Finding the perfect holiday menu: The 'Pop Talk' Review

Here's something about Filipino Christmas celebrations: Pinoys could do away with all the other yuletide traditions, but they would definitely make sure that they'd celebrate Noche Buena.

However, preparing for this much anticipated meal requires hours of grocery shopping and cooking. To make Christmas more relaxing and unique, dining places like Chef Tatung Restaurant, Passion Chinese Restaurant and “F” All Day Dining Restaurant prepare special menus that could serve as alternatives to the customary homemade Noche Buena.

Will these three restaurants satisfy the “Pop Talk” jury composed of food critic, TV host and culinary researcher Nancy Reyes-Lumen, daddy Joseph Atinen, and celebrity reviewer Bettina Carlos?

Chef Tatung Restaurant
Acacio Estates, Levi B. Mariano Avenue, Barangay Ususan

Christmas is the time to showcase classic Filipino food favorites like lechon, quezo de bola and adobo. At Chef Tatung Restaurant, these dishes are made more interesting by giving each of them a unique twist without losing their original flavor.

For instance, the oven-roasted Honey Glazed Slow Roasted Lechon is a sweet, juicy and tender variation of the roasted suckling pig. On the other hand, people who want to eat healthy could dig into Chef Tatung’s Chicken Sisig in Lettuce Wrap which is made of grilled chicken, onions and taro chips. Their pandan-flavored pichi-pichi is also topped with quezo de bola to give it a more Christmas-y feel.

“Familiar siya because it’s Filipino but at the same time meron siyang Asian, meron ding French, meron ding European twist to it,” quipped Bettina. “So bagamat pamilyar siya sa panlasa mo, may something new na nakakakiliti ng panlasa mo.”

Final verdict: 6 pop points

“F” All Day Dining Restaurant
F1 Hotel 32nd Street Bonifacio Global City, Taguig

Nothing spells Christmas more than having a bountiful buffet selection and this is exactly what you will get when you eat at “F” All Day Dining Restaurant. They have everything from Christmas dishes like glazed ham and quezo de bola cheesecake to the Filipino-inspired bringhe stuffed bagnet to the French croquembouche and Japanese sushi. It’s no wonder all the “Pop Talk” reviewers agreed that this restaurant wins variety-wise.

“Bagay na bagay sa theme ng Christmas yung traditional na relleno tapos lahat masarap saka ang dami,” commented food expert Nancy. “‘Yung place maganda, malinis, bago, refreshing. ‘Yung location okay and ‘yung price, ‘pop’!”

Final verdict: 9 pop points

Passion Chinese Restaurant
2nd Floor, Resorts World Manila Newport Boulevard, Newport City, Pasay

Eating Passion Chinese Restaurant’s Christmas set menu is like eating at a feast full of special dishes and colorful food. The selection consists of edibles that many people don’t usually eat on a regular day so diners would feel that they are indeed celebrating an important holiday. “How many times a year do you get to eat lobster and abalone and scallop for this amount lang?” Bettina exclaimed.

For a price of P2,480 per head might sound expensive at first but the reviewers thought that this amount is justified with the quality of food served. “Almost seafood siya lahat, fresh,” Joseph said. “Ang bagay na bagay dito pumunta ay ‘yung mga OFW na katulad ko lalo na ‘pag may special occasion na bagong uwi lang sila. ‘Yung ipon nila gastusin nila dito.”

Final verdict: 8 pop points