#SpectrumSundaysBest: The Grandest of Feasts Returns to Fairmont Makati's Spectrum with #SundaysBestatSpectrum with Carmen's Best Ice Cream

One of the metro's very best buffets returns to Spectrum at Fairmont Makati. Sundays just got better with Sunday's Best at Spectrum...

Fairmont Makati relaunches its legendary buffet with Sunday's Best at Spectrum featuring a lavish and mouthwatering array of sumptuous dishes from around the world in one place. And Sundays just got a whole lot better and more indulgent with one of the country's premium artisanal ice cream brands included in the buffet spread, Carmen's Best Ice Cream. Read on for a virtual tour of the hearty and elegant offerings at #SpectrumSundaysBest...

The doors are once again opened for one of the metro's popular buffet dining destinations. Since I started my blog, Spectrum at Fairmont Makati has been part of a memorable journey (for more on Spectrum through the years, see my posts, Celebrating Modern Spanish Cuisine with Private Chef Chin Gallegos-Bagis of Pio's Kitchen at Spectrum and Perfect Starts on the Last Day of Chef Chin Gallegos-Bagis' Modern Spanish Cuisine at Spectrum featuring one of the metro's popular private chefs from 2017, Fresh Off the Grill: Spectrum's Sunday Brunch at the Ranch and One More Time at Spectrum's Sunday Brunch at the Ranch on their epic Sunday Brunch spread from 2017, Fresh Catch: The Seafood Sunday Brunch at Spectrum on their previous and successful Sunday Brunch series from 2016, It's Definitely More Fun in Spectrum: The Awesome Sunday Brunch 2 from 2015, Buon Appetito Fridays: Going Italian at Spectrum from 2014 and One Spectacular Dinner at Fairmont Makati's Spectrum on my first visit way back in 2013). Spectrum has consistently ranked high up on my personal list of buffet dining options, and it's return to the culinary scene with its wide selection of dishes was something I was looking forward to after the long days of the quarantine experience.

The celebrated and much-anticipated return of the Sunday Brunch Buffet at Spectrum is an encouraging sign as we continue to transition to a new normal. At Fairmont Makati, you can enjoy peace of mind with the #ALLSafe health protocols implemented by ACCOR properties worldwide. And it gets even better...

In one of the best collaborations yet this year, Spectrum at Fairmont Makati teams up with Carmen's Best Ice Cream for #SpectrumSundaysBest. Now that's literally adding a double dose of the "best" to an already indulgent Sunday feast. 

Carmen's Best Ice Cream is a truly world-class brand built on a solid foundation around a single-minded vision of creating the best ice cream on a par with the best international labels. And the secret to Carmen's Best? No short cuts, no substitutes for the freshest and finest premium ingredients meticulously prepared with a passion. It's as simple as that setting it apart from the more commercial options (for more on Carmen's Best, see my post Carmen's Best Ice Cream: The Story Behind Each Pint, Each Scoop and Each Indulgent Bite). And it all begins with the freshest cow's milk sourced straight from their own farm in Laguna (more on my post, At The Source of Carmen's Best's Freshness at Real Fresh Dairy Farm).

At #SpectrumSundaysBest, you can enjoy all the Carmen's Best Ice Cream you want. It's an indulgent addition to the buffet spread that you can only find at Fairmont Makati.

Fairmont Makati Executive Chef Bela Rieck (L) and Carmen's Best Ice Cream founder Paco Magsaysay (R) share the very same uncompromising commitment to quality as reflected in the elegant buffet spread at Spectrum and each pint and serving of Carmen's Best. It's a collab that perfectly complements the dining experience at one of the best buffet options in Makati. 

Inside Spectrum, the familiar and easy-to-navigate layout takes your eyes and palate on a flavorful culinary journey around the world with a wide array of specialty offerings. Spectrum Restaurant and Terrace offers a rich and diverse spread highlighting the exotic flavors of the Middle East, India, Asia and classic Western cuisine as well as comforting local dishes. 

Buffet dining remains one of the most popular experiences in the local culinary landscape, and the smooth transition to a new normal that's here to stay makes it all possible. The F&B industry has adapted and ACCOR properties worldwide in particular implements the #ALLSafe health protocols as a mandatory layer of protection. The buffet dining experience we all love and remember at Spectrum is now once again open to the hotel's guests and diners. 

The Spectrum Sunday's Best Brunch Buffet begins promptly at noon all the way to 2:30 pm, and you can think of it as a late brunch or lunch. Start at the Bread Station with its fresh-baked treats if you're on a brunch groove...

...and the Salad Station with its selection of garden-fresh options and dressings. The linear configuration of the buffet spread makes it easy and convenient with so many tempting options just within a few steps.

At the Cheese and Charcuterie Station, have your fill of savory cold cuts and gourmet cheeses...

...or get straight down to business with the day's freshest catch at the Seafood Station. Plump and succulent Clams, Mussels and Shrimps on ice are just some of the refreshing options...

...along with Scallops and the local Diwal or Angel Wing Clams, a prized delicacy from down south. A well-stocked Seafood Station is, after all, a quintessential part of the buffet dining experience and Spectrum does not disappoint. 

A quick walk-through to the different stations requires a plan. Or better yet, just go with the flow and grab a plate with whatever you crave. You make the rules. When you're ready for the second round, enjoy a plate of tasty Paella creations...

...including one with fresh seafood. Just a few steps at Spectrum takes you to another corner of the world offering different flavors. Sundays and Sunday Brunch are elevated with the luxurious and diverse selections at #SpectrumSundaysBest.

Closer to home are the familiar local dishes like the Ensaladang Lato or sea grapes, a type of local seaweed...

...and Lumpiang Ubod or local fresh spring rolls with heart of palm and fresh vegetables. The flavors warm the palate with its nostalgic notes but there's still so much more to enjoy and discover at Spectrum.

And the impressive array of dishes continue to impress at Spectrum. More local flavors tempts your palate at #SpectrumSundaysBest like Rellenong Alimango...

...and the classic Kare-Kare with ox-tail, beef tripe and vegetables in a thick peanut-based stew. This one calls for extra rice. One more plate allows you to peel away the many and seemingly endless complex layers of unique and diverse flavors at Spectrum.

On one side, you can enjoy a bowl of comforting Ramen prepared a la minute so you can enjoy it at its flavorful peak...

...while a traditional Lechon or local whole roasted pig tempts you for a few slices of juicy pork and crisp crackling. Nearby, the Japanese Station with fresh Sushi and Sashimi is another mandatory stop at Spectrum.

The parade of international flavors takes your palate deep into Asia with delicacies like Roast Duck, Noodles and Dim Sum... 

...to the Middle East and India with savory Kebabs. And take your time. Enjoy your global feast at your own pace as the different stations are constantly refilled so you won't miss out. 

Then, a massive slab of beef catches your attention at the Carving Station. You'll find a variety of beef dishes throughout the buffet, but nothing quite like this. A few thick slices along with roasted vegetables and you've got a serious meal at Spectrum. With Executive Chef Bela Rieck at the helm of Spectrum, the concept of variety in a buffet dining format is elegantly refined with the masterful execution each dish and offering. 

The Lamb Ouzi with fork-tender and fall-off-the-bone lamb on soft biryani is a tasty savory option at Spectrum, add some papadum or pita bread to your plate with a variety of dips and it becomes quite a meal in itself. The biryani absorbs all the juicy richness of the lamb adding even more flavors with each bite. I've just covered half of the sumptuous offerings at Spectrum, but there's still more to try. Now for dessert. That's right, don't forget dessert...

At the Dessert Station, pastries, cookies and cakes in all shapes, colors and sizes draw your eyes once more for that sweet and perfect ending to a lavish Sunday buffet feast. Since my first visit back in 2013, the desserts at Spectrum have always been impressive. One quick scan at the selection, and yes, the Dessert Station still impresses. 

Elegant cakes like Hazelnut Praline Cake, Coffee Caramel Cake and Citrus Meringue are just some of the many indulgent creations at Spectrum. And there's more...

...like the Passion Fruit Crumble for decadent bites. You can also go for fresh fruits in season...

...or make it even more special with Carmen's Best Ice Cream. Sunday's Best at Spectrum becomes exactly that with Carmen's Best. The brand's popular flavors like Butter Pecan, Dark Chocolate, Brazilian Coffee, Rocky Road and Strawberry are just some of the many must-try variants. And you can indulge all you want with unlimited packaged servings of Carmen's Best at Spectrum Sunday's Best.

The silky smooth texture just melts on the palate releasing an indulgent richness. One bite and you just know only the freshest and finest ingredients goes into each serving of Carmen's Best. Like the Butter Pecan, a personal favorite with its lavish buttery indulgence and whole pecans for that mouthfeel and bite setting it apart from the usual ice cream. 

Try your favorite or be adventurous and discover new flavors from Carmen's Best at Spectrum Sunday's Best. One more serving and it just makes a whole lot of sense. It really isn't your Sunday's Best if it's not at Spectrum with Carmen's Best Ice Cream for one of the best buffet dining experiences in the metro. 

With the recent and much publicized infusion of fresh funds to Carmen's Best in one of the biggest local business scoops of the year, founder Paco Magsaysay is more focused in steering the brand in an aggressive expansion program while staying true its original vision centered around premium quality. The addition of new product lines to its growing inventory signals the brand's pursuit for a bigger slice of the pie, or scoop of the local ice cream market and it's an inspiring development for a story that began as a way of maximizing excess milk production from their farms (for more on Carmen's Best's other product lines, see my posts Naughty & Nice in Black with J & M Naughty & Nice Cream by Carmen's Best on their alcohol-infused ice cream creations and Reinventing the Basics: Carmen's Best Brings Quality and Value with Their New Value Line, Arctic Ice Cream on their innovative HORECA or institutional line). Seeing the brand at one of the metro's finest buffet dining destinations is just the beginning in a long term plan mapped out by Paco Magsaysay.

Yes, it's back. Spectrum at Fairmont Makati welcomes you back for a sumptuous and memorable buffet dining experience with #SpectrumSundays Best. Rates for the Sunday Brunch Buffet is pegged at P 3,200 net per person, and that includes not only the extensive buffet spread but all the Carmen's Best Ice Cream you want. And then some. As part of the #ALLSafe health protocols for all ACCOR properties worldwide, a strict reservations-only basis is followed for the safety of guests. You may book your reservations online via https://booking.resdiary.com/TablePlus/Standard/spectrumaccor11063/3135

Spectrum is located at the Lobby Level of Fairmont Makati, 1 Raffles Drive, Makati Avenue, 1224 Makati, Metro Manila. You can call (02) 7795 1840 or 8555 9840 for inquiries and reservations. You can also visit their website at https://www.fairmont.com/makati/ and FB Page at https://www.facebook.com/FairmontMakati/ for more updates. 

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