Dining in the Next Normal: Grand Hyatt Manila Brings Grand Tidings for the Holiday Season

It's been a year of extreme challenges that we all wish would soon be over. This year, the much-awaited holidays will be celebrated unlike any other, yet at the heart of the of the season is the familiar warmth of reuniting with family and friends over a sumptuous feast in a new normal that has defined and shaped the year. Bring back the joy and sparkle we've missed to end the year on a bright and positive note at Grand Hyatt Manila...  

Grand Hyatt Manila brings grand tidings with their festive culinary offerings created by Executive Chef Mark Hagan for a grand holiday experience. From the hotel's The Grand Kitchen to The Lounge, up high at The Peak and down below at The Pool House, exclusive private dining at The Cellar, decadent holiday cakes at Florentine to a Grand Holiday Getaway for a memorable staycation to traditional Christmas dishes delivered to your home, Grand Hyatt Manila lets you celebrate the season with your health and wellbeing first above all else. You too can experience the Grand Hyatt Manila's grand holiday experience with their indulgent Christmas High Tea at The Lounge along with their other delectable offerings in this most festive of seasons...

The coming end of the year and the holiday season always ushers in a fresh and optimistic new hope. And with the series of challenges experienced this year, from natural calamities to a worldwide pandemic, it's just what everyone needs. Changing consumer habits forced the food and hospitality sector to adapt, evolve and pivot in response to the new normal. Since its formal opening, Grand Hyatt Manila promised memorable grand moments with loved ones as the extensive line-up of holiday offerings brings the year's end on a high note. It's a promise that remains at the core of Grand Hyatt Manila's mission, brought to life with the wide array of sumptuous culinary specialties from all the hotel's food outlets (for a detailed listing of holiday offers, view the online brochure online at http://bit.ly/GrandTidings2020).

That day at The Lounge, guests and diners can rediscover the grand experience at Grand Hyatt Manila with its spacious and elegantly designed multi-tiered layout. Following the latest health and safety protocols mandated by government agencies, each guest is required to fill-up a contact tracing form at the entrance of The Lounge. This is the new normal, and Grand Hyatt Manila follows all the mandatory guidelines to the letter. After all, your health and peace of mind is their top priority.

The multiple elevated tiers of The Lounge is an impressive design element, setting the tone for your own Grand Hyatt Manila experience. The muted earth shades of wood and marble and the bright hues of glass and metal combine for a comforting warmth for a sanctuary in the heart of a busy commercial and business district. Impeccable and attentive service from the staff weaves even more layers to your experience. It's the perfect setting for Grand Hyatt Manila's Christmas High Tea...

Afternoon tea, the celebrated English custom, is reimagined with a festive local holiday spin at The Lounge serving a wide selection of premium teas paired with indulgent bites. Rose, my server at The Lounge, brings you through the decadent selection and options for that perfect afternoon tea experience.

The elegant three-tiered tray stand features your picks from the specialty dessert offerings of The Lounge created by Executive Chef Mark Hagan and Pastry Chef Saban Cavlak as well as local delicacies like rice cakes and the traditional bibingka along with colorful homemade Christmas cookies. Christmas has always been a grand celebration at Grand Hyatt Manila, and the Christmas Afternoon Tea is part of the hotel's tradition of seasonal offerings (for more on the previous holiday treats at Grand Hyatt Manila by chefs Mark Hagan and Saban Cavlak, see my earlier posts, The Grand Holiday Season Begins...at Grand Hyatt Manila from last year and #LivingGrand: A Christmas Cake Mixing Preview and a Sumptuous Buffet Lunch at The Grand Kitchen of Grand Hyatt Manila from 2018).

The Christmas High Tea at The Lounge includes a choice of two cakes from their specialty selection, including Mango San Rival, Japanese Cheesecake, Fruit Tart and Mocha Hazelnut...

...and my picks that afternoon featured the signature Almond Florentine Cake...

...and the Strawberry Cheesecake, both masterfully executed in the classic style of Grand Hyatt Manila. Each bite teases the palate with its decadent richness draping the palate with sinful pleasures, but one bite leads to another washed down perfectly and cleansed with a soothing sip of comforting Black Tea.

The savory selections of the Christmas High Tea at The Lounge includes the rich, creamy and nutty notes of intricate Mushroom and Truffle Quiche...

...along with bite sized open-faced sandwiches like the Grilled Prawns Sandwich with homemade relish, garden fresh and crisp lettuce and smoky paprika; the Pan-Seared Chicken Sandwich with tart tomato, Romaine lettuce and creamy tartar sauce; the Roast Beef Sandwich with Dijon mustard, cream and pickles; and the Vegetarian Sandwich with seasonal vegetables antipasti, pesto, cherry tomatoes and olives. The use of the freshest and finest ingredients gives these bite-sized sandwiches bold yet clean flavors. Seafood, chicken, beef or vegetarian, The Lounge has it covered. 

The medley of pure indulgence continues with tempting portions of Homemade Christmas Cookies, Homemade Stollen, Traditional Homemade Scones served with clotted cream and jam as well as familiar local delicacies like the sticky Sweet Rice Cake Biko and Baked Rice Cake Bibingka. The assortment of decadent treats is feast in itself, and the bold yet soothing notes of the black tea cleanses the palate for another go at the tasty bites.

Like their pastry selection, The Lounge also offers a variety of premium teas, from black teas to green teas including coffee to complete your Christmas High Tea experience. The full list of tea options include a variety of loose leaf teas like Imperial English Breakfast, Imperial Earl Grey, Thunderbolt Darjeeling, Organic Health Well-Being, Floral Jasmine, Organic Pear Tree Green, Decaffeinated English Breakfast and Imperial Oolong. Coffee options include Americano, Flat White, Cappuccino, Cafe Latte, and Cafe Mocha. 

The Christmas High Tea (P 1,655 for two persons) at The Lounge includes unlimited refills of freshly brewed tea and coffee so you can enjoy the afternoon at your own pace. It's a value-packed offer that immerses you in the afternoon tea experience.

Another soothing cup of freshly brewed black tea with a spot of milk? Yes, please...

And for an additional P 735, you can enjoy two glasses of Sparkling Wine or Aperol Spritz to add a celebratory vibe to your Christmas High Tea experience at The Lounge. There's just no better way to cap your afternoon tea than with a bubbly finish, don't you agree?

And there's more. This holiday season, The Lounge will be offering yet another Christmas treat to guests and diners with their inventive take on the traditional Filipino dessert classic, the Halo-Halo... 

Made even more festive just for the holidays, The Lounge elevates the already indulgent local iced dessert with its tableside preparation for a refreshing new way to enjoy Halo-Halo made in the Grand Hyatt Manila style. Simply choose your toppings, both traditional and Christmas-inspired toppings (or just have all of them), and Julian will prepare the perfect Halo-Halo (P 450) right by your tableside. It's a visual feast for the eyes, an Instagram moment for millennials and the entire family. 

The final topping completes the elegant iced dessert...

...and served with a grand panache to bring on the holiday vibe. The classic Halo-Halo by The Lounge has all the traditional components you love, and more. It's a festive upgrade, weaving even more grand memories to your Grand Hyatt Manila experience.

If you wish to indulge in a savory Filipino Merienda at The Lounge, you can. Choose from traditional flavors like the pairing of Pancit Luglug and Pork Barbecue Skewer (P 600), Arroz Caldo and Tokwa't Baboy (P 600) and fresh Lumpiang Sariwa (P 450). Christmas Afternoon Tea, Halo-Halo and familiar Filipino merienda favorites, The Lounge is ready to satisfy any craving.

Served on a pot flowing with mist, the Halo-Halo experience is transformed. It's been a challenging year, and we all need to re-ignite our spirits with a decadent treat in this new normal. 

Customize your own Halo-Halo with a tempting variety of flavored syrups like Lemongrass, Pandan and Strawberry along with fresh milk. 

Grand Hyatt Manila faces the new normal with renewed optimism with its innovative offerings. At The Lounge, let Stephanie, Rose and Julian transform your afternoon with their Christmas High Tea and new specialty Halo-Halo. If you prefer to celebrate the holidays at home with family, let Executive Chef Mark Hagan prepare a gourmet feast without the fuss, for pick-up or delivery to your doorstep like Traditional Christmas Turkey (P 6,500 good for 8), Maple and Cinnamon Glazed Ham (P 5,500 good for 10), Roast Mulwarra Ribeye (P 3,900 per kilo good for 4-5), The Grand Kitchen's Roast Pork Porchetta (P 3,500 for 2kg good for 5-6), Pork Terrine (P 3,000 good for 12), Homemade Dill Cured Salmon (P 5,000 good for 10) and a lavish Selection of Sushi and Sashimi (P 6,000 good for 5-6). 

Christmas Hampers and sweet baked creations like Yule Logs, Christmas Fruit Cakes, Gingerbread Houses, Panettone, Kueh Lapis Layer Cakes, Stollen and Gingerbread Cookies are also available for the season of giving, simply visit their website at https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/hotel/philippines/grand-hyatt-manila/mangh and their comprehensive online order forms at http://bit.ly/GrandTidings2020 and https://www.tablecheck.com/shops/grandhyatt-manila-dineathome/ for a full list of treats.

Also that day, Grand Hyatt Manila formally welcomed the holiday season with a tree lighting ceremony led by General Manager Gottfried Bogensperger...

...sparking renewed hope and optimism to a end a challenging year. And you too can end the year on a high and grand note with family. The lights are on, and Grand Hyatt Manila brings grand tidings for the holiday season.

For more information on Grand Hyatt Manila's exciting holiday offers, call +632 8838 1234 or email at manila.grand@hyatt.com for orders and inquiries. You can also visit their FB Page for a full listing of holiday offers here at https://www.facebook.com/grandhyattmanilaph/.

Dude for Food is now on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube, check out these social media accounts for regular updates on good eats. Better yet, click "Like" and "Follow" and enjoy the ride...just look for the FB and IG widgets on the right sidebar.