jin loves to eat: Basil ♥ ♥ ♥

I am happy that the oldies in our family is open to trying out new cuisines. I cannot imagine having all our Fatterside birthday parties, anniversaries, and no-reason-get-together dinners eating steamed lapu-lapu, pata-tim, and buchi. UGH.

Last year we celebrated Mom's birthday at Kashmir. We asked everyone to come in Indian fashion and fed them lots of curry. It was fun. See post here.

This year we celebrated with Thai food at Basil

Mom loved the place. She asked me to take her photo in every corner of the restaurant!

Basil2

With the orchids and her favorite hold-the-flower pose

Basil1

On the couch holding the throw pillow

Basil3

With her favorite figure to pose with, any form of Buddha

With the plants and her signature hold-the-leaf pose

With the mirrors. She was afraid to touch them.

Instead of asking the guests to come in Thai fashion, Mom requested them to come in her
lucky color of the year - Orange. She didn't want red because "it's too old school." Lol.

Children's table

Orange!!!

Oldies' table

Errr… Obviously, a few were die hard about birthday traditions

Special mention to Auntie Baby who came sporting an orange bag

And to Achi Donna who always buys new clothes for our theme parties

I was worried about this at first, but the fishbone chairs were actually very comfortable to sit on

There was a resort for fishes in the middle of the dining room

The food at Basil was delicious. I enjoyed everything we ordered, except the crispy fish which had too much batter.

Favorites were the crispy fish green mango salad, creamy pork curry, chicken with cashew, and sticky rice with mango.

Money Bags - crispy deep fried minced prawn and pork flavored with garlic and
wrapped in spring roll paper. I admit I ordered this because of the name. Lol!

Fresh Spring Roll

Thai Shrimp Cakes

Thai Crispy Fish and Green Mango Salad

Tom Yum Ta Lay - a spicy and sour soup with seafood and straw mushrooms

Creamy Pork Curry

Chicken Cashew Nuts

Wagyu Beef with Holy Basil

Crispy Fish with Three Flavored Sauce

Chicken Green Curry

Thai Bagoong Rice - could use more shrimp paste

Pad Thai

Usually, when I make reservations and pre-order for our big group of 30 (or more depending on everyone's availability), the restaurant would throw in a round of drinks for the guests. Restaurants like Brasserie Cicou, Bistro Mondo, Meslun, Aracama, and Mabuhay Palace offered even before I asked. So I took a chance and inquired with the manager at Basil if she could extend the same bonus. I pre-ordered 6 servings of every dish.

"No, we cannot. Because our drinks are priced at P95 each so that would already be P3000+ for all."

"Can you maybe confirm with your boss and get back to me?"

"No, ma'am. Our boss will say the same. We can only give you Sticky Rice with Mango."

"But I'm already ordering and paying for the Sticky Rice with Mango, and your cost for drinks is much cheaper."

"Sorry, ma'am. Only Sticky Rice and Mango."

"Okay, so the Sticky Rice and Mangoes I ordered are complimentary?"

"No, ma'am. Only 1 order of Sticky Rice and Mango for all of you."

"Ah ganon ba? Dibale nalang!"

Sticky Rice with Mango. In fairness, all 6 plates were wiped out.

The head server Ann who took my orders was apologetic and made sure
service was impeccable throughout dinner

The Thai iced teas were pretty to look at but were overly sweet and lacking in tea taste

Basil4

Mom's Birthday Cakes (clockwise from top left): Roshan's Lemon Walnut Torte,
Nikko's Homemade "Fruit Cake," Pacita Chocolate Cake, Kitchen's Best
Banana Toffee Pie, and Heart-Shaped Birthday Cake from Elyse