Phil. Independence Day spread at the Hyatt

This June, Hyatt Regency Saipan sets its sights on the 119th anniversary of Philippine Independence, which will be celebrated by the islands’ Filipino community on Friday, June 12.

Hyatt will do so with a sumptuous Filipino spread called the Mabuhay Fiesta Buffet at the Kili Café & Terrace on June 9, 2017, starting at 6:30pm.

“The celebration will be one big party or fiesta as Filipinos call it. We do this every year but this year is special. We are stepping up,” said Hyatt marketing manager Valentina Haberman. “If you’re Filipino, you know why we are celebrating this and it’s going to be fun and festive. If you’re not Filipino, then it is going to be great experience for you.”

The event will highlight regional specialties from the Philippines but Filipino favorites such as adobo, kare-kare, pansit, and bulalo, to name a few, are definitely going to be part of the gastronomical buffet.

Executive chef Gabrielle Colombo is looking forward to the celebration. He and his team, composed of mostly Filipino chefs, have meticulously prepared the dishes and used ingredients that will make every dish memorable.

“I am surrounded mostly by Filipino chefs. I see how passionate they are in preparing and cooking dishes, especially Filipino food. Whether it is traditional or modern, it always ends up very unique,” Colombo said. “I myself have been around Asia. I was in Manila for two years. I enjoyed how Filipino dishes play an important part in the culinary world.”

Jeffrey Fernandez, Hyatt’s chef de parte, said, ““We will have hot foods, street foods, and desserts.”

For the first time, Hyatt will be highlighting Filipino street food, “the food of my childhood years and an all-time favorite by many. We will be serving fish balls, buttered quail eggs (kwek-kwek), fried lumpia, okoy (deep fried battered papaya and seafood) with all of its delicious sauces. You don’t find those in any restaurants on island,” said Fernandez.

Both Colombo and Fernandez said the most challenging dish to make was the pansit palabok. “Preparing the sauce for the pansit palabok was not easy. If you don’t know how to do it using the traditional technique then the dish will go to waste. We are glad we achieved the Filipino taste.” Fernandez said.

“The mood, the look, the atmosphere will [evoke a] fiesta Pinoy-style, which means a good time,” said Anthea Joy Baltazar-Capati, Kili Café & Terrace outlet manager. “We will decorate the café with banderitas, our staff will be wearing traditional baro’t saya for women and farmer’s look for men and local fruits like bananas, papayas, and coconuts will greet our guests at the entrance. We will have a band that will play Filipino country songs. The Hyatt partnered with the United Filipino Organization that will provide a dance group that will perform a Filipino folk dance. Even if it is for one night only, [it will feel] like you flew to Manila for a day.”

Reservations are highly recommended. The Mabuhay Fiesta Dinner is $55 per head and Club Hyatt members are welcome. Call 234-1234 for more information.