Valhalla by the Bay: The Night of the Crawfish at Skal, the Biggest Viking Party at Sofitel Manila

Crawfish, crayfish, crawdaddies, crawdads, mudbugs, baybugs or yabbies, call it what you want. For one glorious evening, the crayfish rules the night at one of the largest Viking parties in Asia...

Sofitel Manila once again hosts the grandest Viking party by the bay at Skal with endless free-flowing beer, Aquavit and of course crayfish. After more than two years due to the pandemic, the epic festival returns with a bang honoring a bountiful harvest in a centuries-old Nordic tradition with sumptuous food, rounds of drinks and music. And a whole lot of crayfish too. In what may be the closest thing to Valhalla, read on and take a peek at the lavish feast and celebration...

The unique freshwater crustacean runs deep in Nordic lore and tradition, and is celebrated in massive crayfish parties throughout Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Norway. The abundance of crayfish in the cold, frigid, clean and pristine freshwater lakes and rivers of Scandinavia makes it synonymous with Nordic culture, and Sofitel Manila brings this celebration to the bay with Skal. Enclosed in a massive tent, Sofitel Manila recreates the majestic halls of the mythic residence of Nordic gods with rows of tables and an impressive buffet spread.

Like any grand feast or celebration, overflowing food and libations weaves a festive vibe for a memorable evening like no other at Sofitel Manila. And Sofitel Manila pulls all the stops for the grandest celebration by the bay with a sumptuous spread including whole roasted pig or traditional Lechon...

...with juicy pork capped by a delicately crisp layer of crackling. Endless rounds of beer paired with pork, after all, makes it a real celebration.

Slabs of crisp deep-fried pork belly and knuckles complete the massive porkfest at Skal, your cue for another round of San Miguel Beer. The buffet spread also showcased salads and other savory courses but tonight, you're focused on the crayfish. In between bites, test your skills in a variety of Nordic games and who knows, you may find your inner Viking yet with the axe-throwing and hammer lifting competitions.  

But it's the celebrated crawfish that brought me here to Sofitel Manila. Almost like a miniature lobster with its pair of claws, the crawfish brings a subtle and lingering sweetness to the palate pairing well with a cold beer. The succulent meat from the tail and buttery head cheese deliver all the flavors, and using your hands is part of the fun. 

Unlike the Cajun version dominated by its complex spice blend, the Scandinavian tradition presents the fresh, clean and uncluttered delicate notes and briny sweetness of the crayfish simply boiled in salt water with herbs and dill giving it a mint-like finish. Generous mounds of the celebrated crayfish are then served cold and eaten with fingers. A squeeze of lemon is all you need to bring out the flavors of the little crustacean.

A mound of crayfish followed by another round of beer can go by quite fast, and soon you'll have a bigger mound of empty shells beside your plate. The tail is where bulk of the meat is, simply squeeze for a tasty bite. But don't throw that crayfish head just yet. The "crawfish butter" from the head packs rich flavors with bold briny notes. 

All night long, plates were filled and refilled with the celebrated crustacean in an evening of good vibes... 

...and once you get the hang of squeezing the tail meat and sucking the crawfish butter, another plate full of crayfish is in order. And another round of beer.

Crayfish, crawfish, crawdaddies, crawdads, mudbugs, baybugs or yabbies, call it what you want. But one thing's for sure, it's an awesome evening to remember when the crawfish rules the night at Skal in Sofitel Manila. It's the closest thing to Valhalla...

Sofitel Manila is located at the CCP Complex, Roxas Boulevard, 1300 Pasay City or call 8573 5555 for inquiries. You can also visit their FB Page at https://www.facebook.com/SofitelManila/ for more updates.

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.