I was still on a high from my Va Bene lunch with Anita (see post here) that I suggested the newly opened pasta deli for JR, Benjie and Jamie's joint birthday celebration. Their birthdays fall on September 12, 14 and 15, respectively, and we celebrate them jointly every year because we refuse to eat out all three days!
Fatterside conquered Va Bene
Complimentary toasts and dip
Chef Massimo created a family-style menu for our group of 32.
Salumi Formaggi Platter
Portobello mushroom cream soup, porcini dust, truffle oil. This was just okay.
My favorite Polipo!
Braised octopus, semi-dried tomatoes, olives, arugula salad, lemon dressing
Polpette - traditional Italian meatballs, tomato sauce, ricotta cheese crostone.
I thought the meatballs were quite mushy, but the younger cousins loved them like that.
Ricotta Eggplant Tortellini, light arrabiata sauce, basil pesto, pecorino cheese
Black Ink Tagliolini, mixed seafood, marina sauce, light tomato cream sauce.
This needed so much more flavor.
Organic Egg Tagliatelle, portobello mushrooms, white wine cream sauce, truffle oil.
Rich, earthy, creamy. It saved the two mediocre pasta dishes that came before.
12-Hour Braised Veal Cheeks and Foie Gras. Another favorite!
Chicken Milanese for those who do not eat beef
Crispy Red Snapper Fillet, mashed potato, Italian peperonata, crab ravioli,
saffron mussel sauce. The fish was overcooked and so very dry. :(
How we feel about Chinese food is how the oldies in our family feel about Italian cuisine.
They really do not care for pasta, foie gras, truffle oil. They love their rice, superior sauce, and birthday noodles.
Look at what they did to the Polipo! LOL!!!!! They didn't touch the octopus, which meant
there was more for me. Whee!
And this was the leftover salumi of 14 oldies with huge appetites sharing a plate.
The stuff was too salty for them. They only like patatim. Hahaha!
The tiramisu was half frozen
The special mango panna cotta was not so special
The profiteroles were the best of all three
Thank you, Va Bene, for the birthday gift of profiteroles!
And for two bottles of wine :)
Gwama is always the happiest on our birthdays
She is afraid of sparklers
But loves blowing out the candles
But her favorite part?
Cake-feeding!
Three celebrants feeding her cake in one night. Must be the best day of her life!
More! More!!!
Happy Happy Happy Birthday, Jr, Benjie and Jamie!!!
Thank you for the fresh Japanese milk birthday giveaway - the ultimate nightcap for me.
Our family with our very own Sailor Moon
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!
Va Bene Pasta Deli: 3/F Cinema Level, Central Square Building, 5th Avenue corner 30th Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
Tel: +63917-7225780 +632 5569442, +632 216 9879
