A Weekend Fiesta at Marco Polo Ortigas, Manila's Cucina

A fiesta of vibrant flavors, every weekend...at Marco Polo Ortigas, Manila's Weekend Fiesta at Cucina.

Weekends take on a festive vibe at Cucina, Marco Polo Ortigas, Manila's all-day dining restaurant, offering some of the best buffet spreads this side of the metro. A wide array of both local and international dishes prepared by Executive Chef Lluis Pesarrodona and his team caps your week on a high note with a memorable dining experience with friends and family. Read on and take a peek at some of Cucina's Weekend Fiesta's must-try dishes...

The Weekend Fiesta at Marco Polo Ortigas, Manila's Cucina features at least three premium dishes every weekend, and that day, Cucina's signature Paella, the popular Cochinillo, and Sustainable Tuna were part of the sumptuous spread, complementing the wide selection of dishes. Local dishes were also highlighted at Cucina's Weekend Fiesta, including this local delicacy for some flavorful surprises...

A "street vendor" on a bike (L) makes the rounds inside Cucina, offering Balut and Penoy (R) to diners. It's a cool and novel touch to Cucina's Weekend Fiesta, adding familiar local flavors to the sumptuous spread. Leave it to Marco Polo Ortigas, Manila's Cucina to weave in more surprises for a festive feast.

Cucina's Seafood Station is always a good place to start your feast, with the plump shrimps on ice laid out with the day's freshest catch (for more on Cucina's daily offerings, see my earlier post on Cucina's Weekday Craze, their previous German Festival, and the Catalan Festival by Marco Polo Ortigas, Manila's Executive Chef Lluis Pesarrodona). 

And the choices are impressive...

...with a mound of fresh Mussels, ready for the oven or grill topped with cheese, or simply sauteed in butter and garlic.

Other seafood selections include large Manila Clams (L) and freshly cracked Blue Crabs (R). The station chefs are more than glad to recommend the best way to serve these, or if you have a cooking preference, it can be prepared in minutes to your specifications.

Don't pass on the succulent Curracha (L), or local spanner crabs; and plump Elephant Clams (R), and butter and garlic with just a hint of lemon are the best way to go with these fresh crab and shellfish. Other selections include imported Vietnamese Prawns. 

At the Salad Station, create your own salad dish with garden-fresh greens and a variety of dressings and vegetables...

...add some Smoked Salmon with capers...

...or some refreshing Salmon Ceviche. It's easy to get overwhelmed with the wide selection of dishes at Cucina, but just take your time and go with the flow. At Cucina, you don't need to rush, the different stations are replenished regularly.

At the Grill Station, you can choose from a wide selection of fresh seafood...

...as well as beef and pork, skewered and ready for grilling. After a few minutes, your plate of assorted skewers is served to your table, fresh off the grill.

At one corner inside Cucina, you'll find the Cheese and Charcuterie Station stocked with premium imported cheeses, cured meats and sausages from Europe, along with freshly baked bread.

The Catalan Fuet, a dried Spanish sausage, paired with cheese, is always a winning combo at Cucina.

At the Sushi Station, indulge with the impressive selection of freshly made sushi and rolls, as well as fresh seafood. Simply pick up a plate and point, and the station chef will gladly load up your plate.

Fresh and thinly-sliced octopus, tuna and salmon, just can't get better than that.

As you go for another pass at Cucina's easy-to-navigate buffet spread, the station chefs then prepare one of Cucina's signature dishes, Executive Chef Lluis Pesarrodona's Catalan-style Paella, topped with fresh shrimps, clams, mussels, squid, and pork.

Once done, the station chefs distribute individual servings in mini-paelleras for a taste of authentic Catalan flavors.

Over at the Pasta Station, simply choose your pasta, your sauce, and other ingredients and the station chefs will prepare it ala minute, and served to your table fresh from the pan (or from the massive ball of cheese for a burst of rich flavors).

One of the many highlights at Cucina is the Seafood Station's Sustainable Tuna, sourced from partner fisheries committed to conserving marine ecosystems with sustainable practices.

Enjoy a slice of the freshest, sustainable tuna with its clean and mildly briny sweetness, topped with lemon or a dab of wasabi. The variety of fresh flavors at Cucina complete the weekend, but there's more...

At the Carving Station, things start getting serious as your appetite for serious beef kicks up your dining experience up a notch with Roast Prime Rib, served with grilled vegetables.

At the Main Station located at the middle of Cucina's spacious layout, Filipino cuisine takes centerstage with Cucina's popular Cochinillo...

...along with other pork dishes like the Roast Porkloin...

...and Roast Pork Roulade, guaranteed to satisfy any serious pork craving. Pure pork love. At Cucina.

And if you want even more pork, Cucina also served its Pork Sisig topped with chili and egg at the Main Station, alongside the Cochinillo and pork dishes.

A plate of assorted seafood sauteed in butter and garlic...

...followed by another plate of Cochinillo and Roast Pork Roulade, weekends at Marco Polo Ortigas, Manila is the perfect way to cap the week.


But save room for dessert. At Cucina's Dessert Station, you'll find a wide selection of indulgent desserts to end your feast on a sweet and satisfying note and complete the weekend fiesta vibe...

...including homemade Ice Cream (try the Strawberry Banana Ice Cream topped with Raspberries). You can enjoy the sumptuous Weekend Fiesta buffet spread at Marco Polo Ortigas, Manila'sCucina for only P 2,300 net for lunch (12:00 nn to 2:30pm), and P 2,650 for dinner (6:00pm to 10:30pm). Children aged 6 and below get to eat for free, while children aged 7 to 12 years old are charged half the price. And for a limited time only, you can bring along two friends and enjoy Cucina's Weekend Fiesta with one free buffet. Not a bad deal at all. Ready to transform your next weekend with a sumptuous feast? Make it a real weekend, at Marco Polo Ortigas, Manila's Cucina.