In a quiet compound along the busy neighborhood of F.B. Harrison Street, Pasay City, stands The Henry Hotel, a serene boutique hotel built into a post-war mansion, with 35 rooms that combine Old World comforts with contemporary amenities for today’s travelers.

A sprawling garden keeps the hotel at a good distance from the main entrance, thus muting the noise and the chaos of city living and creating an oasis at the heart of the metro.

Considered as a hidden gem amid the busy metropolis, The Henry Hotel houses a simple, no-frills restaurant that serves exquisite gourmet comfort food, prepared using fresh, top-grade ingredients and cooked in a combination of traditional and modern ways to bring out their natural flavors.

It’s called Apartment 1B and is one of the reasons why diners who are in the know keep coming back to the hotel.

Apartment 1B is actually its own restaurant, having opened its first branch in Salcedo Village, Makati City, in 2006. Its gourmet comfort food quickly earned raves and established a good reputation for the restaurant, so much so that when plans were laid out for The Henry Hotel Manila to open in 2014, the owners had only Apartment 1B in mind for the boutique hotel’s restaurant.

The partnership did not only work; it complemented hotel operations and both hotel and restaurant thrived.

Apartment 1B recently hosted an Exclusive Grand Food Tasting event at The Henry Hotel, thus giving its select guests very special treat.

A good spread of blessings was laid out in chafing dishes, and guests got to savor diverse dishes meticulously curated by the talented chefs and kitchen staff of Apartment 1B.

The buffet demonstrated how able and ready Filipino culinary minds are to take global trends and adapt them to local tastes.

From the initial Pass Around food alone—Herb Infused Popcorn, Mushrooms and Arugula Pizzeta and Mini Baked Samosas—everything looked promising. At the buffet’s salad station, plates of Caesar Salad (Romaine hearts, herbed croutons, homemade Caesar dressing and Parmigiano Reggiano) were freshly made.

The busy pasta station, meanwhile, was churning out bowls of Truffle and Shrooms Pasta (fusilli, truffle sauce, cheese and oyster mushroom chicharon). Loved this big time!

Open to everyone were buffet specials Braised Beef Shortribs, Grilled Mango BBQ Chicken, Herb Crusted Snapper and Mushroom Paella, with sides of Buttered French Beans & Cherry Tomatoes and Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes. And the carving station presented three bestsellers: Krieger’s Leg of Ham, Roast Turkey and Slow Roasted Beef Belly.

What’s for dessert? Matcha & White Chocolate Mousse, Apt. 1B Chocolate Cake, Red Velvet Cake and seasonal fruits.

Sponsors for the evening included Krieger’s, an upcoming Filipino deli brand that’s making a name for its sausages and cold cuts, which guests got to sample via an elegant mix of premium charcuterie on the buffet table.

Elias served its award-winning Filipino beer, while Happy Living and Concha y Toro provided a selection of wines to go with the delicious comfort food that evokes the warmth of home in every mouthful.

“We’re thrilled to have collaborated with The Henry Hotel Manila and our esteemed sponsors on this exceptional event.

We hope our guests enjoyed the Grand Food Tasting, which showcased our commitment to extraordinary dining experiences,” says executive chef Nikko Roa of Apartment 1B.