I am trying to eat less now (really, I am!!!), but sometimes, even when you want something really badly, all the universe does NOT conspire in helping you achieve it. Sorry, Paul Coelho, but it’s true.
Like just this October alone, in my mom’s side of the family, we already have 5 birthday celebrants.
One. Two. Three. Four. Five.
October alone.
That is 5 big dinners AND 4-6 slices of cake per dinner (because in our family, a birthday is not a birthday if there is one cake only).
Tonight Uncle Frank is celebrating his 63rd and here’s what we have, pre-6-slices-of-cake:
![IMG_0161 IMG_0161](http://lh5.ggpht.com/_auESeym5V0g/TM23pVTWTWI/AAAAAAAAGsU/qqu6GfTCj0U/IMG_0161_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800)
Birthday Noodles – tastes okay but noodles are too soft. Overcooked!
![IMG_0166 IMG_0166](http://lh4.ggpht.com/_auESeym5V0g/TM23r8F_NPI/AAAAAAAAGsc/-C6u-r8CAtc/IMG_0166_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800)
Steamed Prawns with Garlic – again, they got the flavor right, but the doneness all wrong.
Prawns are hard and rubbery. Overcooked!
![IMG_0163 IMG_0163](http://lh5.ggpht.com/_auESeym5V0g/TM23uXO2LBI/AAAAAAAAGsk/gbeSXupv7L4/IMG_0163_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800)
Duck and Jellyfish Salad – it’s supposed to look prettier than this, but the waiter tossed the salad before I could take a photo. This duck-jellyfish-mango-watermelon-cashew-nut combo is not photogenic, but please don’t be put off. This is good stuff.
(And it’s not overcooked!)
![IMG_0169 IMG_0169](http://lh3.ggpht.com/_auESeym5V0g/TM23w5DuGHI/AAAAAAAAGss/LMV25Lk6jXo/IMG_0169_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800)
Fried Seafood Roll – the one I got doesn’t have any seafood in it, so I’m renaming it
“Fruit Cocktail Roll”
![IMG_0174 IMG_0174](http://lh5.ggpht.com/_auESeym5V0g/TM23z0dE66I/AAAAAAAAGs0/L5CH36eeax4/IMG_0174_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800)
Braised Mushrooms with Sliced Abalone – the usual, no surprises
![IMG_0177 IMG_0177](http://lh6.ggpht.com/_auESeym5V0g/TM232KE8WuI/AAAAAAAAGs8/y_m0hOO-z30/IMG_0177_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800)
Fish Maw Soup – good with red vinegar
![IMG_0180 IMG_0180](http://lh5.ggpht.com/_auESeym5V0g/TM234WJisKI/AAAAAAAAGtE/A8if8iXPkEw/IMG_0180_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800)
Fried Pigeon – I think these birds were on a diet for too long . They’re thin, hard and dry.
![IMG_0181 IMG_0181](http://lh3.ggpht.com/_auESeym5V0g/TM23693G5mI/AAAAAAAAGtM/RdT21kWRp6Q/IMG_0181_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800)
Steamed Lapu-Lapu with Taoso – again,
destroyed deboned by the same waiter before I could take a photo. And again, disastrously overcooked!
![IMG_0183 IMG_0183](http://lh3.ggpht.com/_auESeym5V0g/TM2394K-BsI/AAAAAAAAGtU/Hwh3p-gmxSE/IMG_0183_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800)
Garlic Fried Crabs – and thank God, Gloria Maris finally gets something right. The crabs are meaty, garlicky, arrestingly delicious.
![IMG_0187 IMG_0187](http://lh3.ggpht.com/_auESeym5V0g/TM24AY7g0xI/AAAAAAAAGtc/pPw_0Svd_1c/IMG_0187_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800)
Masachi – I like it better with sesame
![IMG_0188 IMG_0188](http://lh6.ggpht.com/_auESeym5V0g/TM24CT9fRcI/AAAAAAAAGtk/k9skCOkiH6Y/IMG_0188_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800)
Ginataan – so good I help myself to seconds and thirds
![IMG_0189 IMG_0189](http://lh6.ggpht.com/_auESeym5V0g/TM24EjZyzBI/AAAAAAAAGts/9_-ewna7Oew/IMG_0189_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800)
Ube Gelatin – sweet and artificial
![IMG_0194 IMG_0194](http://lh6.ggpht.com/_auESeym5V0g/TM24G6MxfXI/AAAAAAAAGt4/E0stvjFrOJw/IMG_0194_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800)
We like giving the celebrant a hard time... 6 cakes and 70 candles!
![IMG_0196 IMG_0196](http://lh6.ggpht.com/_auESeym5V0g/TM24Jrx2jZI/AAAAAAAAGuA/NYjybkfZIko/IMG_0196_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800)
He got all 63 in just two blows! Wow!
![IMG_0211 IMG_0211](http://lh4.ggpht.com/_auESeym5V0g/TM24NkXQyAI/AAAAAAAAGuI/UKuqsEv7jsU/IMG_0211_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800)
Happy birthday, Uncle Frank!!! And yes, the dog is family, too!
Gloria Maris: CCP Complex, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines.
Tel: +632-831-3816