Pina Mania: The Flavors of Manila, Cebu, and Davao Converge at Marco Polo Ortigas Manila's Cucina

Pina Mania. Mango Bango. Oh! Pomelo. Marco Polo Ortigas Manila's Cucina offers a sweet and fruity selection of local dishes for a unique taste of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao with their new signature fruit-based menu...

Marco Polo Ortigas Manila celebrates the fruity flavors of Manila, Cebu, and Davao with sweet and savory creations at Cucina, created in collaboration with Marco Polo Plaza Cebu and Marco Polo Davao. Pineapples, mangoes, and pomelos offer limitless possibilities, and the Marco Polo Hotels infuses the local fruits for savory dishes and indulgent desserts that's unique and refreshing yet comfortingly familiar. And it all starts with Cucina's Pina Mania for July and August, along with Mango Bango for July and Oh! Pomelo on August. Take a peek at the inventive fruit-based dishes at Marco Polo Ortigas Manila's Cucina and their new Pina Mania menu...

Start with Marco Polo's signature Iced Tea Beverage, The Marco Polo Earl Grape Iced Tea, a refreshing blend of Earl Grey Tea, seedless grapes and elderflower-infused iced cubes and served with elderflower syrup and an indulgent Turkish Delight. Concocted specially for National Iced Tea Day last June 10, The Marco Polo Earl Grape Tea will be served in every Marco Polo and Niccolo Hotel. The soothing and comforting notes of the Earl Grey Tea is punctuated by the sweet and floral hint of the elderflower, capped by the seedless grapes, perfectly pairing with the new fruit-infused dishes at Marco Polo.

The diverse menu highlights the versatility of local fruits, pairing well for both savory dishes and desserts. Like the Grilled Tiger Prawns with Pineapple-Mango Salad and Tamarind Vinaigrette, a flavorful salad combining garden-fresh greens, seafood and fruits for a uniquely flavored salad dish.

The grilled tiger prawns add that hint of smoky and briny notes tempered by the sweetness of the fresh pineapples and mangoes, and perfectly finished by the tart tamarind vinaigrette for complex yet balanced flavors.

Follow it up with the equally inventive Pasta Ravioli with Crabmeat and Mango for another surprising combination that works, with its contrasting notes blending seamlessly in a comforting and satisfying dish. The shards of Parmesan add even more flavors, with its distinct sharp notes to complete the dish.

The chefs at Marco Polo take on the classic crispy pata with a fruity spin. The Boneless Crispy Pata Stuffed with Foie Gras and Pineapple Salsa is an absolute must-try dish at Cucina, with the delicate yet rich flavors of the juicy and crispy pork pairing well with the sweet and tart notes of the Pineapple Salsa for contrast. The indulgent foie gras stuffing binds all the flavors together, adding that layer of distinct richness for another inventive take on local dishes.

Served with rice, it's a complete meal in itself. The boneless crispy pata is perfectly cooked, with juicy pork capped by a crisp layer of crackling. And the tart pineapple salsa pairs well with the pork, tempering the richness for contrasting yet balanced flavors.

Craving for beef and seafood? The Mango Surf & Turf, with tender beef and fresh grouper served with kangkong adobo, mango, potato mash, and sake-infused beef jus, should do the trick. The bold, beefy flavor of the premium beef draped in sake-infused beef jus and the mild and delicate notes of the grouper laid on kangkong adobo and fresh mangoes combine for a winning pair, another must-try dish at Cucina's Pina Mania.

During the media preview, we were served family-style portions of the Mango Surf & Turf, which was one of the more popular dishes along with the Boneless Crispy Pata Stuffed with Foie Gras and Pineapple Salsa, both cleaned out in minutes. Seriously good.

In the coming days, you can expect even more flavorful dishes with Cucina's Pina Mania, Mango Bango, and Oh! Pomelo set menu, like Ceviche of Prawn with Grilled Calamari and Pomelo, Slow-Baked Salmon with Pomelo, Chilled Pomelo Cheesecake, and Vodka Pomelo Jelly. At Cucina, you can always indulge in their impressive buffet spread, with its wide assortment of fresh seafood and premium beef at the Carving Station or go Pina Mania, Mango Bango, and Oh! Pomelo with playfully inventive fruit-themed dishes.

For dessert, the fruit-theme continues at Cucina's Pina Mania with the Pineapple Tamale, with sweet pineapple filling inside a light pastry crust with mango custard and coconut jelly. The light flaky crust and the sweet filling delivers rich flavors with every bite...

...and the Cheesecake Mango Jam Creme Brulee combo ends your feast on an indulgent sweet note. Cucina's Set menu of fruit-themed dishes is a flavorful option at the buffet spread, offering another refreshing new take on local flavors. Go Pina Mania at Cucina in July and August, Mango Bango for July, and Oh! Pomelo in August, and rediscover local flavors with a fruity twist. Marco Polo Ortigas Manila's all-day dining restaurant is open daily for lunch from 12:00 nn to 2:30 pm and dinner from 6:00 pm to 10:30 pm. Buffet price starts at P 1,100 net per person, children aged 6 and below get to eat for free while children aged 7 to 12 years old are charged half the price. Ready to Pina Mania and Mango Bango? Head on over to Marco Polo Ortigas Manila's Cucina this July...

Cucina is located at Level 24, Marco Polo Ortigas Manila, Meralco Avenue & Sapphire Road, Ortigas Center, Pasig City or call (+632) 720-7777 or email restaurant.mnl@marcopolohotels.com for reservations and more information.

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