Novotel Manila’s Freshfinity reimagines the buffet with less waste, more flavor

Eating at a buffet can be overwhelming, and most of the time, diners end up not finishing all the food on their plates.  

At Food Exchange Manila, Freshfinity reimagines the classic buffet with a focus on responsible dining, local partnerships, and a balance of Filipino and global dishes.

Recently, ABS-CBN News was one of guests invited to experience Freshfinity, a modern buffet concept at Food Exchange Manila in Novotel Manila Araneta City in Cubao, Quezon City.

The new culinary chapter was led by Cluster Executive Chef for Outlets Athena Tuble, together with Cluster Executive Pastry Chef Angelique “Angel” Llantanda, and Cluster Executive Chef for Banquet Michael Ramos.

“What makes Freshfinity different is that it is chef-forward. The concept of buffet usually is abundance and all of that. Now, while we serve an abundant spread, it’s a more mindful approach. The biggest problem with buffet is really the food waste afterwards. After this saan na siya pupunta? So what we are trying to do here, capture the essence of the flavors to maximize per ingredient,” Tuble told ABS-CBN News.

“When I say per ingredient, my always example here is the chicken. Maybe we use the breast, the thighs for the main dishes, but what happens to the skin? What happens to the gizzards, the bones? So all of those things are incorporated back to our dishes, they become stock, juice and all of that,” she added.

Freshfinity features six culinary stations showcasing rich and classic dishes from Asian countries, including India, Japan and flavors from Italy.

The Maharaja serves fragrant spices and rich Indian dishes, while Flavors of Asia offers dim sum and regional favorites. Sakura Sumi turns takes diners to Japan with its fresh sashimi, premium maki, and other specialties. It highlights the freshness of ingredients.  

According to Chef Tuble, in order to maintain the top quality of every seafood, their partner suppliers use a blast-freezing process at the port right after the seafood was caught.

“So part of the Freshfinity is partnering up with suppliers who are keen to preserving freshness,” Tuble said.

Cucina Italiana serves freshly prepared pasta and artisanal pizzas. The Brasserie Maison serves premium meats and seafood, while Butcher’s Block offers diners chef-selected cuts carved to order. The carving station serves its signature Tajima beef, which is cooked sous-vide for 16 hours.

What makes Freshfinity unique is their approach to encourage diners to explore flavorful and variety of dishes without unnecessary excess.

To help preserve freshness of the food, instead of putting all the food in one plate, each dish is served in portions so guests can try more new dishes, return for more of their favorites, and enjoy the unlimited buffet experience while helping reduce food waste.

“If you want to try new flavors, new dishes, new concept of being served fresh, while maintaining that abundant feeling please come to Food Exchange,” Tuble said.

Apart from responsible dining, the buffet place also supports local farms, fisheries and producers to contribute to local livelihoods, help preserve Filipino food traditions, and give guests an opportunity to experience the distinctive ingredients and flavors of the Philippines.

While part of the buffet fare are food from other countries, Freshfinity’s culinary identity remains rooted in Filipino ingredients, flavors, and heritage. It gives a modern twist to classic Filipino dishes.

Under Chef Angelique “Angel” Llantanda, guests will enjoy the newly reopened Indulge Gelato and Bakery. Some of its new creations include Matcha Croissant, Strawberry Ribbon, Pain au Chocolat,  Ube Cheese Croissant, Mango Shortcake, Matcha Biscoff Cheesecake, and Triple Chocolate Mousse.

It also has Chicken Adobo Pocket, Longganisa Egg Danish, Buko Danish, Brownie Pain Suisse, Tuna Danish, and Coffee Bun.

Vegetables are at the center of Gourmet Bar by Novotel, under Cluster Executive Chef for Banquet Michael Ramos, who is introducing a plant-forward menu, an approach to wellness while not sacrificing flavor.

Longevity at Novotel embraces the simple idea of a “living well begins with the choices we make every day.”

Featured dishes include  Seared Cabbage Steak, Cauliflower Bibimbap and Brown Lentils and Sweet Potato Buddha Bowl.

Under Chef Michael Ramos, Freshfinity also proved its commitment to inclusivity as The Novotel Manila Banquet Kitchen received Halal certification, which allows them to  cater more inclusively to meetings, conferences, weddings, and social celebrations.

Part of its banquet repertoire draws from diverse culinary traditions, with Indian and Chinese cuisines among its particular strengths. The hotel’s affinity for Indian cuisine is especially well established through Prana Indian Cuisine, its homegrown Indian restaurant located alongside Food Exchange Manila.

Freshfinity is available every Friday for dinner and every Saturday and Sunday for lunch and dinner, priced at P2,799 net per person.