This October, Holiday Inn & Suites Makati’s Flavors Restaurant welcomes
Chef Dennis Lim, who brings his passion for cooking to the hotel’s famed buffet
spread for lunch and dinner from October 10-19, 2017.
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| We were welcomes with Tamarind Ice - welcome drinks made with tamarind broth |
Born and raised in San Fernando, Pampanga to the family that runs the
famous LA Bakery, Chef Dennis Lim has carved out his own name in local
gastronomy with his rustic, reservation-only private dining restaurant, Den Lim’s
Kitchen. It can take up to a year to secure a spot in this converted warehouse in
Pampanga, where the self-taught chef freshly prepares the food in front of the
guests and then proceeds to serve and explain each dish.
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| Super tender Caveman Beef Shank with gravy |
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| Crab Marlen with a super rich salted egg sauce (best with rice!) |
Holiday Inn approached Chef Den Lim because he fits the personality of
Flavors Restaurant. The vibrant, all-day dining restaurant is run by all-Filipino
talent, singling out Holiday Inn & Suites Makati as the only international chain
with a Filipino executive chef.
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| Old Fashioned Beef Mechado |
“We are always looking for interesting food ideas and collaborations to
bring a great dining and travel experience to our guests and customers,” states
Mr. Andy Belmonte, Hotel Manager, Holiday Inn & Suites Makati. “Chef Den Lim
is a good fit because his cooking style reflects Flavors Restaurant’s friendly,
choiceful and unpretentious vibe.
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| Roast Chicken |
“It felt right,” asserts Chef Den Lim. “More than just another feather in my
cap, I know it will be good experience working with other chefs. I do not have
formal training, so I know I will learn a lot from this. And from the moment I met
the people from Holiday Inn & Suites Makati, it has felt like home.”
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| Kilayin Capampangan (usually served with rice and banana) |
Flavors takes pride in having one of the best buffet selections in Makati
City, bringing the best of Filipino, South East Asian, and Western dishes to the
table. This month, Chef Den Lim’s signature dishes are a special treat for the
business hotel’s clientele – no need to wait an entire year to savor the bold and
exciting flavours from this maverick chef.
“I wouldn’t know what to call my style of cooking,” Chef Den Lim intones.
“I keep it simple, as I like to bring out the true flavors in my dishes. For instance,
if I’m cooking pork, I highlight its basic porky taste. I find my inspiration from
people who love food. My family, we all love to eat, so that’s what encouraged
me to cook better.”
Joining Flavors’ choice selection is Chef Den Lim’s Oriental Cashew
Salad, a signature salad with slightly sweet, tangy and creamy dressing of
pureed cashews topped with candied walnuts, roasted cashew nuts and a
sprinkling of chili pepper flakes for an added kick.
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| Pasta Corrito |
The mains include Pasta Corrito (named after Chef Den Lim’s partner), a
rich seafood pasta with shrimp, mussels and squid, cooked with seafood brine,
lemon, capers, and extra virgin olive oil; the luxuriously creamy and savory Crab
Marlen, crab sautéed with basil and 30 salted egg yolks; Caveman’s Shank,
tender, smoked beef shank braised for 5-6 hours and smothered with mushroom
gravy; and Spanish Callos, slow-cooked tripe and beef skin with Spanish chorizo
in white wine and smoked paprika.
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| Pugon Liempo Wrap |
Of course, the star of the show is the Pugon Liempo Wrap, Chef Den Lim’s
signature dish that has his Pampanga kitchen booked solid for months:
succulent roasted pork belly wrapped in lettuce and arugula, topped with
housemade pork buro and tomatoes.
Chef Den Lim’s dishes are a welcome complement to Flavors’ choice
selection of dishes that are well thought out and deliciously prepared,
showcasing bread, cold cuts, a salad bar, a pasta bar, a carving station, a variety
of mains, and a sushi bar.
For dessert, the buffet showcases a spread that rivals
the top bakeshops in town, with its heavenly Ube Cheesecake, as well as the
Café Jeepney's Crepe Samurai of the former InterContinental Hotel Manila.
Flavors’ lunch and dinner buffet are priced at Php 1,818 nett.
Holiday Inn & Suites Makati is located in the heart of Ayala Center, adjacent to
Glorietta, with 348 well-appointed rooms and suites that offer comfort and
relaxation to business travelers and families alike. In 2016, it was awarded 5
stars by the Department of Tourism based on its exceptional facilities and
amenities.
Holiday Inn & Suites Makati is located at Palm Drive, Ayala Center, Makati City.
For more information, please call 909-0888 or visit www.holidayinn.com/makati.
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