Monday, the 27th of August, is National Heroes’ Day, a national holiday that commemorates the Filipinos who laid the foundation for the country’s independence. The Manila Hotel celebrates with kaBAYANIhan, a two-week food festival featuring a special buffet created by Chef Jessie Sincioco at Café Ilang-Ilang.
The menu is a selection of the iconic dishes that nourished the men and women who fought for, and contributed to the country’s freedom and independence.
The warm broth of Tinolang Manok with its fragrant ginger and flavorful native chicken, was a specialty of Melchora Aquino, more popularly known as Tandang Sora, and often called the Mother of the Katipuneros. Her version of tinola, thickened with a little rice, nourished the wounded revolutionaries who took shelter with her. It’s said that she dispensed this soup along with medicines, prayers and motherly advice to the young soldiers of the Katipunan, raising their morale and giving comfort.
Bistek Tagalog inspired the palate of Jose Rizal when he was writing his seminal novels, Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo. Chef Jessie’s version is made with premium Angus beef tenderloin cooked to such perfection that it yields to the knife like butter. It comes with savory bistek sauce and delicately flavored rice.
The Bulacan-born Gregorio del Pilar used to walk around the streets of his hometown selling pastries that his mother made. Among these were his favorite sapin-sapin, made from glutinous rice, presented in multicolored layers.
These little vignettes show us a more human side of the heroes who come down to us in the history books only by their tales of valor. The kaBAYANIhan food festival is a unique and delicious way of celebrating our national history, by sharing in the rich flavors so beloved by our national patriots. kaBAYANIhan will run from Aug. 20 to Sept. 2 at Café Ilang-Ilang, and will be available for lunch and dinner. A special degustation menu will be held at The Champagne Room on August 30 and 31.
For inquiries and reservations, call Food and Beverage Restaurant Reservations at (02) 527-0011 extension 1261 to 1264, or email resvn@themanilahotel.com; Room Reservations at extension 1174 to 1176, or email resvn@themanilahotel.com.
