Holiday Inn & Suites Manila brings together flavors and textures with Flavors Around The World, a week-long collaboration featuring select dishes of Chef Christopher Tamayo of Tagaytay restaurant Textures by Tamayo on their lunch and dinner buffets.
Holiday Inn & Suites Manila's F&B outlet Flavors. Jeeves de Veyra
These collaborations are a bit different from others as they opt to seek out young and up-and-coming chefs rather than more established names. They’re off to a great start with partnering up with Chef Chris, who they found through a referral from the Les Toques Blanche chef’s community to F&B director Danner Barbasa.
If the Tamayo name sounds familiar, it’s because the family’s catering company has long been a fixture in the wedding industry, with a strong presence at bridal and wedding fairs.
For a time, the young chef handled the business, but he wanted to be known as more than the scion of the clan. So, he studied at the prestigious Culinary Institute of America in Napa Valley. He did some work for the NBA, specifically for the Golden State Warriors, handling events and catering for the locker room.
He always wanted to come back and add more prestige to the Tamayo name. Together with longtime collaborator Chef Zachary Langille, he opened Textures by Tamayo as a way of continuing that legacy.
Guest chefs Zachary Langille and Christoper Tamayo. Jeeves de Veyra
With the restaurant, he brings the techniques and flavors learned abroad, healthy recipes from cooking for athletes, and the advocacy of sourcing the freshest farm to table ingredients from local farmers. The restaurant has gotten loyal return guests since they opened last May for their playful menu, like their Bulalo Chawan Mushi where they integrate bone marrow and bulalo broth into their egg custard.
Chef Chris had a special preview of what he’s bringing to the Flavors Around The World buffet. Of note are dishes that are already on their menu in Tagaytay that are given the Holiday Inn touch by executive sous chef Dexter Sagales and his team.
This appetizer of Mandarin oranges and beets rests on a bed of ricotta made in-house by the hotel. Jeeves de Veyra
Lightly seared enoki, shiitake, and shimeji add a smoky note to the wild mushroom soup. Jeeves de Veyra
These dishes a nod to the Filipinos' love of chicken and family-style dining. His and chef Zach’s dishes are notably on the healthy sides as a throwback to their days of cooking for the basketball players. Instead of gravy, he has a sauce of cauliflower and broccoli.
A highlight of the buffet are playful dishes that were made specially for this collaboration, which Chef Chris hints may make its way to the Tagaytay menu.
Salmon with corn gravy. Jeeves de Veyra
Personally don’t like those oily notes of salmon. Tamayo’s corn sauce nicely tempers this, leaving a little bit of it to preserve the salmon’s natural flavors.
Lamb on polenta. Jeeves de Veyra
They do respect the flavors of the ingredients. That gamey flavor of lamb is still there. The light jus and the parmesan polenta nicely balance out those notes of the tender sous vide lamb medallion.
Dragon fruit dessert. Jeeves de Veyra
The dragon fruit used in the balsamic reduction in this pavlova came from Chef Chris’ own farm. Guests could break and mix the meringue should they want a bit more sweetness to balance out the tartness.
This collaboration signals the Holiday Inn & Suites Makati's return to normal operations after almost a year-long renovation that included their rooms and their lobby.
The hotel has repurposed Flavors as a comfortable space beyond just an all-day dining outlet. Rather it also doubles as a comfortable space for coffee, with power outlets, and hotel wi-fi to escape the hustle and bustle of the mall belo. Regular offers like their P888 everyday breakfast buffet is available for walk-in guests.
The repurposed Flavors. Jeeves de Veyra
The Flavors Around The World buffet collaboration with Chef Christopher Tamayo will be available for lunch and dinner seatings from October 5 to 11 and is priced at P2,300/pax from Monday to Thursday, and P2,800 from Friday to Saturday. IHG One Rewards members are entitled to a 40% discount.