Flavors of Pistang Pinoy at Savoy Hotel Manila

Local fiestas are deeply ingrained to our culture as Filipinos. These events are a way for us to bond and share good times, pay respect to our beliefs, and of course enjoy good food! This month of May a.k.a. Fiesta Month, Savoy Hotel Manila brings the diverse flavors of Pistang Pinoy at Savoy Café, their in-house restaurant, with each dish representing a local fiesta in the Philippines.

These Pistang Pinoy dishes are presented by the hotel’s executive Christian “Kit” Carpio. From appetizers to finger-licking desserts, here are the regional dishes that you could try:

Pistang Pinoy delicacies

Soup

Start your course with chicken binakol, a warm and filling soup typically served after fiesta activities, particularly during Ati-Atihan Festival in Aklan. This chicken soup is prepared with coconut water, coconut meat, and lemongrass. Personally, I find this really good – even good enough for a main course.

Appetizers

A plate of Balaw-Balaw, Mustasa Gulay atbp (Higantes Festival in Rizal) and sinuglaw (Kadayawan Festival in Mindanao) makes for a perfect appetizer for your group! We loved eating this set, since you can prepare it similar to samgyup. Use the mustasa leaves to as wrap to the rice and grilled pork and enjoy!

Ilocos Empanatidas (Tan-Ok Festival) are delicious bite-sized pastries. It’s a famous delicacy in the Ilocos Region, as well as a favorite snack during fiestas. Savoy’s empanatidas are stuffed with garlicky longganisa, egg, and vegetables. The wrap is more bread-like, similar to traditional empanadas, rather than crispy like the ones sold in Ilocos. I honestly prefer this version, since I find the ingredients blend well better. And of course, you need to dip it in flavorful suka for best results.

Lastly, have a bite of Lucban Longganisa (Pahiyas Festival), known for their iconic and garlicky flavor.

Main Course

Many people would say that a Pistang Pinoy isn’t complete without lechon! Savoy offers Cebu Lechon Belly (Sinulog Festival) for fans of this crispy, flavorful dish. It is marinated in herbs and spices before being slow-roasted, and then served with vinegar.

If you’re feeling adventurous and want  to try out something new, try Karne Frita (Dinagyang Festival), which is made of tender beef slices in a soy-vinegar sauce. You’ll find it similar to bistek tagalong, although less sweet.

For those who love seafood, Inihaw na Tuna Belly (GenSan Tuna Festival) won’t disappoint. Fresh tuna are marinated in calamansi, garlic, and spices and then chargrilled and then served with a soy sauce dip. I really enjoyed their inihaw na tuna belly. When you’re in a fiesta stuffing yourself with food, it’s nice to have a healthy, not-so-filling option as well.

Other main course dishes you could try are Chicken Pastil (Zamboanga Hermosa Festival), Aligue Bringhe (Sinukwan Festival), and Lumpiang Sariwa (Singkaban Festival).

Dessert

The fun doesn’t end here! Once you’ve had your fill of rice and viands, it’s time to dive into the Filipino dessert table.

Enjoy the Suman sa Ibus at Manggang Hinog, which pays tribute to the SuMaKah Festival in Antipolo but is known by most of us Filipinos. Simple and delicious, this pair is very reminiscent of snacks we eat in the morning or late afternoons.

Another beloved dessert is Ube Halaya, which represents Panagbenga Festival in Baguio, a city known for their delicious, creamy ube halaya. For kids and adults alike, their Crema de Fruta, which is made with layers of sponge cake, custard, and fresh fruits in jelly, will prove to be a delight.

Of course, every Filipino celebration has a spot in the table reserved for Leche Flan. I love Savoy’s version of leche flan because it isn’t overly sweet, so even those who don’t have a sweet tooth will be able to enjoy it as well.

Enjoy these Pistang Pinoy dishes

One thing that I like about staying at Savoy Hotel Manila is their commitment to promoting our local culture. From their Filipino brand of hospitality to their use of local ingredients (such as sampaguita) in their dishes and their events promoting local delicacies, this is a hotel that is truly proud to be Filipino.

These Pistang Pinoy dishes are served at Savoy Café in Savoy Hotel Manila as part of their buffet offerings and ala carte menu, from May 1-31, 2025.

Here are the schedules of their buffets:

• Fresh off the Flame Buffet – Mon and Wed 10:30 AM to 2:30 PM
• Delightful Weekend Buffet – Friday and Saturday 6PM to 10PM
• Lunch Buffet Treats – Tuesday and Thursday 11:30AM to 2:30 PM
• Sunday Family Lunch Buffet – Sunday 12 noon to 2:30 PM

What is your favorite fiesta food? Let us know in the comments section below!