The Kain Tulog Gang (KTG) never fails to party in style. As the first event I attended this year, our New Year’s celebration was both fun and memorable. We give special thanks to our Bossman Spanky, our generous sponsors (Leonardo’s Lechon, The Plaza Ham, and Goldilocks), and friends from F1 Hotel Manila who arranged everything perfectly to ensure our enjoyment and pleasure. F1 Hotel Manila in BGC is our home far away from home! It is apparently where our foodie group was formed. 🙂

with Pau Esmedilla, F1 Hotel Manila Marketing Assistant

Happy New Year to our growing foodie family!

To kick-start our party at the Titanium function room, we were introduced to Chef Timothy Decker Gokioco, the new head chef of F1 Hotel Manila. He will be in charge of the kitchen operations of F All Day Dining, Canary Lounge, and F1 Banquet and Catering. Read more about him below.

Inside Out was our event’s theme, and Chef Decker prepared a lunch buffet with items that are friendly for all kids and kids at heart respectively. Pinoy spaghetti, cocktail hotdog skewers, pork barbecue skewers, vegetable gratin, and crispy fried chicken are part of the main course. Highlights of the dessert station included the yema tart and the tablea polvoron.

F1 Hotel Manila’s Spicy Lechon Duck on one corner caught all our attention as well. The duck skin was rubbed with spice and it had a nice crunch with just the right amount of fat hiding underneath. Taste was phenomenal.

The Plaza Premium Baked Ham paired with loaves of warm pan de sal (courtesy of The Plaza Ham) with different sauces was absolutely delicious. Ham season was upon us, and this piece of pink meat was a pleasant holiday centerpiece on the table. (For orders, contact 02-8908446 or 02-8434267.)

Leornardo’s Native Lechon is perhaps the best example of just how well Filipinos know their pork. The lechon’s interior was tender and moist with fat and juicy meat. Despite being a pure, unadulterated dose of pork, this is one thing you won’t tire of. Eating a whole plate is a dangerously simple task! (For orders, contact 02-7269828.)

Goldilocks celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Rich and magnificent, Goldilocks’ chocolate cake is a true classic with just the right amount of sweetness. I love that they now accept requests for cake customization that spans from simple to the more intricate. Customized cakes are processed at least five to seven working days before the event. (For inquiries, call 02-5324050.)

We also sang the birthday song to our dear friends who are having their birthdays this January. Happy birthday to Mati, Richie, Chiara, Aidan, and JPedro! 🙂

KTG

Chef Decker of F1 Hotel Manila

The young and very talented chef joins the all-Filipino hospitality brand to put a stronger hold on the hotel’s contemporary yet authentic Filipino food and beverage offerings.

Chef Decker started to help his mother in the kitchen at an early age, growing up with Chinese and Filipino cuisines. He then pursued his love for food and cooking when he took up HRIM major in Culinary Arts at De La Salle-College of St. Benilde in 2005. In 2008, he started his professional career in the kitchen at Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Makati, then joined several five-star hotels, went up the ranks until he landed The Cake Club’s kitchen as its Chef de Partie in 2014.

Along with numerous awards and recognition, it was also in 2014 when Chef Decker was listed under Spot.ph’s “10 Must-Watch Chefs under 30,” and was able to bag the coveted Mabuhay Awards in the supervisory category. Chef Decker continued to be an achiever as he juggled his professional career with his part-time stint as a Chef Instructor at his Alma Mater also during the same year.

With his family’s solid influence in his creations, Chef Decker shall be imparting several family traditions and heirloom recipes as he introduces original dining concepts starting this year. Thus, diners and patrons of F1 Hotel Manila shall expect a more vibrant and flavorful dining experience for 2016! 🙂

Asian Buffet Adventure at F1 Hotel Manila

This 2016, it’s time to savor the richness of Asian culture and cuisines at F1 Hotel Manila. The Asian Buffet Adventure at F All Day Dining Restaurant will be highlighting the variety of flavors from Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, China, and of course, the Philippines.

Delight yourself with the buffet’s wide selection of Asian cuisine as there’s surely something for every taste, including a selection of fresh seafood, sashimi, noodles and other Asian favorites. The spread shall also include some signature dishes of F1 Hotel Manila’s new Executive Sous Chef, Decker Gokioco which include Poached Mahi-Mahi with Seafood Mousse in Curry Sauce; Fernando’s 4-Day Marinated Pork Belly, and his classic take on the traditional Peking Duck.

The Asian Buffet Adventure is available during lunch or dinner buffet for only PhP 1,399 nett per person, available until February 29, 2016 only. For inquiries and reservations, please call 02-9289888 or email at inquiry@f1hotelsandresorts.com.

F1 Hotel Manila is located at 32nd street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City. For inquiries and reservations, please call 02-9289888. For online booking and more information, please visit www.f1hotelmanila.com. Read about our staycation here.

About 

Health and technology freak. Food and lifestyle blogger with a large appetite for food and travel.

38 Responses

  1. Pal Raine

    Hello Roch, Happy New Year to you!

    So glad to know that you also have a Foodie Group in your place. We also have a group here in Davao, we called it FOODERS.

    When all the food lovers gathered together expect to have a little to no control eating routine.

    Reply
    • Rochkirstin Santos

      Happy New Year! 🙂 Wow, it’s nice to hear as well that you have a foodie group in Davao. Lots of restaurants there offer delicious and cheap eats. When food bloggers gather together, expect a lot of wait time for everyone to take the food shots first before digging in.

      Reply
  2. Robin Rue (@massholemommy)

    It sounds like it was a great party! Oh, and look at all that amazing food. Everything looks so good.

    Reply
  3. Heather

    As an events professional, I can say they sure did a great job for you! It looks like it was a lot of fun and you didn’t have to worry about details. 🙂 I love that!

    Reply
  4. Megan Elford

    That food is absolutely gorgeous! I love the presentation and the fresh ingredients – I would have loved to be there enjoying it with you guys, lol! What a great place to visit!

    Reply
  5. Amanda Love

    The food there just looks amazing! Sounds like it was a great event as well and seems like everyone had a great time. Wish I was there!

    Reply
  6. Terri Beavers

    It looks like you had a fabulous celebration for New Years. Good food, friends and a lot of memories to snap and keep for years to come. I love your photos.

    Reply
  7. Chrystal | Nevermore Lane

    What a great looking event. The good is absolutly gorgeous. Quite a few dishes there I would like to taste test. Except for the pig. I’ve just never been able to really enjoy food when its looking at me.

    Reply
  8. ricci

    Your New Year’s party looks like it was fab!! Looks like you had a great time and like you have great friends!!

    Reply
  9. victoria

    What a great party! and i really love all the food especially the Letchon i miss it.

    Reply
  10. Rebecca Swenor

    This looks like you all had such an amazing time indeed and kudos to the new chef. The lunch buffet looks amazingly delicious. The F1 Hotel Manila looks like an gorgeous place to stay and have a party.

    Reply
  11. Lynndee

    You just made me miss lechon and Goldilocks so much much more. My mouth is watering! Glad you all had a blast and I like the name of the gang. Cute! 🙂

    Reply
  12. Kathy

    Looks like a lot of fun! All that food looks so amazing! Sounds like you really had a great time.

    Reply
  13. Bonnie @wemake7

    Look at all that amazing food at that celebration. Looks like it was really fun.

    Reply

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