Events

Why you should celebrate the holidays at Marco Polo Plaza Cebu

This holiday season we find ourselves home at the Marco Polo Plaza Cebu as they open their doors (and kitchen!) with treats and gifts.

Sure, nothing beats opening gifts by our Christmas Tree, or grandma’s Christmas Lasagna. But sometimes when the usual tradition gets a little repetitive and the family getting smaller and smaller each year, as cousins and relatives move abroad, a change of scenery would be great to spice up the holidays. This holiday season we find our second home at Marco Polo Plaza Cebu as they open their doors (and most importantly, their kitchen) with gifts, treats and special promotions just in time to celebrate the festivities with the family.

The Tree of Hope

Cebu media gathered around the hotel’s Tree of Hope

In Marco Polo Plaza, the lighting up of the Tree of Hope signifies the beginning of the Festive Season. But more than that, this Christmas tradition also signifies the beginning of the season for giving.

Donate to the Tree of Hope for only Php 200 per Christmas ball from November 20, 2016 to January 2, 2017. All proceeds will be given to GMA Kapuso Foundation – one of the most accomplished non-government organizations in the Philippines whose mission is to uplift the lives of underprivileged Filipinos.

Christmas Ensaimadas

Marco Polo’s now-famous holiday ensaimada returns this festive season (Photo by Patty Taboada/Zee Lifestyle)

The hotel’s limited edition Christmas Ensaimadas are back for the Festive Season! This rich, lush pastry combines the best of the classic fruitcake with the signature ensaimadas. Enjoy its nutty-fruity taste as it is generously sprinkled with cashews, dates, dried fruits and an overload of cheddar cheese. For only Php 130 net per piece, bring them home or give them away as gifts! They come in boxes of three and six.

Room Packages

Staycations at the Marco Polo Plaza Cebu

Come home to Marco Polo Plaza from December 1-29, 2016 and avail of the Christmas Surprise room package. Starting at Php 4,850 net, this special yuletide package is inclusive of buffet breakfast for two. You will also enjoy a box of three ensaimadas to take home to your loved ones. A portion of the room rate will be donated to the GMA Kapuso Foundation.

On December 31, rates begin at Php 16,000 net inclusive of buffet breakfast, two tickets to the New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner at the Grand Ballroom and Countdown Party with a spectacular fireworks display at the Grand Balcony.

Festive Buffet

Turkey (Photo by Patty Taboada/Zee Lifestyle)

Turkey – a delicious holiday addition to Cafe Marco’s international buffet spread. (Photo by Patty Taboada/Zee Lifestyle)

The chicken relleno makes a comeback this year (Photo by Patty Taboada/Zee Lifestyle)

What’s Christmas without ham? (Photo by Patty Taboada/Zee Lifestyle)

Have magical gatherings as Marco Polo Plaza prepares one grand holiday feast for you and your loved ones. Whether at Café Marco, Lobby Lounge or El Viento, enjoy festive season favorites such as Christmas ham, prime beef, chicken relleno and more on top of the regular international buffet spread.

From December 16-23, and 26-30, feast on Café Marco lunch buffet at Php 1,150 net per person and dinner buffet at Php 1,440 net per person.

On the 24th of December, dine on Café Marco’s lunch buffet at Php 1,150 net per person and dinner buffet at Php 2,200 net per person. Dinner is inclusive of free-flowing house wines, local beer, chilled juices and sodas.

You may also choose to spend an intimate Christmas evening with your loved ones on the 24th of December a thousand feet above sea level. Blu Bar and Grill offers a festive set dinner with wine pairing at Php 3,500 net per person.

Mr. and Mrs. Claus will be spreading Christmas cheer in all dining venues during Christmas Eve dinner followed by Christmas Eve Mass at the Grand Balcony at 10pm.

Enjoy 20% off on Café Marco Buffet price on the 24th of December from 10pm onwards and enjoy Noche Buena with the family!

Finally, celebrate Christmas day with your family and friends at Café Marco’s lunch and dinner buffet at Php 2,200 net per person with free-flowing house wines, local beer, chilled juices and sodas.

Chef’s Christmas Store

Desserts among other things you can purchase at the Chef’s Christmas Store (Photo by Patty Taboada/Zee Lifestyle)

How about a visit to Chef’s Christmas store located beside Café Marco? From November 20 to January 2, bring home something from the Marco Polo Plaza kitchen such as homemade jams, Christmas pudding, festive cookies, chocolate Santa Claus and so much more! You may also pre-order our special whole Christmas turkey for 5,000 net or our original glazed Christmas ham for Php 3,800 net. Christmas shopping at Nivel Hills just got more exciting! (with PR)

MARCO POLO PLAZA CEBU
Cebu Veterans Drive, Nivel Hills
6332. 253 1111 | website | Facebook

Events

A Feast for the Senses

Crimson Chefs - Masahiro Kinoshita, Naoki Eguchi, Daniel Johnston, Javier Garcia, Allan Barios, Andrew Simpson

By Joanna Cuenco

June 8 – Mactan, Cebu | For one of its biggest dining events of the year as part of the highly anticipated Cebu Food and Wine Festival, Crimson Resort and Spa Mactan curated an epicurean journey that brought guests on gastronomic flights of fancy, fine cuisine. A Feast for the Senses showcased the creativity and excellence of the resort’s culinary team through a dine-around event at its four dining destinations that invited guests to sample the best that each restaurant had to offer: international cuisine at Saffron, Spanish at Enye by Chele Gonzalez, Japanese at Aka by Naoki Eguchi, and desserts and more drinks at Azure Beach Club.

Maria Paz Perdices, Ambra Anzani, Ema Onda,Kate Anzani, Kumiko Onda, Daisy Barns

Tamsin Booth, Didier Belmonte, Frances Siao, Celeste Miranda, Bert Miranda, Bob Booth

Spirits were high and beverages flowed freely the whole evening, thanks to Philippine Wine Merchant, A Wine Company, The Wine Club, Don Revy, Sommelier Selection, Engkanto Brewery, M. Lhuillier Food Product Inc., Future Trade International, Happy Living Philippines, Equilibrium Intertrade Corporation, and Bauhinia Brewery.

Allan Barios at Saffron dessert station

Ulysse Jouanneaud

Margarette Lhuiller and Perl Jacalan

For the after-party and entertainment at Azure Beach Club, renowned mixologist Ulysse Jouanneaud took over the bar, crafting cocktails with Bacardi, Don Papa, Cointreau, and Sula Brands. Chef Allan Barrios presented a dessert spread that included key lime pralines, vanilla bourbon truffles, honey coconut cryos, and tiny flower-potted bamboo shoots that turned out to be made of pistachio. These little works of art were planted alongside vibrant green foliage, smooth stones, and a faux fog effect that created a tropical rainforest diorama out of the dessert table.

Lechon belly station at Saffron

Dessert display at Azure Beach Club

Yellowfin tuna tataki

Grilled mackerel with laksa boullabaise

The night sky and the distant lights of neighboring islands were the perfect backdrop for a high-energy LED dance performance and fantastic fireworks display that left guests in awe and applause.

Rose Hudson

Chele Gonzalez

Brava potato with chorizo at Enye

LED and Tron Dance

Aka Private Room

The Cebu Food and Wine Festival is supported by the Department of Tourism – Philippines, Visit Central Visayas, the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Cebu Business Month, and Cebu Pacific Air.

Events

The First NUSTAR BALL

Janine Taylor, June Alegrado, Jackie Lotzof, Frances Siao, Ina Ronquillo and Christine Pelaez

The NUSTAR Ballroom, a magnificent venue at the NUSTAR Resort and Casino in Cebu, sets the stage for last night’s first-ever NUSTAR Ball.

Black was the color of night at the Zee table.

Glamorous guests from Manila and Cebu converged at the NUSTAR Ballroom, an exquisite venue within the NUSTAR Resort and Casino in Cebu. The evening unfolded with a seated 5-course dinner. The opulent feast started with Beetroot Salmon Gravlax, adorned with caper berries, caviar, set with delicate edible flowers; and a main course of Compressed Pork Belly with Crackling Skin and Baby Scallops. Another highlight was the auction of coveted items like Dior and YSL handbags, a limited-edition Bulgari watch, and an exclusive 2-night stay in Nustar’s opulent 3-bedroom villa—complete with a private pool and a dedicated butler. The charity evening benefited the Cameleon Association, an NGO based in Iloilo City created in 1997 that developed a global approach to act on the causes and effects of sexual violence against children.

Nora Sol, Beth Go, Frances Siao and Marylou Ong

Ina Ronquillo, Maryanne Aboitiz and Jackie Lotzof

Designers Jun Escario and Philip Rodriguez

Philip Rodriguez with NUSTAR Malls two power ladies: May Adolfo and Joanna Salazar

Lana Osmeña with Mariquita Yeung

PJ Castillo and Kaye Abad with Cary Santiago

Drew Sarmiento with LV Manager Adrian Decuigan

Cary Santiago with Eva Gullas

Manila socialites Julie Boschi and Ching Cruz with June Alegrado

It was a night of elegance, luxury, and unforgettable memories as ladies in long gowns and gentlemen in black ties danced the night away.

Events

Flying Tiger Copenhagen Lands in Cebu

By Joanna Cuenco

June 13 – Cebu City | Danish lifestyle brand Flying Tiger Copenhagen has landed in Cebu, opening its first branch in the Philippines outside Metro Manila at the upper ground floor of SM Seaside City.

Since its first store in Copenhagen in 1995, Flying Tiger has aimed to share products that not only look good, but make people feel good too. There’s something for everyone aged one to 100: toys, art materials, homeware, party supplies, workout gear, travel essentials, fashion accessories, and more. There will be fresh drops at the store every three to four weeks, so there’s always something exciting to look forward to and share with family and friends.

Product designs range from minimalist and “aesthetic” to cute and kitschy. Find lifestyle essentials like food storage and home organizers, tea towels and toothbrush holders, to some awesome things you didn’t know you needed, like a handheld sewing machine and a beach chair for your phone.

Even though the 200+ square meter space is fully stocked with hundreds of items, the store layout and neat display make it such a joy to look at all of the things and make the shopping experience easy and enjoyable. Flying Tiger believes a richer life does not cost a fortune, so items start at only P30, or even lower with some special promos.

The store opened with a traditional Danish cake-cutting ceremony with Jet Tan, Flying Tiger Copenhagen Store Operations Manager of APAC Region; Gladhys Rodriguez, Merchandising Manager of Flying Tiger Copenhagen Philippines; Billi Jin Esguerra-Perez, Marketing Manager of Flying Tiger Copenhagen Philippines; and JB Tan, Mall Manager of SM Seaside City Cebu.

Zandra Len Salvador and Drew Sarmiento

Sarree Pimentel with Lian

Rizanne Tiongko, Joanna Cuenco and Anya Morrissey

Jen and Jas Sarmiento, Rere Dakay, Kirby Yu with Kayden

Jaja Chiongbian Rama with Sebi and Georgiana

Eleni Paray, Hazel Tirol and Mitchelle Lua

Flying Tiger is exclusively distributed in the Philippines by Stores Specialists, Inc., the country’s largest specialty retailer that handles a network of 593 stores and 94 brands, including some of the most recognized names in the world.

Facebook: @FlyingTigerCopenhagenPH

Instagram: @flyingtigerph