For just P2,150 net per person at lunch, and P2,550 net per person at dinner, you can technically eat an entire Truffle Rice Stuffed de Leche by Pepita’s Kitchen for a fraction of it’s P10,000 price. Just be prepared for the long lines in front of the lechon station at the Corniche restaurant Buffet at the Diamond Hotel in Roxas Boulevard.
From being named Tastiest Fast Feast in Asia by Chowzter in London, selling out a Pepita’s Mini HAYOP na Degustacion in Purple Yam, New York, to having long queues of people lining up to get a taste at the Singapore World Street Food Congress by KF Seetoh, where they sold out every night, it’s clear that if you serve this lechon, people will come. In droves.
And from today until June 14, the Corniche restaurant buffet will serve not just the Truffle Rice de Leche, but also two of Pepita’s Kitchen best-selling lechon: Original Dedet’s Lechon and Sisig Rice Stuffed de Leche. The special partnership between Pepita’s Kitchen and Corniche is for Diamond Hotel’s Feasts from the Filipino Kitchen buffet in celebration of Independence Day on June 12.
While you should come for the lechon of Dedet de la Fuente, head chef at Pepita’s Kitchen, stay for the other Filipino specialties by Corniche. I particularly enjoyed their Oxtail Kare-Kare and Chef Marko’s Goto with condiments (including foie gras cubes). Not be missed either are Chef Marko’s Roulade from Native Lechon, Ginisang Munggo na may Bagnet, the Selection of Chicharon (Bulaklak, Balat ng Manok, and Bituka), and Sinigang na Hipon. (Suffice it to say, come prepared with your antacids—and Lipitor.)
The dessert spread is just as impressive. I went straight for Buko Sorbet and paired it with the Champorado Brulee. (One of my finer moments.) Save some space for the Dulce de Leche ice cream, the assortment of Palitaw, and Langka Cheesecake. Pepita’s Kitchen’s Mango Trifle and Super Suman, which were named among the Top Desserts and Best Desserts of 2013 by the Philippine Daily Inquirer, respectively.
To top off the near-perfect pairing of Pepita’s Kitchen and the Corniche restaurant buffet, Dedet announced that Diamond Hotel would be donating wheelchairs to Project Wheelchair, which Pepita’s Kitchen has a long-standing charitable partnership with.
Whoever said that eating three servings of lechon wouldn’t help you fulfill your good deed for the day?
Corniche restaurant buffet at the Diamond Hotel. Roxas Boulevard corner Dr. J. Quintos Street, Manila. For reservations and inquiries, call (02) 528-3000. E-mail bizcenter@diamondhotel.com. For more information, visit their website and Facebook page.
Photos by Patrick Segovia. Assisted by Kaimer Tubio