ERICJAZ FOODIES: DEGUSTATION DINNER AT THE CHAMPAGNE ROOM (THE MANILA HOTEL)

Sunday, March 9, 2025

DEGUSTATION DINNER AT THE CHAMPAGNE ROOM (THE MANILA HOTEL)

Hello everyone! Remember me??? He he he he he!

Yeah... yeah... before you remember me as the person you blocked before (he he he he he he), this is Jaz of ERICJAZ FOODIES who still believes in her online diary. I know I am not writing here as much as before, but work got hectic, annnnnd there are some things happening in my private life (PRIVATE LIFE DAW O) that warranted the delay of my posting.

ANYWHO...

To say that our year was uneventful is an understatement.... BUT would just like to focus on what gave us smiles and happy tummies. Sooo no chismis for you... Ha ha ha ha ha! Maybe soon!

So last 2024, we were planning how to celebrate Mommy's 80th. There were a lot of options but I came upon THE CHAMPAGNE ROOM at the MANILA HOTEL when I was checking for some promos and what have you.

At first my bossy kapatids didn't want to go that far as they're allergic to traffic, but later on they changed their minds so as to try out something new, AND because we luuuuuuuuuv our Mummy.

So to THE MANILA HOTEL we went, and we're all sooo glad that we did because it was the start of a beautiful friendship with THE MANILA HOTEL! :)

We're in THE CHAMPAGNE ROOM!!!!

The entrance...

A facade of flowers welcomes you to a second entrance. Call it like a gateway to your instant trip to France.

WINE! We're going to have a LOT of that later!

But of course, not these ones on display because I'm sure they're helluva expensive. He he he he he!

When we arrived, my brother was already there.

The last was ate Jit and Anthony! GEEZ, we should have made that bet where the last one pays. Ha ha ha ha! Kidding.

The CHAMPAGNE ROOM has that classic French elegance which would make you feel like you were taken to another spectrum.

Even if a group was having a party at the other side, the feeling of intimacy and solitude was still experienced in our area... parang territory na nga namin e. Ha ha ha ha!

ROLL CALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mati and the birthday girl Mommy!!!!!

Andrei and Kuya Jay!

Kuya Jay and Pia (candid shot daw)...

Ate Jit and Anthony!

Me and the hub!

If you're looking for Kuya Jon, he came from a fever and didn't want to go out so as not to be "binat".

Okay lang. MORE FOR US! BWA HA HA HA HA!

Time to order!

The DEGUSTATION DINNER in THE CHAMPAGNE ROOM would usually have 3 menus. For tonight, we chose MENU B!

Just in case you want to check out the others, here they are. They change monthly sooooooo posting this is useless... Tee hee....

We-lllllll.... At least you'll have an idea.

Our dinner officially started with the serving of their complimentary bread.

No kidding when the server asked which bread I liked from the basket, I said "ONE OF EACH PLEASE..." ha ha ha ha ha!

I SO love bread and if matched with the Manila Hotel liver spread, no joking, I'll be wolfing them all down like how the yagits in movies eat their pansit na nasa plastic na inuwi ng nanay nila. He he he he he!

Wait, let me correct myself, dinner officially started by getting the birthday girl, drunk!!!!! Ha ha ha ha ha!

I may not drink before but now I have started to enjoy cocktails!!!!

It's always martini for me with EXTRA olives! YUM!

As for the boys, they helped themselves to some white wine as ordered by their Tito Jay to match the appetizers.

Check out my pile of bread. Ha ha ha ha ha!

For the first course, THE DEGUSTATION dinner had a Gravlax of Norwegian Salmon with Cucumber, Quail Egg, and Orange sauce.

We all loved this especially Andrei except Yub.

It worked out for the best because Andrei ate his Daddy's plate and his lola's half serving.

Second course in the DEGUSTATION DINNER was Mussel Chowder with bacon bits and chive.

So creamy and flavorful with plump sweet mussels.

Egad... I thought I'm good already with the liver spread but THIS made me want to dunk each crusty chewy chunk to soak up all that creamy goodness. YUMMM!!

Third course for THE DEGUSTATION DINNER was a plate of Squash Ravioli drizzled with brown butter and candied walnuts.

Again, SUPERB!

The al dente, slightly salted, ravioli perfectly encased the creamy squash which was given a sharp level of flavor by the brown butter. The candied walnuts added a nice crunch to every spoonful I lovingly caressed in my mouth.

Again, Andrei enjoyed this sooo much that he asked for his Dad and Lola's plates.

Yun lang his Daddy wiped his plate clean. H aha ha ha ha!

Don't be too sorry for him because he was still able to get from his Lola (who gets full easily OR loved him too much).

Even if she was not able to finish the whole plate, this was Mommy approved. Check her out trying her best to have a picture with her eyes open (at lagi kasi sya nakapikit... ha ha ha).

In the middle of our ravioli numnums, dear Rocio joined us via facetime from Georgetown University in the US!

Syempre the night won't be complete without her unica hija apo!

Fourth course in THE DEGUSTATION DINNER was the palate cleanser of Dalandan Sherbet.

This was too sour for me (which is intentional I'm sure) so I guess it was really doing it's "job" of cleansing my normally mababaw na kaligayahan palate. He he he he he!

Yub was the only one who really enjoyed this in the family... Ha ha ha ha ha!

This time, he got to eat my glass!!!! Yes, himala, I didn't finish something.

The 5th and main courses for THE DEGUSTATION DINNER arrived, and the manner it was served by the parade of waiters was something new for us.

The only thing that made us forget (momentarily) about their unique and feeling-VIP-kami presentation was our excitement to dig in!!!!!!

I got the THE DEGUSTATION DINNER Soush US Beef Short Ribs!

Tender beef drizzled with red wine rosemary sauce on a bed of mashed potatoes with truffle oil!!!!

The others got THE DEGUSTATION DINNER Oven Roasted Atlantic Cod on creamy mushroom risotto with veggies.

I liked this better (because the guys let me taste theirs) but it's a matter of preference really since those who tried the beef also enjoyed it more.

STILL, I was happy with my posh plate!

Check out Andrei behind me being oh so Mr. Manners with his eating. He he he he he!

Check out my drinks for the night! He he he he!

Yep! HIC! YES... LASHENG NA AKOW... HE HE HE HE HE!

THE DEGUSTATION DINNER 6th course was a plate of French Artisan Cheese!

Believe it or not we were already so full at this point.

The cheese were still so good though that in every bite we were groaning in enjoyment AND suffering at the same time. Ha ha ha ha ha!

Ooops... Somebody's drunk too!

ERICJAZ FOODIES with my family in THE CHAMPAGNE ROOM for our DEGUSTATION DINNER!

While we were having dessert, Kuya Jay invited Pia to dance...

He then encouraged Andrei to invite his Lola...

And Mati to do the same.

Buti naman later on Andrei invited me to dance din...

Yun lang tawa sya ng tawa... grrrr!

Same with Mati! Hay naku!

Pinagtatawanan ako ng dalawang kenkoy na to! GRRR!

While having dessert, THE CHAMPAGNE ROOM servers sang to Mommy a happy birthday and gave her a complimentary cake!

We especially liked too that they sang their HAPPY BIRTHDAY with "MAY THE GOOD LORD BLESS YOU..."

Wow! Mommy with all of her cakes!!!!!!!

Again, she's trying her best not to pikit her eyes. Ha ha ha ha ha!

7th course for THE DEGUSTATION DINNER is the dessert --- Ohaina Chocolate Gataeu with vanilla sauce and raspberry gelato!

Creamy... fudgy... and smooth! So perfect with coffee or tea!

We're all quite full already from the courses BUT we made sure to make room for these rich macarons that had the right sweetness to it. Love the light crunch which enveloped the smooth chewy insides.

Supposedly it's just one per pax BUT I think I had 3! ha ha ha ha!

TIME TO OPEN GIFTS!!!!

This was from Pia!

And this is from Ate Jit..

I remembered I still don't have a gift for Mommy! Ha ha ha ha ha! (I planned to order pics kasi).

Such a fun dinner with the family in THE CHAMPAGNE ROOM!

Aba! Aba!

May nagplano nang mag date here sa THE CHAMPAGNE ROOM!

Wait... Not Mati and Andrei together... more like Mati and Andrei each with dates...

Although teka nga... parang ayoko din yun ah...

Mommy lang muna ka-date nyo ha?????

LE BILL!

If you pay via BDO, you'll still get a 35% discount for the Degustation sets.

Everyone was in high spirits from the awesome dinner that each were game with taking pictures.

Yes! This was something that I've always had difficulty with my KJ and not showbiz family before. Ha ha ha ha ha!

Aba.... They agreed pa to a wacky shot! He he he he he!

Check out Anthony and Ate Jit struggling to make a heart hand pose.

We also had a photo by the iconic MANILA HOTEL stairs!

Oh THE CHAMPAGNE ROOM! We really had a great night! We will definitely be back again and again!

And guess what? We did!

Here's for Andrei's birthday....

AND for Valentimes / My bday Celebration this February of 2025!!!!!!

I think we enjoyed it so much that we might go here every month (since they always change their menu)!

I know we may have been late in the game but so happy that we were able to celebrate a blessed family event in THE MANILA HOTEL. Though it IS quite a distance from us and there are more flashy restaurant hotels out there, we'll stick with this OG original.