Melo Villareal
Midas Hotel invites Midas Royale Club members for a Japanese Cooking Class
Manila, Philippines — One of the greatest achievements of frustrated cooks and fans of Japanese cuisine are learning how to make a tasty California Maki and Ebi Tempura.
Last Saturday, March 9th, I was fortunate enough to get invited, together with the Midas Royale Club (MRC) members to meet Midas Hotel and Casino’s Yanagi Japanese Restaurant Head Chef Chester Lucas. He taught us how to learn serious Japanese techniques that are easy to follow.
During the event, Chef Chester Lucas and his team at Yanagi Japanese Restaurant demonstrated us how to prepare California Maki and Ebi Tempura in a short Japanese cooking class. It’s amazing how they were able to show us how to make a Japanese cuisine with balance, harmony, and presentation in mind.
After the event, I was treated to a fantastic Japanese dinner buffet at Yanagi Japanese Restaurant which is located at the Mezzanine floor of Midas Hotel (hotel info).
Yanagi is also one of the most well-loved Japanese restaurants in the Metro, and they offer a Japanese dinner buffet with a great selection of teppanyaki, sushi, and sashimi. It is divided into different section; from grill section, salad bar, dessert bar, Takoyaki Balls section, and a Tempura section where we devoured its unlimited Tempura!
While having dinner, I met Chef Chester Lucas. He prepared some of his specialty dishes and one of them is Kaki Papaya. Who would have thought that papaya and oyster can bring so much flavor together? Kaki Papaya is their signature and a hearty dish made of grilled oyster with caramelized miso and mayo sauce that is perfectly torched on top of a ripe papaya. The creamy sauce tasted like perfectly melted cheese that complimented the sweetness of papaya. Its balance and texture even highlighted the rich flavor of the oyster. To be honest, Oyster is something that I don’t normally eat but I think after having this dish, turns out Oyster is now one of my top favorite dishes.
After our mouthwatering Kaki Papaya experience, we’ve had a Yanagi Salad. This salad has thinly sliced assorted vegetables topped with miso dressing and crispy wonton wrapper.
Another unforgettable ala carte dish they served was Aburi Sushis. It’s a plate of 5 assorted Aburi sushi (Salmon, Tuna, Lapu-Lapu, Hamachi and Eel) topped with torched aburi sauce for a unique flavor and texture. What a divine dish!
Apart from the ample selection of sweets in the dessert section, Chef Chester let us sample all four flavors of their famous homemade ice cream. My ultimate favorite would be their Matcha Ice cream, with the red bean, black sesame, and wasabi.
Yanagi Japanese Restaurant is located at the Mezzanine floor of Midas Hotel and Casino, 2702 Roxas Boulevard., Pasay City. Yanagi is open from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for lunch and from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. for dinner.
Perks of being a member of Midas Royale Club
Every once in a while, MRC members are treated to a fun, interactive learning activity on all things about Midas Hotel. This featured activity is just one of the perks of MRC card holders. Last year, MRC members were invited to join a Baking 101 activity, where the guests learned all things about baking from Midas Hotel and Casino’s Pastry Chef Rachel Cacapit-Joven.
MRC offers free accommodation, exclusive discounts, and a variety of other perks and privileges for just Php8,000 a year. Avid staycationers and foodies will definitely enjoy this program. Midas Hotel has already made a name for itself as an excellent food stop in the Pasay area with both its regular buffet and by being home to Yanagi Japanese Restaurant.
Each member enjoys two overnight accommodations in two room categories, and further discounts and free upgrades on succeeding accommodations. A free buffet for two–to be availed of at any time throughout the year–is also included, as well as steady discounts in food outlets, a la carte menus, and room service. Discounts to the in-house spa and event services are also included in the program.
Those interested in being a member of Midas Royale Club can call (63 2) 902.0100 local 8232 or email Remalyn Ermino at [email protected] or [email protected]
Also see: List of The Best Manila Luxury Hotels
