Holy Gastronomy!

Do you ever get the birthday blues?

I do, the day before my birthday. I guess I look back on what milestones I've achieved since the last birthday, and since none of us aren't spring chickens any longer, reflect on what I desire for the future. Feeling deep, no?

My birthday began with some of my bestest girlfriends at our favourite neighborhood hangout, Apartment 1B (and if you follow this blog, I'm sure you are gagging with the thought of another salmon eggs Benedict right now).

Being surrounded by loved ones is always a mood enhancer, better than anything out there you can buy!

When I got to the office, a surprise was waiting on the table. Danelle and Prateek from Dusit Thani Manila always remember me on my birthday, thank you once again! The Tatler family thanks you too, hehe!

Then remember when I told you that I had foie gras earlier in the week for my birthday?

I decided to treat my family to Enderun's Restaurant 101. My cousin Tricia is its marketing director and she used to invite me to events when it was still in Ortigas. Aside from the venue, I can safely say the menu has come a long way from then. From comfort foods such as baby back ribs, it has ventured into more sophisticated dishes for discerning palates.

Amy's foie mood was infecting me so I ordered this

It was a small plate but well presented and cooked perfectly. Just the right amount of bite and condiment for the foie.

I had a sea bass for my main course, and ordered the Kurobuta pork belly with rice pilaf for Enzo. Unfortunately they weren't very flexible when it came to some orders (no plain rice, only rice pilaf; some dishes arrived ahead of others) but hey, it's a learning curve.

For dessert, they treated me to this (thank you cousin!)

Aside from spelling my name correctly (yayy) they had that fabulous little chocolate rectangle that I tried when Alain Ducasse was last in Manila. Pure heaven! Everyone enjoyed trying a little bit of everything and getting surprised at the flavors and the mediums.

So, I started another birth year celebration with a bang in my belly, but a birthday so worth the calories and especially, the company...

Apartment 1B:  tel +632.843.4075
Dusit Thani Manila
Restaurant 101 at Enderun 

Birthday at Antonio's

Hello, dear friends! I am back from the dead, literally speaking, in the blogosphere.

Life has a funny way of catching up with you and getting in the way of important things, such as updating one's blog. Summer is practically over, and all I can do is look back and not regret having a real life instead of just a virtual one. Moving on...

I recently celebrated my birthday and all I wanted to really do is have some opulent QT and really excellent food with good friends.

In true Pig Out Fashion, we first made our way to Santi's for some wine, cheese and cold cuts and without further ado (there was some ado about something, but not much) A and I left for Tagaytay to be in the company of pine trees and fresh mountain air and our beautiful icon, the Dame VC. After settling down in our home for the weekend (thanks seester!), we decided we needed MORE supplies- and I'm not talking about a Japanese woman who pops out of a cake. So to 7-11 it was, for chips, water, milk tea, ramen noodles, chocolate and mints. All for one night!

When K and T arrived from Manila, we made our way in the Venga Bus to Antonio's, the most romantic spot in Tagaytay. Chef Tonyboy was there to greet us.

the entrance to opulent gluttony

They asked if we wanted to sit inside or sit in the garden. We all enthusiastically agreed on "Garden!"

our view

The menu was fantastically proportioned with everything good to eat and this made it difficult to choose, despite having eaten cheese, salami and chips only a couple of hours prior. A, who had been on a foie gras and steak kick all month, was also rattled. A, rattled?!

While enjoying some wine and fresh mango shake and strawberry balsamic shake, we were trying to think when the three of us were last at Antonio's together, and recalled it was when we wanted breakfast and were told Breakfast at Antonio's was being served there...we said it had been too long and must make another trip back. And we haven't even eaten yet!

We ordered our mains, and this came with a house salad and soup of the day and dessert. Beat that!

cream of cabbage soup

The salad always tastes as if each leaf was handpicked straight from the garden. I love the bitter varieties...

The kids got to choose from their own gourmet menu as well. Both Enzo and T opted for the good ol' favorite, carbonara. It arrived first and we all wanted a bite of its creamy goodness!

For our main dish, we all wanted to order the same thing, but I decided to change my order since I had some foie earlier in the week and just share both dishes with B. Of course, hers and Amy's were champion. Meet duck with foie gras

Whereas, here is my Sounded Better on the Menu dish, the assorted seafood Thermidor in a vol au vent pastry...

Cue: wahhhh-wahh sound effects ala Saturday Night Live. Looks kind of nothing special, no?

The flavor was good, the scallops and prawn cooked well, but compared to that duck and foie, it fell on its face and ate dirt.

So, it all turned out fine because we had the soup and the salad and then we shared and then we still had dessert to come. And B gave me a big serving from her plate.

To make up, I ordered chocolate souffle for my finale, while A and B ordered chocolate cake and homemade ice cream.

We were so full and happily satiated, we rolled Spike Lee-style out of that joint, making a vow and promise to definitely come again real soon.

Antonio's
Bgy Neogan
Tagaytay City
0918.899.2866