Sunday, January 24, 2016

A Bubbly Brunch: A Weekend Champagne Brunch at Alfred

Jamon Iberico. Australian Rack of Lamb. US Angus Ribeye. Bagnet. And free-flowing champagne...it's the Weekend Champagne Brunch at Alfred.

The new Makati Diamond Residences will soon be launching its indulgent and impressive Weekend Champagne Brunch at Alfred, the hotel's elegant 24-hour all-day dining restaurant, at a special introductory price. It's a deal worth booking a reservation as early as now for the January 31, 2016 launch.

Located along Legazpi Street at the heart of the Makati CBD, the new Makati Diamond Residences combines the features of a full-scale serviced apartment with the amenities of a luxurious business hotel. As you enter the lobby, the impressive high-ceiling greets you along with the warm smiles of the staff, and your experience begins...

...at Makati's newest luxury property. A short walk around the lobby leads you to Alfred, the hotel's elegant restaurant surrounded by panoramic floor-to-ceiling glass windows letting in soothing natural light. Named after the fictional butler, you can always count on exceptional service, and exceptional food, at Alfred.

And there's just nothing quite like free-flowing champagne to elevate the brunch experience. At the Weekend Champagne Brunch, Alfred pulls all the stops with unlimited rounds of champagne to get you in the groove in no time.

Way before the 11:30am opening, the final touches were laid on the impressive buffet spread, with a wide assortment of dishes fresh from the kitchen. And you're never too far from a chilled bottle of champagne for a second round. And a third.

Start your Weekend Champagne Brunch at Albert with a selection of the finest Spanish Jamon Serrano and Jamon Iberico from Txanton. Pair it with some champagne, wine and cheese, and it just doesn't get better than that.

Four types of the premium Spanish ham were served, made from pure breed Iberian Pig, including the Jamon Serrano Gran Reserva Montenevado, Jamon Iberico Extremedura, Jamon Iberico Salamanca, and the Jamon Iberico Bellota from Guijuelo, Spain.

The Jamon Serrano and Jamon Iberico are an experience in itself, and one of the many reasons to check out the Weekend Champagne Brunch at Alfred. Each variant offers its own distinct flavor, from the mild yet sharp buttery salty hint of the Jamon Serrano Gran Reserva Montenevado aged for 18 months, the fragrant and aromatic Jamon Iberico Extremadura aged for 24 months, the nutty Jamon Iberico Salamanca aged for 24 months, and the deep, rounded and intense flavors of the creamy melt-in-your-mouth Jamon Iberico Bellota aged for 36 months. Where else can you find not one, but four types of premium Jamon Serrano and Jamon Iberico, all in one amazing champagne brunch?

At the buffet spread, you'll find indulgently rich pasta dishes like the Uni Pasta with Crabmeat, Crumbs, Basil, and Pepperoncini (L) and the equally rich Foie Gras Raviolini with Sage Butter and Truffle Foam (R), each with its own unique and comforting flavors. But it gets better...

On one side of the buffet spread, you'll find a pair of Cochinillo, roast suckling pig, slow-roasted for hours with tender and juicy pork capped by perfectly crisp crackling. Take it with a thick and traditional liver sauce, a spicy chili vinegar dip, or as is, the delicate and mildly sweet flavors of the cochinillo will have you going back for seconds...

Beside the Cochinillo, you'll find Alfred's inventive take on a regional classic, the Bagnet Rice (L), topped with vegetables and crispy strips of deep-fried pork belly mixed with shrimp paste. And if you just can't help having another piece of crispy Bagnet (R), you'll find more right next to the Bagnet Rice, so dig in.

After some starters (don't pass on the Raclette at the Appetizer Station, trust me), it's time for a stop at the Carving Station. For the main course, your choices include Grilled Prawns with roasted vegetables...

Alfred's Carving Station is loaded with so many options, so have another glass of champagne. The chefs on station will carve your US Angus Ribeye to your specified thickness, and grill it your desired doneness.

Then, simply pick up a slice and enjoy. At Alfred's Carving Station, you'll find a variety of sauces, but for beef this good, you don't need any gravy at all.

Here's my version of surf and turf at Alfred's Weekend Champagne Brunch, with Australian Rack of Lamb, Grilled Prawns, and US Angus Ribeye with roasted asparagus, cherry tomatoes and marble potatoes. You'll also find some grilled cauliflower and carrots, drape it with some of the Carving Station's creamy cheese sauce... perfect.

And since it's a weekend, go ahead and have some pork with Alfred's Bagnet Rice and Cochinillo. Pure pork bliss...at Alfred's Weekend Champagne Brunch.

Cap your Weekend Champagne Brunch with a freshly brewed Latte (Makati Diamond Residences uses premium coffee from Toby's Estate Coffee) and some of their signature and indulgent desserts, like the thick and moist Bouchon, the decadent Limoncello Tiramisu (R)...

...or the sweet and tart Rhubarb Crumble with Vanilla Ice Cream, just perfect with Alfred's Latte. The mildly sour yet vibrant notes of the rhubarb are tempered by the smooth and creamy ice cream for balanced flavors, ending your Weekend Champagne Brunch at Alfred on a high note.

One more round of champagne for the road, and its a weekend made perfect at Alfred. The Weekend Champagne Brunch at Alfred will start on January 31, 2016 until March 20, 2016, from 11:30am to 2:30pm and priced at only P 1,000 net per person (only for regular weekends except holidays like Valentine's or Holy Week, with the Weekend Champagne Brunch priced at P 2,000 net per person). And with a deal this good, reservations are absolutely recommended to guarantee a table for your party, so pick-up the phone and call, and prepare for one awesome Weekend Champagne Brunch experience at Makati's newest luxury business hotel.

Alfred is located at the Lobby Level of the Makati Diamond Residences, 118 Legazpi Street, Legazpi Village, Makati or call +632 317-0999 local 1114, +63917-636-4875 or email alfredmakatidiamond.com for inquiries and more information. You can also visit their website at http://makatidiamond.com/.Dude for Food is now on Facebook and Instagram, check out the FB Page and IG Feed for regular updates on good eats. Better yet, click "Like" and "Follow" and enjoy the ride...just look for the FB and IG widgets on the right sidebar.