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!
With the orchids and her favorite hold-the-flower pose
On the couch holding the throw pillow
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
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
A close-up of my cousin Nikko's Homemade Fruit Cake. Isn't she amazing???
It was the perfect cake for The Fruitbox Queen!
HAPPY HAPPY 62ND BIRTHDAY, MOMMY!!!!!!
Mom had a really bad case of cough and colds so we didn't allow her (and her saliva) to
touch the cakes. We did all the blowing.
It's totally random, but I got these pretty 8" tall letter blocks as birthday giveaways
Thank you, Gwama and The Aunties, for coming in Mom's lucky color!
Thank you, Cousins!
Thank you, little fishies!
Basil: 2100 Pasong Tamo Extension, Magallanes Village, Makati. (Behind Roche Bobois Showroom)
Tel: +639164381543, +632 519-7086