Cucina's 7 Days, Seven Reasons Weekday Craze

There's seven good reasons to visit Marco Polo Ortigas Manila's Cucina...

For each day of the week, Cucina highlights a specific cuisine or dish along with its extensive buffet offerings with its 7 Days, Seven Reasons Weekday Craze for the whole month of March. And that's more than enough reasons to visit Marco Polo Ortigas Manila's Cucina... 

It's Wednesday, and Cucina offers a taste of rich Thai flavors for its 7 Days, Seven Reasons Weekday Craze (for more on Cucina, see my earlier posts on Catalan Cuisine by Executive Chef Lluis Cantons Pesarrodona, the extensive Daily Buffet Offerings, and their previous festival on German Cuisine).

That means each day of the week presents a new dining experience, with new flavors to enjoy and rediscover, at Cucina. Mondays feature Japanese Cuisine, the classic Spanish Fideua is highlighted every Tuesday, the vibrant flavors of Thai Cuisine on Wednesdays, authentic Spanish Paella on Thursdays, Sustainable Tuna on Fridays, Cochinillo on Saturdays, and Seafood on Sundays. And from Mondays to Thursdays, you can enjoy a special weekday rate of P 1,100 (Lunch) and P 1,500  (Dinner) for the whole month of March. Now that sounds like a pretty good deal. Have a tall and refreshing Watermelon Shake before checking out the Thai dishes at Cucina's Center Station...

At the Center Station, you'll find Pork Skewers marinated in rich Thai spices and seasonings...

...as well as Beef Skewers. Simply tell the station chef how many you want and they'll take care of the rest. In minutes, your pork and beef skewers are served, fresh from the grill. Layers of sweet, tart, and smoky notes from the Thai marinade accompany each savory bite of the tender and juicy pork and beef skewers.

Indulge on the fresh and clean notes of Cucina's Thai Noodle Salad, soft yet firm and chewy noodles with sweet, sour, and spicy notes, a subtle hint of fish sauce, punctuated by the tart freshness of tomatoes and onions.

Other uniquely Thai salads include Larb Gai (L), a refreshing minced chicken meat salad with chili and mint; and the savory Thai Beef Salad (R), with tender strips of beef, tomatoes, onions, and cucumbers drizzled with fish sauce and lime. 

Then, sample some of Thailand's iconic spicy soups, like the Tom Ka Gai (L), with chunks of tender chicken in a spicy coconut cream-based broth; or the equally popular Tom Yum (R), with plump prawns in a fiery hot broth with vegetables, chili, and lemongrass.

For the mains, Cucina's Center Station offers classic Thai dishes like the Kiew Wan Gai, or Thai Chicken Green Curry, with tender chicken draped in a thick and spicy green curry with vegetables. Perfect with rice, don't forget to top it with a generous helping of green curry sauce for a burst of rich flavors. Each bite brings a subtle yet comforting heat, not overwhelmingly spicy, yet it lingers long after the first bite.

Massaman Nue, or Braised Beef, reflects influences from ancient trade routes, a rich and fragrant beef curry with cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, star anise, cumin, bay leaves, and nutmeg as well as Thai ingredients like lemongrass, shrimp paste and chili. The chunks of beef are fork-tender, slow cooked and simmered for hours, absorbing the rich blend of spices from the sauce. It's another side of Thai cuisine that you can discover at Cucina.

The Goong Makaam, Thai Fried Prawns in a spicy sauce with herbs and vegetables, is another flavorful dish not to be missed at Cucina's Thai Wednesday buffet. The plump prawns, with its briny sweetness, are richly layered with sharp and vibrant notes from the spicy sauce, with a lingering yet comforting heat. This one's a personal favorite, and you'll probably want some extra rice with this one...

There's just so many flavors to discover at Cucina, and the Thai dishes offer a unique taste not commonly found in the usual buffets. But Cucina also offers a host of classic dishes as part of its regular buffet spread. At the Carving Station that day, Cucina's signature Roast Chicken with grilled vegetables was served...

...along with tender Roast Beef Rump, served with a thick gravy. Have a slice or two, as you indulge in Chef Lluis Cantons Pesarrodona's extensive range of dishes served daily at Cucina.

Another bowl of spicy Tom Yum? Why not...

Cucina's friendly staff then served a freshly made batch of Pad Thai (R), the classic wide and flat noodle dish with seafood and spices, fresh off the pan at the live station, followed by another round of savory Pork and Beef Skewers (L). 

The richness of Thai cuisine, with its complex bend of spices, is an experience in itself. And the spices just leave you craving for more...

Cucina's Fresh Seafood Station provides even more flavorful options for your mid-week feast, with fresh Curacha on ice (L) and plump Mussels (R). Have it baked, grilled, or simply sauteed in butter and garlic by the station chefs, prepared ala minute and served to your table fresh from the kitchen.  

Other seafood selections include fresh  Blue Crabs (L) to complete your seafood feast. At the Chinese Station, you can also find whole Steamed Fish topped with herbs and vegetables. The selection of dishes, including the featured Thai dishes, combine for an impressive weekday spread at Cucina. 

White sauce or red sauce? At The Live Pasta Station, you can enjoy a customized plate of noodles freshly prepared by the skilled station chef. Here's a tip, try their creamy Carbonara, made with egg, cheese and bacon.

And there's more. At the Indian Station, you'll find savory dishes Chicken Tikka and Shrimp Curry along with Papadam (L) for another spicy experience. A batch of freshly made Fideua (R), a signature dish of Chef Lluis Cantons Pesarrodona, is served by the staff in individual Paelleras good for one, adding to the rich tapestry of flavors at Cucina.

Don't forget to stop by Cucina's Cheese Station, stocked with a variety of imported premium cheeses, freshly baked bread and charcuterie.

Cap your feast with an indulgent selection of desserts, like the Mango Cashew Nut Cake...

...or a slice of Brazo de Mercedez with mangoes and strawberries (L), or Cucina's elegant Brownies (R) topped with strawberries to complete your feast at Cucina. Have a cup of freshly brewed coffee...perfect. At Cucina, it's just another day...

At Marco Polo Ortigas Manila's Cucina, each day of the week is different with new flavors to discover and experience. Prices for Cucina's 7 Days, Seven Reasons Weekday Craze for Monday to Thursday are set at P 1,100 (Lunch) and P 1,500 (Dinner), and that's a pretty cool deal with excellent value. Friday and Saturday rates are P 1,850 (Lunch) and P 2,500 (Dinner), Sundays and Public Holidays are pegged at P 2,650 per person. Ordinary weekdays now made more special, with a diversity of rich favors to help you get through the mid-week hump. Thai flavors on Wednesdays? So pick your day and prepare to indulge at Cucina's impressive buffet offerings and signature dishes... with Cucina's 7 Days, Seven Reasons Weekday Craze.  

Cucina is located at Level 24, Marco Polo Ortigas Manila, Meralco Avenue & Sapphire Road, Ortigas Center, Pasig City or call (+632) 720-7720 or email restaurant.mnl@marcopolohotels.com for reservations and more information.

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