Celebrations & Occasions Food & Dining The GOppets

CNY Special 1: Pre-celebration at Cucina, Marco Polo Ortigas Manila

The kids love their Akim because she is truly a spoiler. She gives the best ang paos every occasion since time immemorial haha. Good thing too because they only have one aunt, pero kahit na iisa, 10 naman ang katumbas. 😉 To usher in the coming of the Chinese New Year, my SIL treated us all to a delicious pre-CNY celebration at Cucina, Marco Polo Ortigas Manila.

I’ve only been to Marco Polo Ortigas Manila once, when she feted us to lunch at Lung Hin a while back, and I loved every bite of the delicious chinese food served there. So I was excited for our now-becoming-regular sunday gathering coz 1.) buffet! 2.) BUFFET! ;)) Need I say more?

Cucina, Marco Polo Ortigas Manila

Marco Polo Hotel, Sapphire Rd., Meralco Avenue, Pasig, Philippines (02) 720 7777

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Marco Polo Ortigas Manila has 4 specialty outlets that you can choose from. Cucina, the all-day dining restaurant that features live show kitchens; Lung Hin, the contemporary Chinese restaurant serving traditional and authentic Cantonese cuisine in a new, fresh and modern style; Café Pronto, the relaxed and friendly coffee area offering a wide range of designer coffee, specialty teas and freshly baked items good for dine-in or to go; and VU’s, a sky bar and lounge located at the topmost 45th floor of the hotel which offers Mediterranean tapas, signature cocktails, wines, sprits, and champagnes.

 

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I was particularly glad that we were trying the buffet at Cucina this time around as I was already able to visit the chinese resto the last time. And I’m sure so were the kids who are, after all, foodies too!

 

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I like the modern-asian interiors of Marco Polo Ortigas Manila. Simple but elegant. All high-ceilinged too so you don’t get the feeling of being overly crowded even in the midst of a Sunday crowd.

 

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First to greet me as I entered was this seafood station! <3 Like I said, my taste now has gravitated more towards the sea life, so I was eager to get my hands on these uber fresh crustaceans!

 

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Wait! There’s another side! Oh-la-la! <3

 

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And there’s MORE! FAT CRAB CLAWS & GIANT MUSSELS omg! This is the live cooking station, if you want your seafood cooked & seasoned. FYI, I had my seafoods BOTH ways -cold & hot, not that you’d be surprised haha.

 

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I’d normally start my round with a generous serving of sushi & sashimi, but I forced myself to walk past it & indulge in the lobsters instead. It’s not often I get to have my favorite sea creatures! It is, after all, the month of LOVE(ster). ;))

 

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Mom had a grand time with this giant steamed fish. Not lapu-lapu. I wonder what it is?

For you carnivorous people, don’t be sad! 😛 There’s plenty of meat going around too. It’s definitely Surf & Turf time at Cucina, Marco Polo Ortigas Manila.

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Had to forego this Mongolian station as well. The heart is willing, but the tummy is not. It’s already over-capacitated, lol, and stretched beyond its limits!

 

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Pasta station. One of my weaknesses but also #1 on my list to avoid at buffets. One word: LUGI! ;)) our CNY buffet cost 2.6k/person, so I was treading wisely.

 

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Ahhhh.. my waterloo & downfall. DESSERT! <3 And when placed so prettily like this, how does one resist? Right? RIGHT??

 

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Good thing the 4-flavored ice cream came in tiny scoops. ALL OF THE ABOVE PLEASE? And don’t be shy with the toppings!

 

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Juice & wine buffet also available. But all that sloshing in the tummy while walking around is not very pleasant, so I stuck with the solids teehee.

What makes the world go round? Or rather, what makes ME go round(er) & round(er) with each passing day? You guessed it. BUFFET! 😛 But it also makes me happy. So would you rather have a skinny but sad me? Or a rotund but happy moi? I choose the latter, LOL. And I guess so does Kap. #HappyWifeHappyLife Say hello to my happy plates!

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Just got a round of blood chem that morning. I fear the results coming my way. Pagbabayaran ko yang mga nasa plato koooo!

 

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Hello high cholesterol! @_@

 

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Hello high triglycerides! @_@

 

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Some steamed fish to combat the fried, crispy, tender, juicy pork! zOMG, so help me.

 

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Mej nahiya na ako sa doctor ko at this point. Kaya share nalang kami ni Kap sa noodle soup. Hating mag-asawa, therefore I get the bigger portion, TROLOLOL!

 

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You’ll notice when my tummy is at its breaking  point. Fewer food, smaller plates. Pababa ng pababa, paliit ng paliit. 😉

 

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And the finale? Hello high blood sugar! @_@

I always say the last meal is my last buffet -that I’ll stick to ala cartes after. But I just can’t seem to stand by to my resolution huhu. Life is short, so I’ll just enjoy the ride. Bahala na ang Norvasc, Lipitor at Janumet sa akin. Isama na natin si Batman!

Thank you so much Akim for a yummylicious lunch. As you can tell, we all enjoyed not just the bountiful spread, but the fun, FUN company as well. Even si Mommy nagkakalaman-laman na ng konti sa lingguhang food-trip namin.

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I have a feeling that this time around, mom’s caregivers will be sticking with us for a loooong time hehe. #BusogLusog #WeAreFamily

 

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DIET? WHAT DIET?

 

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Yes, definitely NO DIET with this Sunday crew!

 

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Happy Chinese New Year Mommy. May you get as round, as happy, and as fat as the balls above you. 🙂

Obviously, hindi lang tummy ko ang nag-give up! Pati hair ko, bumigay na..

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Hindi lang pantalon ang pumutok, pati mga hairclips nag-pop! 😛

 

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Next time around, I’ll be wearing jogging pants. Sumuko na ang jeggings ko! Oh my gulay! Happy weekend guys, saan na naman kaya kami mapapadpad itong linggo? ABANGAN! 😉

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10 Comments

  • Reply Noel Q.

    LOVEster talaga! hahahaha… #iloveit =)

    Must try this buffet soon, Na-try ko na ang marco polo, and I wasn’t disappointed, so this should be a treat… pero dapat pag-ipunan, medyo mahal pala at P2600 per person. Parang Sofitel na ang peg. hehehe…

    Have a great weekend Jane!

    February 12, 2016 at 8:38 am
    • Reply sugargospice

      Nieeeeel. Nung araw lang yata nag-2.6k because of the lovesters & other giant seafood. Ordinary days less than 2k. Pero syempre ang habol natin yung seafood diva, otherwise ordinary buffet lang sya haha. Try mo nga yung The Pantry hindi ako mapapahiya sayo!

      February 12, 2016 at 11:34 am
  • Reply marian

    Wow and wow! So happy to be reading more stuff about your family, Ms. Jane. I definitely missed this kind of posts.

    Grabe lang ang GIANT crab claws and mussels. Giant squid rings din ba yung nasa left side? 🙂 I love looking at their seafood displays. 🙂

    February 12, 2016 at 9:18 am
    • Reply sugargospice

      Yes. EVERYTHING GIANT marian. Ang sarap gang ulit-ulitin ang pagpunta haha. 😛 Sira ang diet!

      February 12, 2016 at 11:30 am
  • Reply med

    ohhhemmmmgeeeeeee ang lakiiiii!!!

    giant crab claws!!!

    February 12, 2016 at 2:20 pm
    • Reply sugargospice

      Yaaaaas! But I don’t know though if it’s gonna be a regular occurence since iba daw ang price nung CNY buffet meding. Matanong nga. 🙂

      February 12, 2016 at 2:57 pm
  • Reply ANNA

    W-O-W yung GIANT crab claws, giant talaga.

    Ms. Jane, super enjoy talaga ko sa mga ganito mong post, about family, lalo ngayon may mga bagong cast 🙂

    Enjoy!!!

    February 12, 2016 at 9:54 pm
    • Reply sugargospice

      hahaha oo nga parang teleserye ang peg. Thank you anna! :-*

      February 13, 2016 at 7:18 am
  • Reply regina

    sobrang natawa po ako don sa jogging pants na lang ang isusuot niyo next time. ganyan din po struggle ko kapag magbu-buffet.. hahahahah ?

    February 13, 2016 at 9:12 pm
    • Reply sugargospice

      Hay naku Regina rumo-rolyo yung jeggings kong pababa mula tiyan hahaha! ;P

      February 13, 2016 at 9:53 pm

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