Alone in Antonio’s

I had lunch by myself in Tagaytay. I have no qualms eating alone in restaurants.

I scrolled down (in my brains) a list of restaurants in the area. Bulalo? Tawilis? Pasta? Crepes? It was two p.m., cloudy, a quiet and elegant lunch would go with my mood that moment. Antonio’s it is.

The first thing the gate security guards asks everytime I come here is “Meron ba kayong reservation?”
WALA.

I was confident they have tables because it’s past lunchtime and it’s a weekday, and not a holiday.

There were four occupied tables when I arrived. A young couple tila nanliligaw pa lang yung lalaki. Bakit ko alam? Kasi they were behind me. The guy’s voice was a little loud. Tahimik kasi dun, kaya konting ingay, rinig ko.

Two young adult Korean tourists, one female and one male.

A table of 6, tila balikbayans. I could tell if balikbayans by the way they talk. When I hear them say Really, Hmm ha, I know, yah, whatever, uh haa, mmmhu. When they talk about their pensions, retirement, 401K.

The waiter said this is half pitcher, good for one person.

I eat mint leaves used to decorate juices and ice cream.

I only ate one piece although this comes with refills.

All set menu’s come with house salad.

Steak would be too heavy especially I’m alone.

I looked for something lighter.

The main entrees come with house salad.

I ordered seafood

It came with vegetable cream soup.

It did not taste fantastic but it was served hot which I really preferred.

Scallops with caviar

I chose sorbet for my dessert.

Instead of giving me two scoops of guava and one scoop of passion fruit in one bowl, they gave me two separate bowls with 4 scoops so as not to mix the colors.

This is my favorite among Antonio’s sorbets. Guava.

I found the color repulsive. According to the food attendant, this is the natural color of the passion fruit.

I was afraid to eat it kasi baka tumilamsik sa dress ko, naku mantsa!

The table in front of me, some 3 meters away, had an old Caucasian couple (ages between 78-80) who were holding hands and gazing at each other the whole time. They were zachary sweet. They’re probably newly married? or having an affair? They looked very much into each other. Ganyan gusto ko, kahit na matanda na ako, my partner would still bother to give me attention. And it should not be a bother. It should come naturally because despite my phaking ugly and wrinkled face, he truly loves me so dearly. Sadly some dreams don’t come true. Sigh.

Time to head back home. I could hear thunderstorms. It looks like it’s going to pour, heavily. Sigh again.