10 Holiday Potluck Dishes From The Experts
These crowd pleasers are just a DM away!
So you’re going to a potluck party but have no idea what to bring. You want to bring a dish everyone will love, that feels special and not ordinary, but won’t necessarily break your budget. We got you! We asked ten of Manila’s tastemakers to share that one dish that they love to bring to potlucks. Easy to order, affordable, and so darned good everyone will want to know where you got it. At which point, you can smile and say, “Sorry, that’s my secret.”
Potluck Dish Ideas
Potluck Dish Ideas
Angelo Comsti: Chicken Alexander
Chef, book author and tastemaker Angelo Comsti goes for Azucar y Sal’s Chicken Alexander. “My secret go-to dish to order is Azucar y Sal’s Chicken Alexandre. It’s something not many people are familiar with and something many people instantly fall in love with. That’s why it’s always a hit. And since Azucar is just my neighbor, pick up is a breeze.’
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Stephanie Zubiri: Crab Sotanghon
Chef and food editor Stephanie Zubiri is well-traveled, but her go-to dish is close to home. “My savory fave is China Mommy Crabs—either the Crab Sotanghon or Crab Curry. Actually I like both, and you can mix the curry sauce into the sotanghon!!!”
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Stephanie Zubiri: Roast Pork Belly
Chef Dulce Gibbs’s private dining À Table Gourmet is so low key that it’s considered one of Manila’s hidden gems. Stephanie comes here for “…the wonderful crisp roast pork belly. Although I don’t eat pork anymore, it’s definitely a crowd pleaser. Chef Dulce also has a fantastic potato gratin that you can order!”
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Happy Ongpauco-Tiu: Party Platters from Lechon by Happy
It’s no surprise that Chef Happy Ongpauco-Tiu’s go-to party dish comes from one of her popular concepts. “I bring either the Le Chon Porchetta Platter or the Lechon Roasted Angus Beef belly served with muscovado liver sauce, white adobo sauce and lime labuyo.”
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Dedet de la Fuente: Vietnamese Spring Rolls
Lechon diva Dedet de la Fuente, the lady behind the smashing success that is Pepita’s Kitchen, vouches for fresh Vietnamese spring rolls that you can order from @stevieshainaneschicken. “Light and healthy, sarap!” enthuses Dedet. His Hainanese Chicken is a gem, too!
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Chef Sau del Rosario: The Plaza ham
A classic favorite, you can’t beat jamon from The Plaza, advises restaurateur and chef Sau del Rosario, whose concepts include Sawsaw and Café Fleur. Ham is so simple, so hearty, and always guaranteed to draw oohs and aahs. “Plus, it lasts for days, even after noche buena. It’s a very practical gift.”
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Anton Barretto: Lasagne Bolognese
The host of Metro Home says: “The Christmas season always fills up our calendars with parties and get togethers to attend and when I’m asked to bring a dish, my two super no fail ever reliable food order suppliers are Lasagna Bolognese or this great sous vide boneless USDA rib eye steak from Johanna Garcia of RGTK.” She has other superb dishes you can choose from, too.
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Abba Napa: Drunken Chicken with Beer Gravy
One-third of the driving force behind The Moment Group of restaurants—which includes Manam, Ooma, and Din Tai Fung—says she loves to bring this roast chicken dish to parties. “Or depending on my mood, any party platter from The Moment Group Catering. Call me biased, but I have The Moment’s catering team on speed dial and they have a killer lineup of party platters that they can whip up and send your way—with or without waiters.”
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Karla Reyes: Taiwanese Pork Buns
Karla Reyes knows good food. She’s the owner of La Petite Fromagerie and has years of experience with the family business, The Plaza Ham and The Plaza Catering. She has a list of go-to dishes to order for potluck parties. But right now, it’s Jian Bao—hot, fresh Taiwanese-style pan-fried pork buns, always a guaranteed hit at any party. Available in pork, chicken, veggie or asado supreme. They even have dessert baos with custard cheese, Hershey’s chocolate or matcha vanilla filling.
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Juana Manahan Yupangco: Bibingka
The plant-based advocate and cookbook author shares, “This bibingka converted me from a puto bumbong lover to a bibingka lover. A friend introduced me to this bibingka. They used to be in Bulacan but thankfully they now have a stall in Uptown Mall BGC.”
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Lead photos: China Mommy, Stevie’s Hainanese Chicken
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