@SpiralManila foodgasmic buffet makes you want more!

It’s nice to know that some good things never change, and if they do..they only get better. With the buffet competition heating up in Manila these days, one luxurious resto by the bay still lords it over the city for being the best of the bunch. And the honor belongs to Spiral at Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila.

(Photo courtesy of the hotel)

I’ve been avoiding all sorts of food debauchery to adopt a healthier lifestyle but I was truly excited when I received an invite from Jane of Sofitel’s sales & marketing office to try the ‘new’ Spiral. The last time I ate here was before it closed due to typhoon Pedring in late 2011.

Spotted: a truly yummylicious caviar pie with the Spiral logo, best eaten with bread or crackers.

I wasn’t really prepared for the ultimate culinary treat that awaited me. The renovated Spiral is so much better in terms of design and food offerings. The diner is certainly spoiled for choice with the 21 dining ateliers ranging from Japanese to French cuisine to Brazilian churrasco!

Most eyecatching was the L’Epicerie section which was separated from the rest of the buffet by glass panels. Maybe those smoked cold cuts and artisanal cheeses from Europe need to have their own temperature.Not only were there premium aged hams, there were also sausages of all kinds, pâtés, terrines, jams, olives and other gourmet essentials.

I loved how the sweets were presented in the Chocolaterie. They were contained in treasure chests or vintage-style luggage compartments. Whether you want dark, white or milk chocolate, they’re all freshly-made by the in-house chocolatiers.

La Boulangerie caught my eye because of the ‘I Love You’ bread. This is the place to go for those baguettes and croissants, all freshly-baked too.

But my favorite really is Spiral’s signature olive bread which they serve warm at every table. I just love its perfect crust and texture. If Little Miss Butter had a husband, this would be it, LOL. Don’t miss a helping when you dine here.

Liked the open concept of the salad Bar. It’s easy on the eyes and very convenient.

The hotel is really proud of their Bonnet French stove. It’s a customized oven used by Michelin-star chefs around the world and weighs one ton of steel. In this section, you will find seared foie gras, grilled or roasted meats and French gourmet specialties.

For my first plate, I went for the Japanese & Korean selectionss. The uni (sea urchin) was to-die-for ..it tasted so fresh!

Second plate: I had the salmon pizza, more fish, roasted vegetables, couscous and more of the beef. It was really more of a business lunch so my eating ended here (plus a little dessert). I still regret that I didn’t eat much considering the extent of the offerings…hope to have more next time! ;

More food porn. Do not eat for two days if you can 🙂

This sweet-looking girl on a bicycle was really a charming touch. There are those ladies pushing the trolleys as well for the take-out products. The whole concept of the new Spiral is to mimic the traditional French market scene and bring this to a five-star hotel setting.

Within the sprawling resto, there’s also La Veranda with the concept of an ‘indoor Parisian bar’ in the art deco style of the 40s. It is glass-enclosed and leads to the hotel’s famous lagoon-shaped pool with an outdoor terrace and four gazebos for al-fresco seating. Lovely!

There are private dining rooms as well that can accommodate 10 to 12 people for those meetings & intimate celebrations

The best news for moms like me is the outdoor play area and indoor learning center (with the refreshing view of the bay!) where the little tykes can stay while you are savoring the buffet.

I was a picture of contentment by the time I finished my lunch and had a photo op with my hosts Jane and the young resto manager Mr. Tanguy Gras. Thank you!

For the quality of the food, the diversity of the offerings, the whole expansive menu and the lovely ambiance, Spiral’s foodgasm level is a perfect 10!

Spiral is open daily for breakfast from 6:30 am to 10: 30 am and for lunch from 12 noon – 2:30 pm (with the exception of Sunday brunch which extends to 3 pm). Dinner from Sunday to Thursday is from 6:30 pm – 10:30 pm while for Friday and Saturday, dinner begins at 6 pm.

Sofitel buffet rates for adults:

Breakfast – P1,719.55 to P1,965.20

Lunch (Monday to Saturday ) – Php 2,432

Sunday Brunch – Php3,377.69; with free-flowing champagne & wine – P4,092.53

Dinner – P2,880.25 to Php 3,126

Note: higher rates are for the weekend (Fri-Sat); rates are net of tax

Tip: it would be good to check out groupon sites like Cashcashpinoy from time to time for the occasional Spiral promo offers 😉