March 12, 2019
My husband did not like my choice of location, Poblacion, for the dinner I was hosting for Kuya Lito and Dimple, because of the notorious traffic around Makati Avenue and Jupiter. His dismay was further aggravated by the scarcity of parking area in that location.
We were coming from different directions. He was coming from Greenhills, Yen and I were coming from Pasay Road and that took us a solid hour to Poblacion. My brother was coming from Pasig, while my sister in law was coming from the Makati Diamond Hotel in Greenbelt.
Edmund arrived first. He called and asked “who picked this restaurant?”
I did. I chose (again) Bistro Manuel, but admittedly, parking was a challenge.
I was back at this resto for the third time in less than a month. Because of the food. I liked the food. I also liked the more relaxed ambiance.
My brother and Dimple were running late so Oyen ordered shrimp pizza to tide us over till they arrive. The crust was extra thin and the toppings were fresh and delicious. This’ the kind of pizza that passed my criteria. I just didn’t want to eat a lot lest I lose my appetite.
Yen chose to have degustacion menu. The rest of us had a la carte to avoid eatiing too much.
Dimple and Edmund had shrimp bisque.
Foie Gras with churros
Roasted Bell Pepper and Sour Cream Soup with Bacon
Lobster and Asparagus Ravioli
Souffle
This was my dessert. I shared a fourth of this fresh mangoes with vanilla ice cream.
Creme brulee
I requested for a birthday greeting plate with a candle earlier that day when I made the table reservation. I brought home that slice of chocolae cake because Dimple and Kuya would not be able to eat that. They were staying at a hotel and were leaving for the US the next day. It had been in the ref for two days before I decided to take a bite just to taste it but I ended up finishing the whole thing. It was delicious and not sweet.
Chef Ariel Manuel obliged to have a photo with us. I’d like to come to this restaurrant more often except that the heavy traffic around Makati (and everywhere for that matter) is a deterrent.
