The air is thick with the aromas of familiar flavours, with some even harking back to one’s childhood days in the old casa when lola would prepare the family’s favourites. A mere whiff of what’s cooking in the live stations sends a stream of fond memories.

Chef Sau del Rosario

This is the scene at Food Exchange Manila inside Novotel Manila Araneta Center during the KANYAMAN Filipino Food Fest. Held in partnership with the chef Sau del Rosario, the programme is a celebration of the Philippines’ vibrant culinary culture, with a special focus on Chef Sau’s native cuisine, Kapampangan.

Chef Sau has curated and prepared a selection of sinfully delicious dishes that anchors to the diners’ uncanny ability to attach memories to certain tastes and even scents. Using some of the recipes passed down from his grandmother, the chef gave his own modern take on traditional Kapampangan fare.

Sisig paella

Walking along the buffet stations, one will find dishes such as crispy lechon belly with chocolate and cheese stuffing, pancit luglog, pochero, duck adobo, and brick oven baked longganisa pizza. But what would a Kapampangan feast be without sisig? Arguably the stars of the feast are the truffled sisig paella and the foie gras sisig. A mouthful of the paella should be enough to send one on a journey through flavours. Every grain presents a burst of greasy goodness, perfectly matched with the meaty taste and uneven texture of the sisig component.

Foie gras sisig

For dessert, there is no shortage of all-time favourites to choose from. Kakanin such as bibingka, puto bumbong, maja blanca, and kutsinta, mango sago, leche flan turon, and local ice cream flavours join the regular roster of sweet offerings. The leche flan turon is worthy of note, as it elevates the regular leche flan to new heights. The crunchy exterior is the perfect foil to the leche flan’s melt-in-the-mouth texture.

Pako Salad

All these and more join Food Exchange Manila’s regular live cooking stations: Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Grill, Italian, and Desserts. Guests can enjoy the KANYAMAN feast for as low as PHP 1,200 nett on weekdays and PHP 1,600 nett on weekends until June 22.

Catch the scene at the launch of KANYAMAN Filipino Food Fest here:

Food Exchange Manila

PBA Commisioner Chito Narvasa, culinary authority Edith Singain, Novotel GM Bernd Schneider of Novotel, Chef Sau del Rorasio, Director of Sales and Marketing Joy de Mesa of Novotel, Rooms Director Darwin Labayandoy, and Marketing Communications Manager Michael Sagaran

Bb. Pilipinas 2017 1st runner-up Charmaine Elima showcasing the latest collection of Kapampangan fashion designer Philip Torres

Novotel Manila Araneta Center, General Aguinaldo Ave., Araneta Center, 0810 Quezon City +632.990.7888