THE ULTIMATE LIST: 5 Luxurious Valentine’s Day Dinners That You Should Book Now (Part 1: Hotels)

A West Meets East Affair: Flame

 

At Flame, Discovery Primea’s modern European restaurant, Chef Luis Chikiamco has crafted a five-course, one-night only, Asian-inspired Valentine’s Day menu, complete with a glass of Möet Chandon Rosé champagne. A string quartet will serenade diners as they indulge in the following five-course menu for P3,500 nett:

 

Salmon tartar

Avocado, pickled cucumber, shichimi dressing, radish, crispy rice cake

Foie gras & potatoes

Black truffle “tortilla de patatas”, dashi-clam sauce, shiitake mushrooms

Steamed lobster

House-made XO sauce, stir fried Asian vegetables, egg noodles

Josper grilled US rib eye

Kimchi rice, mushrooms, scallions, carrots, soy-sesame glaze

Chocolate, chocolate, chocolate!

Hazelnut snow, fresh berry coulis, black pepper ice cream, pop rocks

 

6749 Ayala Avenue, Makati City, (02) 955-8888, www.discoveryprimea.com

 

A Japanese-style Romance: Nobu Manila

Nobu Strawberry and Ivoire Chocolate Mousse with Hazelnut Dacquoise and Praline Ice Cream

 

Japanese meets Peruvian at the Nobu Hotel Manila branch of this iconic restaurant helmed by world-famous Chef Nobu Matsuhisa. On February 13 and 14, Nobu Manila offers the following omakase menu for P4,299++ per person:

 

Yellowtail sashimi jalapeño and Kumamoto oysters with Nobu salsa, caviar, yuzu lemon

Ika, lapu-lapu, negi toro sushi trio platter

Seared scallop Inaniwa pasta with truffle butter

Uni butter-crusted beef tenderloin with confit potato, caramelized onion, sake soy

Aka dashi soup and Asari clam

Strawberry and ivoire chocolate mousse with hazelnut dacquoise and praline ice cream

 

City of Dreams Manila, Aseana Avenue corner Macapagal Avenue, Entertainment City, Roxas Boulevard, Parañaque City, (02) 800 8080, e-mail guestservices@cod-manila.com, www.cityofdreamsmanila.com

 

A French Rendezvous: Mirèio

Mire`io Aged parmesan sable, truffle mascarpone, iberico ham, shaved vegetables

 

Elegance meets romance at Raffles and Fairmont Makati’s lovely brasserie Mirèio where couples can relish a candlelit five-course dinner, complemented by a glass of Champagne and a red rose paired with heart-shaped macarons as a giveaway. At P4,888 per person, the menu below also comes with a 4-glass wine pairing for an additional P1,088:

Truffle-tuna tartar with celery and green apple

Lobster bisque with fennel, turnip, and crab flakes

Beef tenderloin with Rossini potato purée and shallot confit

Saint-Marcellin cheese in French baguette

A special dessert

 

1 Raffles Drive, Ayala Center, Makati City, (02) 795-1840, email dining.makati@raffles.com, www.raffles.com/makati/

 

An Haute Cuisine Encounter: The Tasting Room

 

At the newly reopened The Tasting Room in NÜWA (formerly Crown), diners can expect a Michelin-star caliber experience orchestrated by its new Chef de Cuisine Frederic Thevenet. The five-course Valentine’s tasting menu, at P5,000++ per person, combines haute French cuisine with Filipino and Asian touches, and comes with a wine pairing for an additional P2,500++ per person. To sweeten the affair, there will be a live chocolate station, and a bouquet of red roses given to the women guests.

 

Smoked haddock with lentils, egg yolk, caviar, brandade (salt cod and olive oil emulsion), lettuce

Lobster tartare with clementine orange, lambanog (coconut liquor), sauce Américaine, vegetables à la grecque

Pineapple papaya with banana ketchup, celery jelly, pink pepper

Tenderloin beef pot au feu with crosnes (Chinese artichoke), leeks, truffle vinaigrette

Chocolate papillote with pear

 

City of Dreams Manila, Aseana Avenue corner Macapagal Avenue, Entertainment City, Roxas Boulevard, Parañaque City, (02) 800 8080, e-mail guestservices@cod-manila.com, www.cityofdreamsmanila.com

 

The Ultimate Proposal: Sunset Bar’s Love by Design

 

For a truly romantic Valentine’s Day, Sofitel Philippine Plaza is offering a “L’amour Pour Toujours” proposal at its poolside Sunset Bar that overlooks the stunning Manila Bay. Under a private canopy, the couple can enjoy a bespoke four-course dinner featuring grilled specialties, as they listen to a live musical string performance just for them. This Love by Design dinner package also includes a bottle of Champagne, three roses, a box of pralines, plus the chance to win an iPhone 8. Make sure to book this special package at least three days before.

If you and your date are just after the cool breeze and Manila Bay view, then Sunset Bar also offers a “Romance by the Bay” dinner buffet at P2,750++ with unlimited local beers, iced tea, cocktails and wines, plus live musical entertainment and fireworks to end the evening with a bang.

CCP Complex, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City, (02) 832.6988, email H6308-FB12@sofitel.com

www.sofitel.manila