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Amor Maclang’s email stated “An Invitation to a Media Launch”. Wagyu Beef—everyone’s heard of it; the beer, the sake, the massage (not for you, for your rib-eye!) But have you ever tasted this foie gras of steaks the way the perfectionists in Japan meant it to be enjoyed? It felt strange to be invited to a media event. Apparently, Jayvee gave a list of bloggers to Amor who in turn invited us to this festival . And I happened to be one of them. I am not a food writer. I’m not even a food critic. I’m not exactly a food blogger either though I take photos of the food we eat at restaurants or at home and post them here. I am just someone who loves to eat good food. So the invite piqued my curiousity. It helped that a few blogger-friends (like Lori, Jayvee, Annalyn and Anton) would also be attending and secondly, I wanted a taste test of the wagyu beef dishes. Upon arrival at the Diamond Hotel, I was handed a media kit with a description of Wagyu Beef:

…in a recent BBC poll, which named it as one of the top 50 foods one should eat before you die. Traditionally available only in Japan, the famed foie gras of beef has long been associated with tales of its 5-star cultivation. Regular massages , top notch food, the odd sake skin treatment, some ven go as far as incorporating heated water beds while listening to Bach and Mozart.

Am I glad I went! This was not an ordinary media event. It was a royal experience. Carlos Celdran gave us a walking tour of the various restaurants of Diamond Hotel that showcased various Wagyu Beef dishes. Carlos warned us that we will be tasting 12 dishes in all.

Wagyu Burger served in toasted ciabatta olive bread with a side of onion rings, tomato jam and yellow mustard.

wagyu black cheek beef which is braised in sesame broth served on buckwheat noodles with vegetables aka wagyu bulalo

What can I say?

After I took my first bite, I can only describe it as “melting in your mouth”.

Chewing is almost redundant. Rich and smooth, Wagyu beef leaves you with a lingering, velvety taste that is unsurpassable. Its distinctive marbled appearance is attributed to its high saturated fat. This lends to the marked sensation that can only be described as melting in the mouth - contributing not only to the beef’s flavor but supposedly helping lower your cholesterol as well by virtue of its healthy fatty acid profile.

At the Yurakuen Japanese Restaurant

Teppanyaki Japanese Premium Sirloin

Japanese Premium Beef Sukiyako or Shabu-shabu course (which comes with appetizer, sashimi, steamed Japanese rice, Japanese Picklets , miso soup and dessert)

At the Restaurant Le Bellevue

Tartare of wagyu Beef with roasted sesame and mustabrd seds set on delectable slivers of Wagyu carpaccio

Broiled Peppered wagyu Rib -eye topped in creamy pepper sauce

Pan Fried Wagyu Black Steak with seared scallops on Shiraz reduction, stir-fried vegetable balls and rice fritters

And the finale of the Wagyu Beef Fest is an exclusive Wagyu package that is the epitome of all that is luxurious and decadent. The package for two includes an overnight stay in the hotel’s exquisite Presidential Suite where the couple is served with a sumptuous Wagyu meal using the most premium wagyu beef of all- the Matsusaka Beef paired with a bottle of Chateau Margaux or a premium wine of choice.

The cost of the package is roughly $2,000 or PHP 120,000.00 for couples only or PHP 90,000 without the Presidential Suite

Do you think it’s worth it? Consider the servings.

1.Beluga Caviar on Timbale of Salmon Tartare with warm broiled potato

2. Mousseline of avocado with lemon, served with taittinger comtes de Champagne 1995

3. Black truffle soup Elysee

4. Melon Sorbet with dry sherry



5. Matsusaka beef tenderloin, morel mushrooms stuffed with goose liver, old port wine reduction and golden leaves asparagus, roasted garlic and sweet potato hash

6. Served with a bottle of Chateau Margaux 1999 or Chateau Latour 1999 or Chateau Mouton Rothschild 1997



7. Mango and creme brulee Napoleon

8. Green tea Creme Anglaise Mango Coulis

plus overnight at the Presidential Suite, bubble bath set-up and breakfast in bed the following day.


(left to right: Jayvee, Annalyn’s colleague, AntonAnnalyn and me )

I cannot imagine spending $2,000 on dinner for two that’s why I am glad I accepted the invitation to this media event. At least I got to taste “one of the top 50 foods one should eat before you die”. Maybe one doesn’t need to spend that much on wagyu beef as one can taste a cheaper version like wagyu burger or the wagyu black cheek beef at the Palm Court Cafe.

At least once in your life, get a taste of wagyu beef. Like it said in the media kit:

Wagyu Beef is an experience that must be tried , if only to find out what you’ve been missing

Related Photos and Blog Entries

Wagyu Beef Fest Photos
The Walking Tour of Wagyu Beef Fest and the P120,000 Wagyu Fantasy Meal
Wagyu Beef Fest Review by Annalyn
Blog Review by Carlos Celdran
The PHP 120,000 Wagyu Beef Meal at the Diamond Hotel by Jayvee

where does one order Wagyu Beef Dishes in Manila?
Contact Diamond Hotel
Location Address: Roxas Boulevard cor. Dr. J. Quintos St., Manila, Philippines 1000
Telephone: (632) 528-3000
Fax: (632) 526-2255
Email: bizcenter@diamondhotel.com
Website: www.diamondhotel.com

Complete Wagyu dishes being served in Yurakuen, Palm Court, and Le Bellevue , Diamond Hotel

1. Restaurant Le Bellevue

Tartare of Wagyu Beef
with roasted sesame and mustard seeds set on
wagyu carpaccio with Parmesan shivers and oregano

Broiled Wagyu Burger Steak
with goose liver on toasted cereal bread, sautéed mushrooms, herbed BBQ sauce and spicy potato wedges

Broiled Peppered Wagyu Rib Eye (180g)
with creamy pepper sauce, baked polenta and vegetables

Pan Fried Wagyu Black Steak (180g)
with seared scallops on Shiraz reduction, stir-fried vegetable balls and rice fritters

Charcoal Broiled Marinated Wagyu
gold kalbi eye short plate with spicy Texan BBQ sauce, corn on the cob, mushroom ragout and sautéed artichokes

Matsusaka Sirloin
with forester mushrooms and Balsamic Merlot reduction. Tempura vegetables

2. Sky Lounge

Broiled Wagyu Burger
served in toasted ciabatta bread with onion rings, tomato jam and yellow mustard

3. Palm Court Cafe

Broiled Wagyu Burger
served in toasted ciabatta bread with onion rings, tomato jam and yellow mustard

Wagyu Black Cheek Beef
braised in a sesame beef broth, served on buckwheat noodles with vegetables

Broiled Wagyu Black Zabuton Steak
with corn on the cob, french fries and orange flavored BBQ sauce

4. Yurakuen

Japanese Premium Beef Sukiyaki Course
w/ appetizer, sashimi, Steamed Japanese Rice, Japanese Pickles, Miso Soup and dessert
Japanese Premium Beef Shabu-shabu Course
w/ appetizer, sashimi, Steamed Japanese Rice, Japanese Pickles, Miso Soup and dessert

Japanese Premium Sirloin Steak
w/ 3 kinds of sauce

Japanese Premium Tenderloin Steak
w/ 3 kinds of sauce

Japanese Premium Beef Teppanyaki Course
Choice of Sirloin or Tenderloin
w/ appetizer, sashimi, salad, grilled vegetables, Japanese Pickles, Miso Soup and dessert

Where to buy fresh Wagyu Beef in Manila?
Local suppliers of Wagyu are Vigers Trading: (632)816-1034 or mobile 0918-9287157; and Snake River Farms: (632)631-7228 to 30. Wagyu is also available at Terry Selection with branches in Pasong Tamo and at the Podium.

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