Round the buffet: Special February treats at Sofitel's Spiral

Sofitel’s Spiral has become synonymous with choices and quality, foie gras and cheese. The restaurant has also become the yardstick upon which local hotel buffet spreads are measured. 

 

After being destroyed in a flood, a better, more decadent Spiral opened late last year. The different stations have been beefed up, enclosing its celebrated cheese and cold cuts station inside a glass room. Also in a glass room is the chocolate station, where diners can see chocolate chefs turn out their latest confectionery creations. 

 

Other stations snake around half of the restaurant, featuring French, Chinese, Japanese, Thai, and Korean cuisines, as well as appetizer, salad, and dessert stations.

 

We were treated to a lunch featuring their sumptuous offerings for Valentine’s Day and Chinese New Year.  

Boost your luck through Oriental dishes 

 

Start the Year of the Snake on an auspicious note by dining at Spiral from Feb 4-17 or on the 24th and partaking of the restaurant’s special menu, specially prepared to boost diners’ chances of good luck. Special dishes include Eight Treasure Fish Lip Soup, Wok Fried Scallop with XO Sauce and Peking Duck--all of them Oriental hits, especially if you’re dining with older Chinese people. 

 

I particularly enjoyed the sweet and sour whole fish served with shrimp taro puffs – a combination of a family-style dish and well-loved dimsum. 

 

One of the nice things about traditional Chinese dishes are served during special occasions such as the Chinese New Year because of their symbolism. Fish, for example, symbolizes prosperity, while noodles signify long life. Desserts, meanwhile, signify a sweet life, so you can end your meal with Chinese dessert such as Warm Sweetened Coconut Milk with Sweet Potato and call it tradition.

 

Further enlivening the festivities are the Dragon Dances on February 9 and 10 at 7PM and 11AM respectively, as well as a grand fashion show featuring the Orient Express Collection of Dubai-based designer Albert Andrada, which is set for brunchtime on Feb 10, Chinese New Year’s Day.

 

Valentine's is an equal opportunity feast day

 

Hot on the heels of Chinese New Year is another beloved holiday. This year, Sofitel makes Valentine’s Day an equal opportunity holiday, one that can be enjoyed by couples, families, and yes, even singles.

Buffet-goers will be treated to French and Asian themes on the 13th and 14th of February, when the restaurant offers Gallic gastronomic indulgences such as Seared Foie Gras with Strawberry and Roasted Prime Ribs with Morel Sauce, as well as Asian aphrodisiacs such as Spiral Chili Crab, Lobster Fried Rice, Lobster Laksa, and Peking Duck. 

 

The baked scallops, smothered in cheese and served on the half shell, are particularly divine.

 

Needless to say, we walked out of the buffet cheerfully stuffed. I didn’t even get to try all the stations!

 

Just an aside: If you happen to be single, or are one of those people who don’t believe in celebrating the holiday, you can drop by Le Bar’s Black Party on the 14th, where guests can enjoy live entertainment while having a round of cocktails or a glass of Johnny Walker Black, plus pralines from the Le Bar chocolatier courtesy of Sofitel. Nothing like alcohol and free chocolates to get one in a party mood. Who knows? You might even find the love of your life that night!

 

A meal at Spiral is always an event, especially this February. Celebrate the month of Love and welcome the Year of the Snake with Spiral. With meals this satisfying, it’s safe to assume that you’re going to get lucky after. – KDM, GMA News