Modern Noche Buena: 5 Christmas Food Ideas for a Unique Holiday Feast

Suggested dish: Conti’s baked salmon

Where to buy: Conti’s outlets and branches

Seafood is a great alternative to ham. For a seafood dish that will satisfy your taste buds, go for baked salmon. One place that offers this dish is Conti’s. Conti’s is known for its sweet confections, but the famous bakeshop also produces one of the tastiest baked salmon dishes in Metro Manila. The dish is available in two large sizes for small and big families.

How to get to Conti’s (Century City Mall branch): Ride the MRT-3 and alight at Guadalupe Station. Exit at the southbound side of EDSA. From there, ride a jeepney with an “Ayala JP Rizal Makati Ave Guad Ibabaw” sign. Pay the minimum fare and alight at Makati cor Kalayaan, which is past A Venue Mall. Walk along Kalayaan Avenue to get to Century City Mall. It is the C-shaped building. Conti’s is at Level 1.

Conti’s also has branches in SM Mall of Asia, SM Megamall, SM North Edsa, SM Southmall, BF Homes Paranaque, Ayala Malls the 30th, Robinsons Magnolia, and Trinoma.

Suggested dish: Gringo's Original Chicken

Where to buy: Gringo branches

Since most kids and adults love chicken, it is still a noche buena must-have. Normal fried chicken is undeniably great, but for something non-traditional opt for a chicken dish with a twist, like Gringo’s original chicken. Filled with combined spices and herbs, this dish is a zesty addition to your Christmas dinner spread. The original chicken comes in quarter, half, and whole servings.

How to get to Gringo (Ayala Malls Manila Bay branch): Take the MRT-3 and get off at Taft Avenue Station then go down the stairs at the northbound side of the station. Turn left into a passageway next to Mcdonald’s and look for a Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 shuttle commuter bus. Alight at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay. It is just a short walk from City of Dreams Manila. Gringo is located on the fourth floor.

Gringo also has branches in Legaspi Village,SM City North EDSA, SM Megamall, The Fort Residences BGC, SM Mall of Asia, UP Town Center, Festival Mall, Greenhills Shopping Centre, SM City Sucat, SM City Manila, SM City Fairview, Ayala Malls Feliz, and Ayala Malls the 30th.

Suggested dish: Sushi Nori’s Sushi party trays

Where to buy: Sushi Nori branches

Japanese food is not typically served during the holidays, so sushi is not the first thing that comes to mind when you think of noche buena. But why shouldn’t it be? It’s delicious, it’s easy to share, and it’s healthy! All these make it a recommended dish for those who want something that will make their noche buena or Christmas party different this year. To get a trayful of assorted sushi, check out Sushi Nori’s sushi trays. Not only are they aesthetically pleasing, but they also offer various flavor options to cater to different taste buds.

How to get to Sushi Nori (UP Town Center branch): Ride a jeep to Katipunan and walk towards the jeepney terminal heading to U.P Town Center. These jeeps are with “Katipunan ikot” signages. Pay the minimum fare. Sushi Nori is located on the 1st level phase 2.

Sushi Nori also has branches in SM Aura, SM Megamall, UP Town Center, Rockwell, and W City Center.

Suggested dish: Amici’s Spaghetti ai Tesori del Mare

Where to buy: Amici branches

Prices: PhP1,660 for Gruppo (8 persons)

Pasta is always present in every occasion, especially during Christmas. But Filipinos usually serve only two pasta dishes: carbonara and Filipino-style spaghetti. Beyond the two variants, there are more pasta styles you can indulge in, like Amici’s spaghetti ai Tesori del Mare (to the treasure of the sea). The spaghetti dish has a spicy seafood flavor fused with fresh ingredients such as mussels, clams, scallops, tomatoes, and chili oil.

How to go to Amici (SM Megamall branch): Ride the MRT and get off at Ortigas Station. Exit the station and walk along the sidewalk until you reach SM Megamall. Galerie Anna is on the fourth floor of Building A. Amici is located at the 3rd floor Atrium.

Amici also has branches in Don Bosco Makati, Tomas Morato, SM North EDSA, Technohub, Alabang Town Center, Greenhills, and Ayala Triangle Garden.

Suggested dish: Dessert du Jour by Mara de la Rama-Poblete’s Queso De Bola Cheesecake

Where to buy: Unit 42 Ecology Village, Makati City

Price: PhP1,300 (8-12 persons)

Noche buena is not complete without queso de bola, but did you know that there are other ways you can eat the traditional treat? Dessert du Jour by Mara de la Rama-Poblete’s take on the Pinoy classic is a queso de bola cheesecake, a decadent treat rich in cream cheese and muscovado whipped cream. Tiny bits of queso de bola are mixed with the cream cheese to give balanced sweetness and saltiness to the cake.

How to get to Ecology Village: Cakes are available only for pickup. To get there, ride the MRT to Magallanes Station. From the station, take a jeep that will pass Amorsolo Street. Ecology Village is just nearby San Lorenzo Place.

Visit Yoorekka for more noche buena dishes and tips!

Christmas is a time to observe traditions, but it can also be the perfect occasion to introduce new ones, especially with your noche buena spread!