Eat. Each time I visit Marco Polo I enter to eat and with each visit I ext the place with added pounds on my weight. Not that I am complaining, I can politely decline the invitation and save myself from the taking in thousands of calories, but how can I resist the allure of the great buchi?
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| The Mid-Autumn Festival dinner invitation came with this. But there was buchi waiting as well. |
The Mid-Autumn Festival is a regular September event of the hotel with the Lotus Court as the host venue. When Lotus Court beckons, I come because this is home to the best buchi in the planet and this dessert is in good company—a special dinner buffet that included some of Lotus Court’s signature dishes: seafood delight, specialty dimsum and roasted pig, an all-time favorite for festivals, and of course, the moon cakes.
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| The buchi shines brighter than the full moon on the Mid-Autumn Festival |
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| Happy with Amy Cabusao & Stella Estremera. |
In line with the festival, traditional Chinese performances was staged by the students from Colegio de San Ignacio. From songs about love, life and freedom to dances that celebrate of nature and prosperity, guests had another glimpse of Oriental cultural art.
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| Pretty ladies dancing Pretty Orchid, a traditional folk dance of An Hui Province of China about the blooming of orchids |
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| The performers from the Colegio de San Ignacio ending the program with a twist |
Just a few days after, another gathering was hosted at the Lobby Lounge, this time for the English tradition of High Tea, the newest addition to Marco Polo’s culinary highlights this October.
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| English tradtion at the Lobby Lounge 3 days after the Mid-Autumn Festival feast |
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| Mango & Raisin scones is paired with homemade lemon cured, cream & strawberry jam |
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| Savoury sandwiches to share |
In the company of friends, the mid-afternoon was spent nibbling on dainty sandwiches, scones and pastries and sipping tea.
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| Kenneth of Edge graciously serving the tea |
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| The guests with the hosts from Marco Polo Davao. |
“We are introducing a new way of spending afternoons in the city. The High Tea redefines your afternoon socials in the hotel, may it be for business or leisure,” said Executive Sous Chef Alex Destriza, while presenting the tea pairings, “The will be available at the Lobby Lounge from Tuesdays to Saturdays from 2:30 to 5:30 in the afternoon,” he added.
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| Executive Sous Chef Alex Destriza presented the tea pairings |
I do not live in Marco Polo Hotel, but this week (or I should say these past couple of months) it seemed like it. With all the delightful dishes I regularly enjoy in this hotel, it’s a sign that I should be doing double time on the calorie-burning mill.
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[For more lifestyle & travel stories, visit http://apples-and-lemons.blogspot.com/ and http://jeepneyjinggoy.blogspot.com/]
Published in the Sun.Star Davao newspaper on October 04, 2015.
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