Spain’s fantastic flavors featured every Thursday at the Café Ilang Ilang
Dining has never become as inviting as when imagination takes you places. As the wine is poured, as the music plays, your first bite into the ordered dish – it all comes together. The glory, the grandeur, the vivacity of life as Spaniards live it, they all become yours for the moment.
The Manila Hotel’s Café Ilang Ilang plays host to “A Taste of Spain,” every Thursday beginning this month for those on a flavor-filled voyage of remembrance and discovery.
photo by Mandy Navasero
Chef Ainer Ebue is the culinary maestro who conducts a symphony of dishes beginning with the Sopa de Ajo, whether garlic broth with poached quail egg or the classic gazpacho de sandia. The maritime mastery of Spain comes alive in the exotic pulpo de gallega (cold octopus salad with potatoes) or the ensalada de marisco, a mixed seafood salad. A wide selection of tapas is a must, as part of the Café Ilang Ilang’s famous dinnertime spread, including the morcilla (blood sausage), gambas al ajillo and empanadillas.
Chef Ebue presents with flourish the main attraction: a choice of the paella, either al la Valenciana or negra; the txangguro, a Basque-style crab casserole; and the cordero asado a la Castellano, a roast herbed rack of lamb. Let dessert polish off the rest of your appetite with choices such as the olive oil chocolate ice cream with sea salt or the churros and melocotones al vino con salsa de yogurt, a marvelous concoction of peaches poached in red wine.
A Young Chef in the Philippines awardee, Chef Ebue cooked up his experience with stints at such global playgrounds as M/Y Monsoon Kuredo Resort in the Maldives, the exclusive Amanpulo and the Apulit Island Resort at El Nido, both in Palawan, before moving on to much-favored Conti’s Pastry Shop and Restaurant in Makati. He was also part of the consulting operations team of Pico de Loro Beach and Country Club in Nasugbu, Batangas before joining The Manila Hotel
Once again, the images of the fiery flamenco dancers and the Spanish guitars play on, the bulls rage against the matadors, the Mediterranean sun and diverse cultures converge on the senses. Viva la Espana and have a wonderful, exciting adventure of a meal at Café Ilang Ilang in the grand and glamorous heritage resort that is the Manila Hotel. Ole!
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Mandy Navasero 