The Artistree

US Emba and CCP at Persia Grill

The branch of Persia Grill we ate in is in front of Greenbelt 5 (so, even though I didn't bring my wallet, I was so tempted to go to Zara). I couldn't eat anything that has beef so I was munching on tuna sandwich and chicken kebab, and drank loads of iced tea (and had hot tea afterwards!).

The place is perfect for eating. The colors and the space just invites one to enjoy what they ordered. There were many Persian icons around--from music to visual art; for a small restaurant, it packs a big punch on culture. The ambience is so great for eating and mingling, as the restaurant serves medium-sized (6-8) groups.

Clockwise, from upper right corner: Richard Nelson, Leslie Noble, Irene Rada, Bernie Abella and Chinggay Bernardo.

Clockwise, from upper right corner: Nikko Zapata, Najlaa Abdus-Samad, Eva Salvador, Josie Guillen, Tony Perez.

We ate out because we wanted to celebrate a successful project that was the US-RP Hip Hop Happy Summer Dance Camp For Youth, which ended a week ago. It was really great to see my family from the US Embassy and CCP again. I had so much fun talking to Neil, Ana Laura and Nikki, and also meeting Irwin and Adrian.

The conversation never gets old with Neil (rar!), Ana Laura, Nikki, Joselle, Irwin and Adrian.

I can't wait to see them again, hopefully soon! But to CCP: SEE YOU IN CINEMALAYA!!!

Cosa Nostra Dinner

Had dinner at this little Italian restaurant in Malate (Adriatico St.) called Cosa Nostra. The pastas are a must order. Definitely bringing my best friends here one day.

Sometimes a fine dining restaurant outside a mall can be a great diversion from the hulabaloo of city life without having to go outside the city on a Saturday or Sunday night. Right in the heart of Old Manila, Cosa Nostra gives diners a quiet and intimate area amidst the hustle and bustle of fast food and fast fine dining.

Established in 1983 by a former chef from Philippine Airlines, Cosa Nostra is a simple but wonderful Italian restaurant that specializes in pastas. There's pizza and soup as well (I recommend the pumpkin soup), and a variety of Western European cold cuts. They also serve in-season fruit shakes and your regular soft drinks (and free water, of course).

Pumpkin Soup!!!

Salami Pizza

 

My favorite: Spinach Ravioli

The walls are surrounded by antiques throughout Western Europe, and these give Cosa Nostra a more rustic and tavern-like feel, completely different from cosmopolitan-style restaurants.

 

This small restaurant has had big visitors from before and even today: Filipino celebrities still go to this restaurant for a quiet afternoon or evening with friends and/or family.

Cosa Nostra sits below the owners' apartment on the second floor. It's open every day from lunch till eleven in the evening, except lunch time on Sundays.

Chateau Hestia

If you're thinking about having lunch or spending the weekend away from Manila, I advise you to literally go out of the way. Tagaytay Ridge offers breathtaking views of the Taal lake and volcano, however the noise in the restaurants is still reminiscent of what you wanted to leave behind for a few hours. If you want to spend a rather quiet afternoon with your partner or escape everything that is city-like with your friends, seriously go out of the way.

This is what mom and I did yesterday. Along with her friends from Batangas we ventured off for early dinner in Chateau Hestia, owned by Austrian Johannes Zehethofer, a civil-engineer-turned-chef. He built this off-the-road restaurant and bed-and-breakfast in late 2007 using two container vans and designed the interior like a typical Mediterranean tavern, which can serve up to 60 people. His decor is a mix of German, French and Greek keepsakes, books, art and music. Wine, is evenly distributed all over the restaurant, and is sold at reasonable prices.

The menü is also a mix of Europe, with Italian pizzas and pastas, Spanish tapas, and German sausages. I'd recommend taking a sample of all Herr Joannes' dishes, but I'm quite partial to the creamy pasta which I still dream about until now. Other recommendables would be the salmon sandwich in focaccia bread (the lettuce had me!) and the four cheese pizza. I'm not a huge meat eater but my mom said that her burger was sublime.

They also serve everyday drinks, but do try the shakes! Especially now that summer's here, no amount of soft drinks will quench anyone's thirst if they tried their always-in-season strawberry shake and smoothie.

Smoking is allowed inside the restaurant, which, to my dismay, was my mom's favorite reason for eating there. Also, text messages and calls might not get through inside the restaurant because the metal from the container vans are blocking any signal from coming in or out. One needs to go out to make a call, but why would anyone want to engage in business in a place like this?!

I say: For a different view of Tagaytay, go to Chateau Hestia. Catch Herr Johannes once in a while, as he is there from Wednesday to Sunday. Taste creamy and satisfying European food, relax with friends and lovers, and enjoy the cool air. Wine and dine like a European without having to step out of the Philippines!

(From Manila turn right at Tagaytay Ridge and turn right again at Lagusan Drive. It's the second road to the right. Drive straight on and then turn right at Barangay Bukal. It's the first house anyone can see inside the Barangay)

Website: http://chateauhestia.com/

For reservations call or text 0929-7113289

Disclaimer: Sorry, I wasn't able to take more photos. My camera died on me. :|

Valentine's Day in Malate

For a change, I spent my day with my cousins and my mom in Malate City. We dined in a Korean restaurant right in front of the historical Café Adriatico, but I wished we had dined there instead. It would have been nice to feel the old Manila vibe instead of eating Korean food. But then I enjoyed what I ate! The company is always fantastic; I haven't seen the twins in such a long time that I realized that I truly missed them.

Not only was I able to hang out with my family, but I also got to see a bit of Old Manila. I love Makati to the core but when nostalgia kicks in, I need to ignore modernity.

 

My cousins Mike, Jan and Junlor. That's my mom in the far right. Jan is a chef-to-be and Junlor is a math teacher at Malate High School.

My lunch. Kimchi and caramelized spicy dilis (fried little fish... haha, I don't know what to call them exactly)

We were captivated by the Han Gyuul calligraphy wallpaper of the restaurant that my cousins and I want to do the same thing, but using an old Filipino form of handwriting, the Alibata. I remember that I used to carve names of people on the insides of bamboo sticks back in high school.

I wish we ate here instead though. Café Adriatico is part of Philippine contemporary history.

This is the statue of Marcelo H. Del Pilar, one of the greatest Filipino writers during the revolutionary epoch of the 19th century.

 

 

 

At Aristocrats in Roxas Boulevard. I secretly took pictures of these delicious cakes cause I know I can't eat them all. :)

 

A statue of Lapu Lapu. Our first Filipino hero, who killed Ferdinand Magellan back in 1521.

The old Malate Church.

Feeling the old Manila vibe that I extremely love and constantly search for: the kalesa. When I was a kid I used to scream at my mom whenever I couldn't get to ride in a kalesa. It's the best thing in life since street ice cream.

So that was my Valentine's Day out. I hope my readers got to enjoy their Valentine's Day in a special way too. Be it with family or friends, or your significant other, just love. It's all we need.

QOTD

What is your favorite food?

Mangoes. Being a Filipino, I can eat mangoes every day... breakfast lunch and dinner, not to mention dessert and as a drink.