February 21, 2019, Thursday
Gary’s Place is the restaurant located inside the 95-hectare estate of architect Ed Ledesma he developed as their family’s vacation sanctuary away from the city, surrounded by fish ponds, trees, creeping vines, and sugar cane.
His daughter, Bing Ledesma and husband Joey Benin, now manage the place which has evolved into a bed and breakfast and events place.
I was glad Dimple brought us here. Such a lovely place. The only downside was that the wind was too strong the day we were there. It was blowing from all directions. Malamig na pagkain namin bago dumating sa mesa.
The table was supposed to be inside another casita but Edmund asked the food attendant to move it closer to the main dining area under the bigger casitas, kaya lang super lakas ng hangin.
Sino si Henry? Aba ewan. Wala akong kamag-anak na Henry. Meron kalapitbahay.
This is our Degustacion lunch. Each dish is served in tiny portions. The Spanish word degustacion came from the Latin word degustatio which means the appreciative tasting of various culinary dishes prepared and served in an artistic way appealing in a heightened sense of taste. The focus is not just about food. It’s the total gustatory experience.
Popover Trio
One is chicken, the second one is fish, the third one is vegetables consisting of red and green bell peppers, cucumber, tomatoes, and herbs in bechamel sauce.
Asian Salad
Thinly sliced red and green lettuce, cucumber, carrots, turnip, tamarind, sambal, galangal, honey olive oil, peanut sauce.
Kuya’s office reserved a table for us that’s why the marker on our table says DAVID, Kuya’s American name.
F
Because of the wind, the soup didn’t reach our table hot enough for my liking.
I wonder if they also serve other soups kasi for the past many years anywhere I go lagi na lang pumpkin ang soup– weddings, birthdays, hotels, restaurants, wala na bang iba? Mukha na akong kalabachuchi.
Delicious pandan juice with lemongrass. I refilled my glass at least 7 times.
For the main courses:
- One clam, one shrimp, and one tiny piece of barracuda fish in garlic butter
The fruit smoothie was supposed to cleanse our palette before the main courses but it tasted delicious and more of a comfort drink rather than a palette cleanser. I wanted to order one whole pitcher.
Main course number 2
Sweet and spicy pork with one whole garlic on top. I love garlic, pampababa ng blood pressure at panakot sa aswang. I collected Edmund’s and Dimple’s.
I agree that kanin is the perfect company of pork’s adobo-like sauce.
Main course # 3
Spaghetti pasta with pesto and chicken. I think this is a filler in case gutom ka pa.
Main course # 4
Steak veggie roll. When I hear steak, I expect that the beef is tender juicy (parang Purefoods and Swift’s hotdog). In my opinion, this meat dish should be renamed as Beef tapa veggie roll.
For the dessert, we were served Minty (and mini) red velvet hearts, gluten-free. Maybe because it’s still heart’s month. This’ the size of the old yellow 5 peso coin. Cute and diet friendly mini cakes. 
I didn’t want to leave yet. I kept on standing and getting refills till they ran out of ice and pandan fusion. I must have drank at least 7 glasses but diluted with ice.
