Elevating Filipino Cuisine: Come Home to S Kitchen's Sunday Fiesta at Sheraton Manila Hotel

Like coming home to a fiesta, Sundays are now even more special at Sheraton Manila Hotel...

Starting June 9, S Kitchen at Sheraton Manila Hotel launches its Sunday Fiesta showcasing a lavish Filipino-inspired buffet spread. The Sunday Fiesta at S Kitchen is an elevated buffet experience with authentic Filipino cuisine alongside international dishes. For only P 2,500 per person, diners can enjoy a sumptuous feast of local and global flavors for lunch from 12nnn to 3pm every Sunday. Think of it as coming home to comforting and nostalgic local flavors...

One of the newest hotel properties at Resorts World Manila, Sheraton Manila Hotel brings the international brand's renowned world-class service to the metro and one of the best ways to experience this rich legacy is by dining at S Kitchen. The elegant and spacious S Kitchen is Sheraton Manila Hotel's all-day dining and buffet restaurant, with panoramic floor to ceiling glass windows draping the interiors with natural light and a view of the airport just right across the hotel.

The sleek interiors paired with modern furnishings exude a contemporary yet casual vibe. The streamlined linear layout of the different stations also makes it easier and convenient to navigate the extensive buffet selections. But it's the tempting array of dishes that make S Kitchen stand out... 

...with its skew on local flavors. From traditional local favorites to inventive interpretations of classic Filipino dishes, S Kitchen's Sunday Fiesta is a homecoming of sorts. The focus on Filipino cuisine is reflected throughout the property, from the intricate chandeliers at S Kitchen inspired by traditional fishing nets to the massive metal sculptures of the Philippine map at the lobby. 

The underlying local theme is also reflected in the hotel's top management. At the Sunday Fiesta launch of S Kitchen, Sheraton Manila Hotel General Manager Anna Liza A. Vergara welcomed guests to the exclusive preview. Earning the rare distinction as the first Filipina general manager of an international hotel brand, Anna Vergara is visibly proud of her team...

At the helm of S Kitchen is Executive Chef Francisco "Kiko" V. Santiago, also one of the few Filipino top chefs for an international hotel brand. Local pride resonates here at S Kitchen. And you can experience it with the food they serve.

And they've prepared an impressive spread for the special preview of Sunday Fiesta at S Kitchen. Read on for a virtual tour of the newest buffet dining destination at the resort complex...

Beside the Salad Station (ask about their signature Pinoy Salad, a tasty blend of garden fresh greens with salted egg and tart calamansi vinaigrette), diners can choose from the day's freshest catch like succulent shrimps, mussels and crabs on ice...

...perfect as is paired with a variety of regional local vinegar or prepared the way you like it. Baked with cheese or lightly sauteed with butter and garlic? That always works for me. Or why not prepare a healthy yet satisfying plate with salad and seafood for a guilt-free combo? 

Further down, diners can enjoy more of the day's freshest catch. Drawing inspiration from the local dampa, S Kitchen adds an elegant touch to the local wet market experience. Simply choose your fresh catch and have it cooked a la minute by the station chefs.

From plump crabs to fresh fish loaded on crates filled with ice, S Kitchen is a feast for both the eyes and palate. How do you enjoy your seafood? The station chefs would gladly give their recommendations and discuss your many options.

A diner requests for fresh squid draped in chili sauce. Your name or table number is all they need, and the dish will be served in just a few minutes fresh from the kitchen. Grilled or deep-fried, you can explore all the ways at your own pace here at S Kitchen's upgraded version of the local dampa.

This popular section gives it the homey local vibe that adds to your dining experience at S Kitchen. 

And you get your seafood masterfully prepared and served hot. Always.

Temptation draws you to the next station...

...with crunchy deep-fried Chicharon Bulaklak...

...slabs of Crispy Tadyang...

...and Pork Bagnet. Chef Kiko pretty much covers the protein base of the local diet. But there's more...

At the specially-designed charcoal pit, S Kitchen's grill master prepares his ensemble of native barbecue favorites using fiery hot charcoal for real flavors...

...like Charcoal Roasted Chicken or litson manok...

...the traditional Lechon or whole roasted suckling pig...

...and the Lechon Belly Roll. So pick up a plate and get moving. Like they all say, you can always compensate with another salad plate later just to balance it all out.

But S Kitchen has more tasty surprises. A special cart is rolled in with fresh Lumpia or spring rolls. Offering different flavored wrappers, fillings and sauces, you can have your customized native fresh spring roll prepared right before you. It's these little touches that make S Kitchen special.

Wash it all down with your choice of local fruit beverages...

...and you're back on track for round two with the savory Pork Binagoongan...

...and two modern reinterpretations of local favorites like the Crispy Tofu Pinakbet...

...and the Binalot na Laing. At S Kitchen, one tasty surprise leads to another in a dazzling parade of local flavors. 

S Kitchen brings both traditional and modern Filipino dishes to the table, allowing diners to reconnect rediscover the flavors they love.

But if you prefer a taste of the world, S Kitchen indulges you with their international selection like spicy Mapo Tofu...

...the light yet flavorful Baked Mahi-Mahi with Cajun Dill Sauce...

...and the savory Braised Beef in Marsala with Mushroom.

At the Pasta Station, simply choose your noodles and sauce...

...but I recommend an original from Executive Chef Kiko Santiago, the Bicol Express Pasta with a mildly spicy coconut cream sauce topped with shrimp, mussels and clams. Comfortingly familiar yet refreshingly different, this is an absolute must-try at S Kitchen's Sunday Fiesta.

Other savory mains served during the special preview included the Coffee Rub Australian Beef Rump with its bold beefy notes layered with the sweet nutty hints of coffee for another unique flavor combination.

In between your main courses, have a change of pace with a platter of gourmet cheeses, nuts and charcuterie before plotting out your next move at S Kitchen.

But Executive Chef Kiko Santiago surprises everyone with his Lechon Paella, soft and fluffy rice with mussels, chorizo and lechon.

All you have to do is dig deep beneath that layer of crisp crackling for the flavorful paella...

...but Chef Kiko won't mind if you enjoy some lechon crackling along the way.

The combination of seafood, chorizo and lechon (and the crisp crackling) is yet another of the many tasty surprises at S Kitchen. And if you have a sudden urge for extra rice, go for S Kitchen's Kare-Kare (R) made the right way with ox-tail and tripe draped in a thick peanut based sauce. 

Later, you can even have the left-over crackling deep-fried for that extra crunch, assuming there are some left.

The streets come to S Kitchen with a popular street food staple. If you're still hungry, enjoy a few skewers of Isaw. A few more skewers and you'll feel right at home at S Kitchen.

One last savory dish and you've successfully circumnavigated the buffet spread at S Kitchen. It's time for dessert. From intricate pastries and cakes like San Rival (R) and Brazo de Mercedes (L), diners can go all-out to cap their feast on a high sugary note. It's just not a Filipino experience without something sweet.

Cool down with a decadent Gelato or refreshing Sorbet (L) or go for the cold stone style Rolled Ice Cream (R). Scooped or rolled? Have both. Choosing a flavor is complicated enough when you want to try everything. But that's all part of the fun, right?

You'll find local delicacies like Sapin-Sapin and Ube Keso Maja laid on banana leaf for that local touch and pillow-soft Palitaw prepared a la minute by the station chefs...

At the Dessert Station, pick an indulgent treat from the revolving mini ferris wheel. Not to be missed is S Kitchen's Benguet Coffee Brazo de Mercedes, recently picked as one of Inquirer Lifestyle's Best Desserts (available in S Kitchen's A La Carte menu).

Or have a Crepe instead, prepared a la minute with your choice of filling and sauce. Your call. 

But save room for these indulgent shards of Mix Nuts Milk Chocolate Bark. Now that's a fiesta. In so many levels, S Kitchen recreates the multiple layers of the Filipino homecoming with a wide variety of comforting flavors. And a few tasty surprises too. And it all starts on June 9, Sunday at S Kitchen's Sunday Fiesta at the new Sheraton Manila Hotel. Just in time for Independence Day. 

S Kitchen is located at the Lobby Level of Sheraton Manila Hotel, 80 Andrews Avenue, Resorts World Manila, Pasay, Manila or call 02 902-1800 for inquiries and reservations. You can also visit their FB Page at https://www.facebook.com/Sheraton-Manila-Hotel for more updates.

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