An All-American Feast at Diamond Hotel's Corniche

Traditional and comforting American food, a diverse melting pot of flavors with traces of European, Latin and Mexican cuisine, all in one place. From August 22 to 29, the Diamond Hotel's Corniche holds the "All-American Feast" U.S. Food and Wine Festival with featured international chef Christopher Gallaga of Fat Angelo's at the helm. American favorites such as Roast US Prime Rib, New York style pizza, country cured Virginia Ham, Maryland Crab Cakes and Sbrimp and Grits take center stage along with other buffet staples from the Corniche. Plus, chef Christopher Gallaga also brings one of America's iconic dishes...the Turducken. Bigger is definitely better at the All-American Feast U.S. Food and Wine Festival at Corniche.

Turkey, duck or chicken? Why not have all three. The Turducken Turkey up close...a whole roasted turkey stuffed with boneless duck and chicken with layers of mashed potatoes in between to retain the moisture, rolled and roasted with cranberry and gravy on the side. Think Thanksgiving times three, and Chef Christopher Gallaga brings this uniquely American dish to the buffet spread at Corniche.

With a selection of traditional American salads such as Cobb Salad, Waldorf Cole Slaw, Fig & Fennel Potato Salad, Pickled Beetroot and green bean salad and the Wedge Salad, plus a variety of soups including New England Clam Chowder and Wisconsin Beer Cheese Soup, it can be difficult to decide where to start. But don't rush, just go with the flow...start with a few slices of country cured American ham...

...then go for a slice of New York style pizza with a rustic thick crust topped with pepperoni and cheese...

...and some Shrimp and Grits, Creole style Bay shrimp on corn grits, flavored with cheese and butter. I've always looked for grits ever since I first tried it way back in the US, and Chef Christopher Gallaga's version just brought back so many fun memories from those previous trips. Almost like polenta in texture, the rich cheese and buttery flavors add a creamy note that complements the grilled shrimp. Here a sneak peek at the other selections...

Maryland Crab Cakes, bite-sized pan-fried crab meat patties, traditional flavors from the east coast. The crisp outer layer provides a delicious crunch to the tender crab meat, and you just can't stop with just two or three pieces as you go for more...

Russet Skins, potato skins stuffed with bacon, cheese, sour cream and chive, great with a cold beer. Like they say, anything with bacon...

Roast US Prime Rib, slow roasted for hours to retain the beefy juices for that rich flavor. Tender and juicy, one of the best prime ribs in the metro.

US Rack of Lamb, served with chili orange and mint, tender and juicy with only a hint of the usual gamey flavor, indicating this is a premium rack of lamb.

Then, there's the Turducken Turkey, almost bursting at the seams with the stuffed duck and chicken, ready to be carved...

The cross section reveals the rich layers of duck and chicken with mashed potatoes in alternating between the layers. Unlike the usual roast turkey which sometimes tend to be a bit dry, Chef Christopher Gallaga's Turducken is unbelievably moist with the layers of duck and chicken for bold flavors.

A closer look at the alternating layers reveal the secret in roasting a super moist and tender turkey, and Chef Christopher Gallaga's Turducken is definitely a winner, hands down. Seconds? Absolutely.

In between bites, grab a plate of cheddar and brie and some premium ham and salami to prepare for the nest round...

...and have one of the chefs at the carving station plate some US Rack of Lamb with vegetables.

Mini Fajitas, a classic southwestern favorite with Chef Christopher Gallaga's modern twist.

And I still can't seem to get enough of Chef Christopher Gallaga's Shrimp and Grits, Russet Skins and Maryland Crab Cakes...

Chicago Sliders, Chef Christopher Gallaga's bite-sized mini-cheeseburger, defining the best of American flavors in a bun.

Potato Gratin and Chef Christopher Gallaga's Mac & Cheese, elbow noodles baked with cheddar cheese sauce, perfect when paired with any of the dishes at the buffet spread. So comforting, seriously good. And there's so much more, like Southern style Fried Chicken, Cod Fish Fingers, Short Rib Pot Roast, Sous Vide Pork Loin with with Pear Cranberry and Raisin sauce...

Save room for dessert, with Chef Christopher Gallaga's Strawberry New York Cheesecake, S'mores, Chocolate Pudding and Apple Raisin Pie, plus the Corniche's favorites such as Creme Brulee and Chocolate Mousse.

Chef Christopher Gallaga also brings his own unique ice cream flavor to Corniche's ice cream selection, the Sun Kissed Sherbet, a citrusy and refreshing sorbet with clean flavors in a combo with Corniche's Vanilla and Chocolate ice cream topped with chocolate chips and pistachios, perfect to cap a meal at the All American Feast.

And to complete the All American vibe, check out the two of the latest bikes from Harley-Davidson displayed at the lobby. Very cool.

Celebrate the rich culinary heritage of traditional and comforting American flavors at the Diamond Hotel's Corniche for only P 1,780 nett per person. And for an additional P 495 nett, enjoy your lunch or dinner All American Feast buffet with a free flow of Beringer wines. The "All American Feast" U.S. Food and Wine Festival is made possible in partnership with the U.S. Meat Export Federation, USA Poultry and Egg Export Council, California Raisins, Beriger Wines and Happy Living Fine Wines.

A thirty year veteran in the food and beverage business, Chef Christopher Gallaga is the Corporate Executive Chef for Fat Angelo's Italian & Angelo's Pizza in Hong Kong, chef and owner of Ugly American Bar & Grill in Hong Kong, and serves as executive chef, managing director and consultant in a number of other restaurants in Hong Kong and the US. Chef Christopher Gallaga is also a recipient of numerous awards from the United Tastes of America Chef Challenge, American Culinary Federation, and Hong Kong Chefs Association. Bravo Chef Christopher!

Hungry? Better hurry...the All American Feast U.S. Wine and Food Festival runs until August 29 only...

For reservations at Corniche, please call (632) 528-3000 ext. 1121. Diamond Hotel is located at Roxas Boulevard corner Dr. J. Quintos Street, Manila. For more information on Diamond Hotel Philippines, please visit www.diamondhotel.com.

Dude for Food is now on Facebook, check out the FB Page for regular updates on good eats. Better yet, click "Like" and enjoy the ride...just look for the FB "Like" widget" on the right sidebar.