Celebrations made more special through a memorable dining and staying experience
A lookback at our 25 years of world-class service
Revisit the lasting flavors of your wines and spirits with Sage Bar’s Bottle Keep service
Guest
Be Our VOL. 04 | OCT-DEC 2018
AFTERNOON TEA BREAK Take a little breather from this season’s festivities. Treat yourself to a calming Afternoon Tea with an array of decadent pastries and savory bites. Visit the Lobby Lounge and experience Filipino High Tea and Christmas Afternoon Tea.
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LETTER FROM OUR GENERAL MANAGER
SINFUL CAKES Rich and decadent slices perfect for the season
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SEASON’S FEAST Memorable celebrations in the heart of Makati
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ROYAL ATTRACTION A majestic dish straight from the Palace
It is with great pleasure that we, at Makati Shangri-la, Manila, welcome you to the most festive time of the year. We can all attest that celebrations are best when shared with the people you love, and we take pride in giving you and your loved ones the best time this holiday season. As we celebrate 25 years of high-quality service, we aim to constantly bring something new to the table to excite our guests. We have continuously set the bar high for world-class dining and staying experience. I am thrilled to have this opportunity to be a part of the team as the new general manager, and to spend my first holidays with the hotel. In this year’s last issue of Be Our Guest, we give highlight to our special holiday offers from Sage Bespoke Grill’s luxurious lobster dishes, the luscious Imperial duck of Shang Palace, Sinfully Circles’ exquisite cakes, Inagiku’s fresh seafood collection, Sage Bar’s inviting Bottle Keep service, down to the soothing Afternoon Tea at Lobby Lounge. Come and celebrate with us, and we will make sure that your holiday visit will be a memorable one. Please, “be our guest” and make Makati Shangri-La, Manila your grand home for the holidays.
Greg Findlay General Manager
For inquiries and table reservations, call (632) 814 2580 or e-mail rric.slm@shangri-la.com
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IN STORE Enjoy your bottles until your next visit at Sage Bar
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WHAT’S NEW? Stay updated with the hotel’s most recent offers
SINFULLY CIRCLES’ NEW CAKES Indulge in these fresh and delicate treats from Sinfully Circles
TRIPLE CHOCOLATE MOUSSE
HORIZON LOUNGE EXPERIENCE The Horizon Club takes service to a whole new level. Makati Shangri-La, Manila has been the top choice of travelers from all over the world– whether it is for business or for pleasure. The Club allows guests to comfortably stay in the private lounge, where they can delve into world-class amenities. They can have a number of compliments such as breakfast buffets, evening cocktails and canapés, all-day beverages, Wi-Fi and broadband internet access, wide selections of newspapers and magazines, suit-pressing and shoe shine service, and use of meeting room facilities for two hours per day. Horizon Lounge guests can enjoy an attentive and personalized level of service. Its tailored offerings is a showcase of Makati Shangri-La, Manila’s unique spirit of hospitality, and a feeling of always being at home away from home. Horizon Club guests can also find pleasure and a stress-free experience from the very moment they step off the plane, until they smoothly check-in/check-out of the hotel. Convenience is within their fingertips as a dedicated Club Concierge will take care of everything. Custom-made to match the business traveler’s needs, the Horizon Lounge truly never disappoints.
For inquiries and bookings, call (63 2) 813 8888 or e-mail reservations.slm@shangri-la.com
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Layers of chestnut mousse, white chocolate with ganache and dark chocolate whipped ganache
LATOUR CAKE Coconut marshmallow mousse cake
HAZEL MANGO MERINGUE Hazelnut with dark chocolate ganache, hazelnut meringue, cashew nuts and mango
DOBOS CAKE Coffee cake with buttercream and chocolate pastry marshmallow filling
WORLD FOOD DAY World Food Day, observed every 16th of October in more than 150 countries, aims to create a hunger free world by the year 2030 through raising awareness on the issues behind poverty and global hunger. Makati Shangri-La, Manila is the only hotel in the Philippines to adopt and take an active participation in this global movement since 2017 championed by the hotel’s Executive Chef Nicola Canuti. This year, the hotel celebrates World Food Day with the theme #GrowingTogether, which focuses on the hotel’s efforts on using the finest locally and ethically-sourced ingredients in the hotel’s culinary requirements. “I decided to choose from local suppliers because they’re passionate in what they do. They try to deliver the best produce, so I want to help these people at the same time. I also encourage my guests to discover these produce,” said Chef Canuti. Year to date, we have already increased our consumption of locally sourced produce by a massive percentage. In the following years, we are expecting a further increase of our demand for these. By locally sourcing our produce, we can create a deeper relationship with the farmers and markets for sustainable products, encourage sustainable agricultural practices, and provide a higher quality cuisine to guests and diners. One positive action leads to another–this is how Makati Shangri-La, Manila, the community, and the environment grow together.
BE OUR GUEST | VOL. 04
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COVER STORY
GOLDEN FEAST Holiday celebrations are made more special through a memorable dining and staying experience
More than a luxury hotel, Makati Shangri-la, Manila is a grand second home for its guests especially during the holiday season. Whether through its lavish meals, luxurious amenities, or world-class shows and performances, the hotel offers only the finest service, making every minute of your visit the best you will ever experience. Makati Shangri-La, Manila offers a decadent spread of local and international cuisines in its award-winning restaurants, perfect for excellent dining experiences during your holiday celebrations and gatherings. You can create new traditions and memories with your family and friends over a festive banquet filled with the most premium cuts of meat, rich pastries, and complementary sides. You can take your pick from a juicy rack of lamb or a freshlycaught shellfish to be the star of your special dinner table. You can be assured that the hotel only serves a menu of specialty dishes with topnotch flavors to entice your holiday palate. However, if you are simply stopping by for a short repose and a light bite, take a quick detour to Sinfully Circles and grab some decadent pastries. Their pralines, already the sophisticated souvenirs that they are, also instantly bring that sugar rush you used to get during the Halloweens of your childhood.
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And if you plan to cap off a hectic day of holiday errands, ordering a tipple from Sage Bar or unwinding outdoors at the Pool Bar will never go wrong. As the year comes to a close, it is also imperative to rejuvenate the body for the season’s festivities and, of course, the new year. Enjoy some solitude and let The Spa’s luxurious treatments loosen the tensions that have accumulated in your body in the previous months. This renewal of strength and energy is available any time your body needs it, as the spa is open 24 hours a day. Experience merriment with the whole family, too, with Makati Shangri-La, Manila’s kid-friendly shows and events lined up for this time of the year. Make memories out of the last day of 2018 with friends and loved ones and ring in 2019 with cheer at the “Rio Carnival”-themed New Year’s Eve countdown. Savor all these experiences at Makati Shangri-La, Manila and make every second count by becoming a part of the hotel’s Golden Circle community. That way, you can collect Golden Circle points while creating and collecting memories over a golden feast. Dine, stay, and celebrate the holidays at Makati Shangri-La, Manila gloriously. You deserve it.
BE OUR GUEST | VOL. 04
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LET’S EAT! Entrench in this season’s limited and special offerings
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WE TAKE LOBSTER SERIOUSLY Today’s fresh catch
Have a taste of lobster, josper grilled to perfection this holiday season at Sage Bespoke Grill. Ideal for family-style group dining, the menu selections come with a surf and turf flare. Available from October 2 until November 30 For inquiries and table reservations, call (63 2) 814 2580 or e-mail rric.slm@shangri-la.com
BE OUR GUEST | VOL. 04
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LOBSTER IN CANTONESE STYLE A crustacean palate pleaser
Cantonese style of cooking delicately brings out the natural flavors of the main ingredient of the dish, such as lobster. Enjoy the enhanced seafood taste in Shang Palace’s special lobster menu this season. Available from October 2 until November 30
HOKKAIDO COLLECTION
HALLOWEEN CAKES Luscious sugary treats
Authentic assortment of live shell seafood
Mark this season as a feast to remember with Inagiku’s presentation of freshly flown from the northernmost island of Japan, Hokkaido. Incorporated with Chef Wataru Hikawa’s personal touch, Inagiku’s Hokkaido Collection will let guests experience the culinary delicacy from the Land of the Rising Sun.
Make Halloween more festive not just with colorful costumes but also with fun and wicked cakes and treats from Sinfully Cakes.
Available from October 24 until November 23
Available from October 22 until November 1
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BE OUR GUEST | VOL. 04
8 WISDOM OF SAGE
KEEPSAKES AT SAGE BAR Extend your holidays by preserving your tasting notes until your next visit
Liquor has always been an indispensable element of any convivial event, from the moment the exquisite spirit is poured into a glass to the moment a toast is proposed. As the drink slides down your throat, warm and smooth, it meets the bliss growing inside you. Before you know it, as the American author F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote, “The drink takes you.” At Sage Bar, you can always find euphoric interludes from the holiday rush or an apt prelude to new beginnings. Here, you can indulge in the finest liquors from across the globe, and once an elusive selection has grown on you, you can secure that bottle and save it for later through Sage Bar’s bottle keep service. With Sage Bar’s bottle keep program, the prized spirits you’ve purchased are reserved for your celebrations for up to three years. Since they are stored in optimal conditions, your liquor will not only preserve its familiar character but also age well. So when you return for that bottle of brandy or whisky, you’ll savor a robust, almost ambrosial liquor. For inquiries and table reservations, call (63 2) 814 2580 or e-mail sage.slm@shangri-la.com
LASTING TASTE
Some drinks just get better with time
CHIVAS REGAL 18
SUNTORY HIBIKI 21
GIN SUL
MARTIN MILLER’S
A rare and rich 18-year blend of matured Scotch whiskies
A balanced Japanese whisky aged to a minimum of 21 years
A nostalgic dry gin from Hamburg infused with Mediterranean florals and lemons
A smooth, pot stilled spirit blended with extra pure Icelandic spring water
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BE OUR GUEST | VOL. 04
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(From left to right) Michael Leyva, Debbie Co and Patricia Santos
Bridal Fashion Show with Megan Young and Jessy Mendiola in Patricia Santos collection
From left to right: Makati Shangri-La’s Director of Events Management Liezl Adraneda, Makati Shangri-La’s new General Manager Greg Findlay, Rita Neri, Robert Blancaflor, Makati Shangri-La’s Director of Sales and Marketing Cristina Cruz, Makati Shangri-La’s Hotel Manager Udo Wittich, Makati Shangri-La’s Director of Communications Patricia Javier and Philip Santos of Forscink Inc.
Unforgettable milestones deserve luxurious celebrations. For a quarter of a century now, Makati Shangri-La, Manila has housed memorable festivities, from intimate affairs to lavish galas. The hotel has served and played witness to some of the grandest weddings and many other milestones that come after these romantic unions: christenings, first birthdays, debuts, and even wedding anniversaries. Recently, Makati Shangri-La, Manila, together with Rita Neri Event Planners, presented Vows of Elegance, a sophisticated two-day event that showcased the hotel’s award-winning culinary team and event specialists. This much anticipated exhibit of the wedding and celebration industry’s crème de la crème presented an array of options and special offers that will help turn milestones into exquisitely designed revelries.
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Cor Sunglao-Kho and Lacey Kho, Vin and Alejandro Orias, Milen and Mirei Pineda, Maureen Disini, Roberta and Allegra Rossi
Vicki and Scarlet Snow Belo in Cor Sunglao-Kho collection for Little Miss Lacey
The best event stylists of the country–Joyce Aguilar, Nikki Chatto, Jo Claravall, Gideon Hermosa, Teddy Manuel, Zenas Pineda, Michael Ruiz, and Dave Sandoval–adorned the venue with mesmerizing tablescapes, the perfect accents for the guest’s grand experience. Executive Chef Nicola Canuti and his culinary team captured everyone’s palate with their iconic food showcase. The event also offered a feast for the eyes during the Bridal Fashion Show and Children’s Fashion Show, which featured luxe bridal gown and tuxedo collections for all ages. Within the halls of its majestic ballrooms and function rooms, Makati Shangri-La, Manila continues to provide only the best reception venues for ultimate lifetime experiences. Come and celebrate life with us. For inquiries, please contact our Events team at (632) 813-8888 extension 73452 or e-mail events.slm@shangri-la.com
BE OUR GUEST | VOL. 04
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THROWBACK TO 1993 Relive the successful fruits of the 25 years of Makati Shangri-La, Manila
Salathip, the hotel’s popular Thai restaurant in the ‘90s
The party’s giveaway featuring shot glasses showing the evolution from Zu to Conways to present day Sage Bar
Hosts Apples Aberin and Tim Yap
For a quarter of a century, Makati ShangriLa, Manila has been an undefeated fortress of comfort in the city, with a prosperous business center as its façade. But while it is an icon for luxurious repose, the dearest memories of the renowned hotel are not only cemented in its majestic event halls and immaculate suites but also in the gustatory delights it offers. On its 25th anniversary, Makati Shangri-La, Manila took guests on a trip down memory lane with a ‘90s-themed party. Just for this special event, the hotel treated the crowd to a festive gastronomic experience with intricate selections from the hotel’s best restaurants from the ‘90s. With quintessential melodies from that era playing in the background, event attendees, including hosts Tim Yap and Apples Aberin, got to taste aromatic Thai dishes from Salathip and an elegant French cuisine spread from Cheval Blanc once again. The hotel also brought back
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Paolo and Suzi Abrera
an assembly of sumptuous offerings from Ibarra’s and Island Café. Makati Shangri-La, Manila’s silver anniversary is not just a commemoration of the hotel’s glorious past but is also a celebration of the unwavering tradition of commitment and excellence that is still evident today.
Myrza Sison, Editorial Director, Summit Media, Tessa Prieto-Valdes, and Bea Recto Agnir
BE OUR GUEST | VOL. 04
GRAND DELIGHT Adorn your holiday banquet this season with a rich-tasting, succulent Imperial Duck centerpiece from Shang Palace. For inquiries and table reservations, please contact (63 2) 814 2580 or e-mail rric.slm@shangri-la.com