of everything for a sugar rush. And come back for seconds and thirds...

Or you can go for Marriott Cafe's homemade ice cream, like this creamy duo of Palawan Hazelnut and Dolce de Latte to cap your feast on a sweet note. Marriott Cafe's North Asian Showdown runs from September 17 to October 15, 2015, with Lunch Buffet from Monday to Saturday at P 1,900 net per person, and Dinner Buffet from Sunday to Thursday at P 2,100 net per person. You can also learn and sharpen your skills in preparing authentic Chinese and Korean dishes from Marriot Manila's own Executive Chinese Chef Law Wing Wui with guest chef Suh Dong Jin at Marriott Manila's Asian Cooking Workshop on September 26, 2015, for only P 2,000 net per person. Or indulge in a lavish Asian-influenced dinner with four premium wines from Beringer and St. Francis vineyards including premium single-malt Hakushu Japanese whisky at CRU Steakhouse on September 23, 2015 for P 4,250 net per person. Whatever you choose, make it Marriott...