Dad loves Chinese food and we celebrate his birthday every year in Chinese restaurants
Last year it was at IMC Kavino (see post here), the year before that was at Mabuhay Palace
(see post here). This year we had it in Hai Shin Lou.
We requested the guests to come in Chinese clothing. Only a few arrived in proper attire, which was quite understandable because 90% of us Fatterside peoples couldn't really fit in qipaos or cheongsams. Lol. :D
Here are the very few who were sexy enough.
Gwama
Auntie O
Achi Donna
Kim
I gave up struggling with mine. The zipper wouldn't budge even if my life depended on it.
Hai Shin Lou's Manager Ben designed the menu for me. My only request was to make it different from the usual fare at other Chinese restaurants.
The oldies were pretty happy with the food.
I, on the other hand, liked the suckling pig, crab in black pepper sauce, and the almond cream dessert. Obviously, I am not a big fan of Chinese food in Manila. :P
Wonton Chips
Birthday E-Fu Noodles
Suckling Pig - look at the crunchy, glistening skin! The meat was also tender and flavorful.
Deep Fried Seafood Taro Puff
Stir Fried Eel with Straw Mushrooms
Stuffed Cucumber with Dried Scallop Sauce - I enjoyed the stuffing but have a strong
aversion to cucumber
Double Boiled Chicken Soup with Sea Asparagus and Black Mushroom
US Roasted Duck
Steamed Lapu-Lapu Head with Eggplant in Garlic
Stir Fried Lapu Lapu Fillet with Taiwan Pechay
Shrimps and Cuttlefish with French Beans
King Crab and Button Mushrooms in Black Pepper Sauce - SO GOOD!!!
I got my hands all dirty for this.
Abalone and Sea Cucumber
Hot Almond Tea with Egg White and Water Chestnut
2011 Altocedro La Consulta Select Mendoza
Birthday Cakes (clockwise from top): Estrel's Caramel Cake, Purple Oven Strawberry Shortcake,
Caramia Gelato Cake, Pacita Mocha Cake, Musical Toy Cake, and Baked by Anita
Green Tea Almond Cake
A lot of readers ask me what happens to the cakes, and if we really finish them all.
So here I am sharing with you what happens at every birthday celebration in our family...
We gather around to light the birthday candles. This is team effort because we always have
A LOT to light. Auntie Sabeth is our candle fairy. I don't know where she finds all these fun
candles and sparklers but she never runs out of them! Thank you, Auntie Sab!!! :)
She also distributes extra candles that we use to light the real birthday candles so
we can work faster and not have melted wax all over our cakes.
And then we sing the birthday song. In English then in Chinese. Then repeat.
Sometimes the singing never ends.
The celebrant makes a wish and blows out all the candles. The older you get, the more
challenging this becomes. Gwama always wants a slice of the action.
Then we cut the cake
And feed the celebrant to wish him a sweet life
Then seal it with a kiss
Gwama's turn! Dad feeds Gwama first as a sign of respect,
and well, because she likes to eat cake.
Gwama says she also wants to be kissed on the lips! Bwahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!
Ah ganon, ayaw mo ha!
I WALK OUT! HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!
All the guests take turns feeding the celebrant
(Some feed themselves, too, like the hungry lady caught in the background)
And then kiss
And then feed
(Spotted: Gwama cutting the queue!!!)
And then kiss
She's back again!!!
This time Gwama just wants a big hug. Awwww… ♥
Our Gwama is truly the coolest in the world!
(She also couldn't button her top)
The Aftermath
Happy Birthday to our dearest Daddy!!! ♥
Hai Shin Lou: 810 Arnaiz Avenue (formerly Pasay Road), San Lorenzo Village, Makati
Tel: +632 892 5148, +632 752 7433