Creative confections

This Easter, chef Lovely Jiao of Sugarplum Pastries invites families to enjoy playful, interactive desserts with her latest collection, SpEGGtacular, SpEGGtacular. Aimed at bringing joy and creativity to the holiday, the lineup features the Speggtacular Chocolate Smashers — Easter egg-shaped treats filled with candies and paired with cookie paint and a wooden mallet for added fun. The Tic-Tac-Bunny-Hop offers a charming twist on tic-tac-toe using rabbit, egg and carrot-shaped cookies. The Cookie Hunt combines puzzle-solving and indulgence with a mini maze and edible surprises. Completing the lineup is the Egg-Citing Kit, featuring bunny- and egg-shaped cookies, colorful frosting, and chocolate smash eggs filled with sprinkles. Jiao, a De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde graduate with experience from Makati Shangri-La and F1 Hotel, launched Sugarplum Pastries in 2011 with a mission to make desserts anything but boring. Her creations encourage creativity, bonding, and festive fun. Learn more at sugarplumpastries.com or via their Facebook page.

Sweet and sumptuous

Marco Polo Ortigas Manila in Ortigas Centre, Pasig City, holds a month-long Easter celebration filled with flavors, fun, and unforgettable moments, culminating in a grand All-Stars Egg Hunt on 20 April. Enjoy festive treats from Café Pronto, including whole carrot cake, Kulich Easter Bread in unique flavors, and handcrafted chocolates like dino eggs and bunny shapes, some even with hidden surprises. Enjoy 15 percent off Easter goodies when ordered online by 15 April. The festivities continue at Cucina’s Race to the Feast buffet (P2,688/adult), offering a luxurious spread of US Prime Ribs, whole baked lapu-Lapu, indulgent desserts, and more from 12 to 2:30 p.m. For P4,000, get one adult buffet and two Easter event tickets (for one adult and one child under seven) and join the Grand Ballroom’s egg hunt and family activities from 2 to 5 p.m. Book early online from 1 to 15 April for 15 percent off. For inquiries, call (02) 7720-7777 or visit their social pages.

Family fun

The Westin Manila, Marriott International’s wellness-focused hotel in Ortigas Center, Pasig city, offers its Easter lunch buffet at Seasonal Tastes, featuring chef-curated delights like Australian beef rump, whole baked emperor fish, roasted maple turkey, pork porchetta, and a variety of handcrafted desserts. Priced at P3,900 net per person with one round of regular drinks, the buffet offers added value — kids under 12 dine free with two paying adults. Children can also enjoy face painting and balloon twisting in the dedicated kids’ corner.

In the afternoon, The Westin partners with Thrive and Trove Yard for the Easter KIDpentry Workshop from 3 to 5 p.m. in Allegro III. This guided woodworking session allows kids to build their own projects while developing creativity and motor skills. The workshop is P3,000 net per child and includes P500 worth of food and beverage credits.

Pet lovers can join the Picnic Basket Dog Cake decorating workshop in partnership with Furry Flour at the Lobby Lounge from 2 to 5 p.m. Participants will learn pet-safe decorating techniques and basic dog nutrition. The session costs P2,300 net for one fur-parent and one dog, inclusive of P500 F&B credits.

To sweeten the celebration, limited-edition Easter pastries and cakes are available for pre-order and pickup at the Lobby Lounge from 10 to 20 April.

For reservations and more information, visit www.westinmanilahotel.com, call +63282562020, or email westinmanila@westin.com.