F1 HOTEL'S LUZVIMINDA 6: TIMELESS FLAVORS

          When Independence Day rolls in here in the Philippines, the foodie world is always abuzz in anticipation of an event that never fails to captivate our taste buds.. I'm talking about F1 Hotel Manila's LuzViMinda Festival!  With the theme of the 2018 incarnation "Timeless Flavors", we knew we were in for a treat, as this year's set of chefs pushed the envelope when it came to culinary innovation of beloved Filipino dishes!  

STARTING THE NEW YEAR AT F1 HOTEL MANILA WITH THE KTG!

         For the past few years, My blogger family known as The KTG has celebrated our Christmas Party at F1 Hotel at Bonifacio Global City. This is only fitting because it pretty much was the place where our Blogger Collective was born, and we now consider it the Home of The KTG.  For the past few years though, we decided to avoid the December rush and instead, celebrate it during the first week of January.. Which coincidentally happens to be the week of two major events for me, namely my Wedding Anniversary, and my Birthday, making the Party at F1 Hotel extra special! 

        During The KTG's 2018 Holiday Party, not only did we usher in the new year with a bang, we also welcomed Chef Chubby Timban to the F1 Family, as their new Executive Chef!

F1 HOTEL MANILA'S LUZVIMINDA 2017!

        Whenever June comes around, an event that i'm always looking forward to is F1 Hotel Manila's LuzViMinda Food Festival. The ingenuious concept is, the hotel invites three renowned chefs to represent the different regions of the country, through their gastronomic creations. Now, LuzViMinda is on its fifth year, and they've got a perfect track record in my book. 

       The 2016 incarnation featured some of the top female chefs of the country, but in 2017, the boys are back in town! Chefs Mikel Zaguirre, Dennis Uy and Kalel Chan all took up the challenge of featuring the best dishes from around the country, all into one amazing buffet spread. 

      This ranks up there with the very best LuzViMinda festivals ever! 

A YULETIDE FESTIVAL AT F1 HOTEL MANILA

       I believe I've been going to F1 Hotel frequently for the three years, and I've seen some pretty amazing Chefs from around the country take the reins in their kitchen. Each time I've visited, I can safely say that I've always been impressed with the various dishes that I've tried.  

      With all due respect to the previous Chefs who undoubtedly did an excellent job, I can safely say the current line up of Chefs of F1 Hotel, led by Executive Chef Decker Giocko is by far my favorite. Even during his days at Cake Club, I've seen Chef Decker as a kindred spirit.. in leyman's terms, "ka-vibes ko siya" especially when it comes to our taste in food. 

    With 2016 coming to a close, I was invited to F1 Hotel once again to try out their Holiday spread, and I was blown away by the various entrees that Chef Decker and his team whipped up as part of their Christmas and New Year Buffet... and I was not about to say no to that!

HEIRLOOM DISHES UNVEILED AT F1 HOTEL MANILA'S LUZVIMINDA 2016!

Who run the world?

Photo Care of www.foodinthebag.com

          As a food blogger, there are some annual events that I always highly anticipate. Madrid Fusion, UTT, and Best Food Forward are just a few of those said events that I look forward to visiting, wondering how will this year's edition top the last. 

       One of those events that seem to just get better and better as the years go by, is F1 Hotel Manila's LuzViMinda Festival, held at F All Day Dining Cafe. Since its inception in 2013, I've never missed out on attending F1's much awaited Pinoy Food Festival. This year, three inspiring women flexed their culinary muscles and showed us how Filipino food can be made even more amazing, when given the woman's touch!

   Representing Luzon, was none other than the Adobo Queen and herself, Nancy Reyes-Lumen, while we were taken on a tour of Visayas through the dishes of Chef Pauline Gorriceta Banusing of Gruppo Al Dente Catering Service. Taking up the cudgels of the pride of Mindanao, is Chef Maria Kristina Collantes or “Teng” of Park Inn by Radisson Davao. 

     The overall theme of this year's LuzViMinda was"Heirloom Recipes", so these were all tried and tested dishes from the families of our highly esteemed chefs, that was passed from generation to generation.

    Here's a few of the highlights you can expect when you visit LuzViMinda 2016, from June 10-25, 2016!

AN EARLY EASTER AT F1 HOTEL MANILA AND MORE PROMOS!

            F1 Hotel Manila will always have a very special place in my heart. Why? Simply because it was the very first hotel to invite Rina and I to a staycation! We've been over there numerous times, and considering we celebrate practically every major holiday there, The KTG considers it as our second home. Recently, we got an invitation to have an early Easter Celebration there, to see some of the fun things F1 Hotel has to offer this summer, with a kick off this Holy Week!

ENJOY F1 HOTEL'S LUZVIMINDA 3: PISTANG PINOY!

      I don't know about you, but one of my most awaited food festivals has happened at F1 Hotel Manila for the past 3 years.. The LuzViMinda 3 Pistang Pinoy! For the past three years, F1 Hotel has gathered the biggest names of the culinary world, representing their respective regions, to come up with amazing gastronomic concoctions that exemplifies the beauty of their hometown's food and culture. These world-class, but proudly Pinoy Chefs, take you on a mouthwatering trip around the country, one dish at a time, letting you experience the wonderful flavors that the Philippines has to offer, one dish at a time!

    This year, the triumvirate included Celebrity Chef Bruce Lim from Luzon, Chef Tatung Sarthou of the Visayas, and Chef Sider Tadtad of Mindanao! 

STAYCATION SERIES: F1 HOTEL MANILA AT BONIFACIO GLOBAL CITY

          I believe it was in the year 2005 or so when I first discovered the beauty of a "Staycation". Even though I was already working then, I was still living at home, so I didn't have rent or mortgage to think about. Meaning I had money. I purchased a "Club Membership" from an exclusive Hotel in Makati, that offered room vouchers that gave me huge discounts, and just to seal the deal, they even included an overnight stay, absolutely free. 

      At first, I'll admit, I was a bit skeptical. I wondered to myself, "Why pay money for an overnight stay in a hotel that's just around 30 minutes away from my house?". Nonetheless, the membership also gave me a 50% discount at their famous buffet, so that was enough for me. 

      Within minutes of checking in, I saw exactly what the whole point of a staycation was. The point was to get yourself absorbed in all of the relaxation, without the hassle of long airport lines and bumpy plane rides. You drove a few minutes away, yet you're taken to completely new world.. One free of stress, where your every whim is catered to. 

       As a blogger, I was fortunate to have been invited to a staycation late last year, and made some wonderful friends from the blogging world along the way. That experience inspired me to expand my horizons in 2013, and try to write more travel posts, including some amazing places in the metro where you and your family could enjoy a relaxing staycation.

      Early June, I was elated to be able to add another hotel to the list of places I've had a staycation in. Considering it was a Hotel that I pass by every day on my way to work, nothing could further epitomize the concept of "Staycation" than F1 Hotel Manila. 

THE LUZVIMINDA FOOD FESTIVAL AT THE F1 HOTEL MANILA

    

       You don't have to be a comic geek to know that the success of the movie "The Avengers", which earned a staggering US$1.5 Billion in its worldwide box office, can be attributed to the public's anticipation of seeing Earth's Mightiest Heroes assembled on the big screen for the first time. Even a year after its release, I still sometimes find myself going on to Youtube just to watch the scene where Dr. Banner casually strolls toward the Huge alien transporter/creature that is chasing Iron Man, and nonchalantly tells Captain America, "That's my secret Cap.. I'm always angry", then transforms into the Hulk, and punches the creature square on the nose, causing it to flip over, just in time for Iron Man to blast it to smithereens. 

       To this very day, the scene that followed, where they are all gathered around in a circle, with the camera panning around them still gives me the chills. 

        Though they're aren't superheroes, seeing the collection of talented Filipino Chefs from across the country that F1 Hotel Manila assembled for their groundbreaking "LUZVIMINDA: Filipino Festival of Flavors" stand before me, gave a food lover such as myself tingles down my spine. 

         I knew that this moment, was something very special, and I was excited for what was to come.