(SPOT.ph) Ah, Christmas. It’s the time of year we reunite with our loved ones—and more importantly (arguably), the time for Filipinos the country over to celebrate holiday parties and potlucks, among them the grand event known as Noche Buena. Apart from allowing you to reconnect with family and friends, let’s face it: What really makes these events worth looking forward to is the grand spread of food you’ll usually find on the dining table.
Now there are a couple of dishes best associated with Noche Buena and other Filipino Christmas parties—think classic roast beef, jamon, fruit salad, and the like—and we’ll always have a soft spot for them. But sometimes you’ve just got to change things up. If you’re looking to change gears for your spread this year, or just in the mood for something new, we’ve rounded up unconventional yet great-tasting, party-ready fare you can order from local restos and purveyors.
Also read: 15 Best Places to Order Christmas Eats + Platters for a Very Merry Noche Buena
Add these unconventional and drool-worthy potluck food options to your Christmas party spread:
Roast Batangas Organic Duck from Cibo di Marghi
Consider changing things up from your usual roast beef or pork this Christmas; Cibo di Marghi makes a stellar roast duck (P3,220) using organic birds from Batangas, stuffed with a mix of heirloom brown rice, an earthy mushroom trifolati, and dried mangoes and cashews for a sweet and crunchy contrast. Go ahead and fill out their order form to place your orders.
For orders, fill out Cibo di Marghi’s order form. You can also check out their Facebook page.
Chicken and Beef Pad Thai Tray from Flowerboy
In the mood for noods? Definitely go for this Southeast-Asian style tray from Flowerboy (P1,789/good for six). It includes two of their bestsellers: The deeply umami Beef Pad Thai inspired by classic Thai pad see ew; and the savory-sweet Chicken Pad Thai. Don’t forget to break apart the fluffy omelette and squeeze on the lime before serving for added richness and vibrancy, respectively. You can order through the Lowbrow Restaurant Group’s website, Eat Lowbrow.
For orders, visit the Flowerboy section of Eat Lowbrow. You can also check out the Lowbrow Casual Restaurants’ Facebook page.
Smoked Cochinillo Platter from Gatong
Good ol’ cochinillo goes even spunkier in Gatong’s Smoked Cochinillo Platter (P6,500)—a show-stopping main that features free-range suckling pig smoked in caimito wood until fork-tender. The meat is impactful enough that it shines even just with rice, but every platter comes with 15 corn tortillas, two sauces (barbecue and salsa), their own sauerkraut, and cracklings so you can build your own tacos while you’re at it. Place your orders by sending Gatong a message.
For orders, send Gatong a message on Facebook or Instagram.
Greek Pies from Filo Taverna
It’s always great to include casual nibbles to your spread for guests to nosh on as pica-pica. Consider Filo Taverna’s Greek Pies—handheld pies with various savory fillings, wrapped in filo pastry and baked until crispy and golden brown. Take your pick from the Tiropita (P499/12 pieces) with a feta-egg mixture; the Moussakapita (P549/12 pieces) with eggplant, potatoes, ground beef, tomatoes, and béchamel sauce; the Patatopita (P489/12 pieces) with mashed potatoes and feta cheese; and the Spanakopita (P489/12 pieces) with spinach and feta. You can conveniently order through their website.
For orders, visit Filo Taverna’s website. You can also check out their Facebook page.
Lamb Shawarma Tray from Musha Shawarma
The classic street snack known as shawarma gets lifted to grand, party-ready heights in Musha Shawarma’s trays. The Lamb Shawarma Tray (P1280/regular, P2,560/large) is one of the newest additions to their lineup, with tender and well-seasoned pieces of roast lamb, roasted onions and tomatoes, basmati rice, and strips of red cabbage and lettuce for a fresh and crisp contrast. Orders also come with their special garlic sauce and spicy sauce—go ahead and get drizzling. You can message them on Instagram for orders.
For orders, send a message to Musha Shawarma’s Instagram page.
Also read: Steak, Seafood, Ribs + More: The Best Food Trays to Order in Manila
Marmite Chicken Wings from Sambar
Everyone loves a good chicken wing, and when you’re looking to switch things up from your usual buffalo or soy garlic version, Sambar’s Marmite Chicken Wings (P395/six pieces, P695/12 pieces) could very well fit the bill. These winglets are dry-cured and twice-fried for a satisfying crunch; they’re then glazed with a slightly-spicy sauce of honey and Marmite—yup, the famous yeast-extract spread that’s an indispensable part of British food culture for its distinct, deeply savory taste. Though the spread itself tends to be polarizing, it totally works here, lending a full-bodied umami taste that brings out the taste of the chicken beautifully. You can place your orders through Sambar’s Pickup.ph page.
For orders, visit Sambar’s Pickup.ph page. You can also check out their Facebook page.
Truffle Scallop Mac & Cheese from Bun Appetit
Mac and cheese is always great, but add truffle and seafood to the mix and you’ve got yourself an even more opulent treat! That’s just what you get with Bun Appetit’s Truffle Scallop Mac & Cheese (P3,500/good for eight): It’s got rigatoni and succulent bay scallops in a creamy sauce made with cheddar and parmesan cheeses, plus truffle oil for an aromatic touch. It’s then sprinkled with breadcrumbs and baked until golden brown; trust us when we say every forkful is bound to be a decadent one, with just enough sharpness from the cheeses balanced out by the subtle sweetness of the seafood. You can head to their Pickup.ph website for orders.
For orders, visit Bun Appetit’s Pickup.ph website. You can also check out their Facebook page.
Dimsum Bouquet from Ocean Palace Manila
Dim sum has a special place in almost any Filipino’s heart, and this picturesque platter (P2,800/25 pieces) from Ocean Palace Manila makes a great addition to any holiday table. Tinted with totally eye-catching hues, they just about glisten in the light like jewels—plus each color carries different fillings. The pink dumplings have shrimps and scallops; the orange dumplings have shrimp; the green rolls have meat and cabbage; the blue dumplings have pork and mushroom; the purple dumplings have pork and shrimp; the yellow dumplings have sharksfin and shrimp; and the red dumplings have a Szechuan-spiced pork mix. You can message them on social media or reach out to their Viber number to get your fix.
For orders, send a message to Ocean Palace Manila on Facebook or Instagram. You can also reach out to 0998-539-3850 on Viber.
Wagyu Striploin Holiday Tray from Ginza Gyu
If you’re in a real treat-yo’-self kinda mood, you’ll want to make room for Ginza Gyu’s Wagyu Striploin Holiday Tray (P4,900/good for five to six). This meaty tray highlights wagyu striploin in all its well-marbled, naturally flavorful glory, and pairs it with umami accompaniments of sauteed spinach, pickled ginger, and nori plus their own wagyu steak rice. Go ahead and visit Ginza Gyu’s website to try it for yourself.
For orders, visit Ginza Gyu’s website. You can also check out their Facebook page.
Tomyum Fried Rice from Samyan
Rice, of course, is an indispensable part of just about any meal in these parts—and Samyan ingeniously crosses it with the hot and sour soup known as tom yum in the Tomyum Fried Rice (P1,200/good for four to six). It’s a crossover that works in our book: the rice takes on the piquant flavors of the classic soup, and the tray is topped with shrimp, squid, and fried fish—plus red chilies and wedges of lime to brighten up the mix. Just visit The Grid’s website to place an order.
For orders, visit the Samyan section on The Grid Food Market’s website. You can also check out their Facebook page.
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