Night Out checks in on the delights of a hotel-centric evening.
 

After a particularly hectic week, I decided to treat my girlfriend-of-long-standing (read: my wife) and myself to a special night out—and, with the goal of de-stressing, I opted for a place where we could do everything under one roof. (No driving around, thank you!)

We checked in at the Crowne Plaza Galleria Manila along ADB Avenue, selecting a big Premiere Room (PhP8,437.50 Net, for local residents). The expansive room was immediately inviting, but could not keep us from the next de-stressing item on our itinerary—visiting the spa.

We booked an early evening appointment at the Suriya Spa, and arrived early. (It’s always good practice to arrive 10 to 15 minutes ahead of your scheduled spa appointment—there’s time to get ready, with no reduction to your treatment time.) 

I wanted a massage, and my wife wanted a body treatment, so, after perusing the almost 50 spa choices, I opted for the Hot Stone Massage (PhP2,033), while my wife went for the Seaweed Marine Algae Wrap (PhP2,850). 

I’ve had hot stone massages at other venues before (As the names implies, hot stones are placed on various parts of your body), and I was happy with the quality at the Suriya Spa. I felt all my accumulated aches and pains borne away. My wife met up with me after her treatment, refreshed and revitalized—and hungry, like I was.

The next stop was Seven Corners, one of our favorite hotel restos. We skipped the a la carte offerings and went for the dinner buffet (PhP1,288). 

The spread was visually arresting, as usual, and I happily made my way to the appetizer station (I could die happy there) and went for the seafood: oysters, salmon, prawns, pitik lobsters, unagi, and, through special request to the chef, fresh uni (my favorite sea urchin).  Everything was fresh, and I kept going back for more.  

My wife had gone on to the Asian selections, and from her plate I tasted Hainanese Chicken, roti canai, papadum, vegetable pakora and some naan bread (which you can ask a chef to make fresh, right at the buffet). 

I tore myself away from the appetizers and went for a thick slab of US Rib Eye (medium rare—which made the cooks stationed there quite happy, as the majority of people, it seems, prefer theirs well done, to point of charring).

I also stopped by the pasta station, where I asked for Pasta Arrabiata (olive oil, garlic, onions, tomato concasse, basil, oregano, and chili flakes over orecchiete pasta).  

Dessert was crème brulée, fresh fruit, and brewed coffee (transformed into something even more delicious with a single drop of chocolate syrup, from the Dessert Station).

After dinner, we made our way back to our room, with the rest of evening still to enjoy.  

(Dean Francis Alfar has won many writing awards and been published nationally and internationally. He is a leading advocate of the speculative fiction movement on the Philippine literary scene.)