Reason #1: No one in the family likes to host parties. 😬 I am an introvert and just the thought of entertaining guests already drains my energy. 😨😰😱 I did attempt to organize a surprise for her in an earlier milestone birthday but I made a mental note not to do it again. Actually, it might not even qualify as a party coz there was no program, not even a single speech... it was just a plain get-together lunch for about 50 pax. That's what happens when an introvert organizes a party. 😂 😂😂
Reason #2: You've probably heard of several incidents wherein celebrants who are given parties in their milestone years pass away within the same year. We don't believe in superstitions at all but this occurrence may have some scientific basis. I remember reading an article (or was it in a book or a conversation with a doctor? Can't quite remember ...) which mentions that when one is given a party (especially a surprise one) at an old age, it could take a toll on the person's heart because extreme emotions are triggered when one sees family members and friends he/she hasn't seen for years, or even decades such as high school or college friends. Even if the party isn't a surprise one, the anticipation alone could cause anxiety for the celebrant too.
This is also what I learned from doing volunteer work at a home for the aged. According to the nuns who manage the institution, when talking to elders, you should avoid asking about a person's birthday coz once he/she realizes that his/her birthday is coming soon, the person won't be able to sleep well until the day arrives. There's not even a party to anticipate in this case. Just the thought of one's birthday arriving causes restlessness and anxiety among the elders.
Thus, given the 2 reasons above, we told our mom that because we care about her so much (and for selfish reasons because don't like to entertain guests 😜 ), she should not expect any birthday party from us in her lifetime. 😂😂😂 Good thing she doesn't like parties either as she doesn't want to be the center of attention. So she's also an introvert! Whew! 😅😊
So what did we end up doing for her birthday? Because I know she reads the newspaper column of Chef Claude Tayag and Ms. Mary Ann Quioc-Tayag, I thought it would be a great idea to have a private lunch at Bale Dutung, the couple's residence in Angeles City, where they accept guest reservations. I had to double-check if Chef Claude and Ms Mary Ann would be there on the date we we were eyeing as it would make it more special if she gets a chance to meet them.
What does Bale Dutung mean? "Bale" is the Pampanggo word for house and "dutung" means wood so Bale Dutung means wooden house. It's a house which Chef Claude built and designed. Some of the materials came from old houses and churches. Check these out -
Notice the lighting fixture above? Can you guess what Chef Claude used to make it? Carabao neck braces. Amazing, right?!
Did you notice the beautiful collection of bottles at the end of the table? The big bottles (as tall as 2 feet high) contain various kinds of vinegar for aging.
Here's one of the oldest marked bottle - vinegar from 1999! Wow...
Antique egg beaters.
How about these metal contraptions below? What do you think they are?
Ice crushers to make halo-halo.
And how about the animal-shaped sculptures below? I actually thought they were just animal sculptures but are apparently they are antique items with a function.
Give up? They are coconut meat scrapers! Just put a blade in the head of the sculpture, put a bowl on the floor right below the head (to catch the shredded coconut meat), sit on the sculpture and start scraping the coconut meat.
How about these wooden sculptures beautifully put together in a frame? What do you think they are?
Antique cookie molds!
Such beautiful and intricate designs. 😍
Bale Dutung has beautiful greenery too. It would make you forget that you're actually inside a city subdivision. Check these out -
And now for the most important highlight - the food! 😋
We had the 6-course Gallery Co-Op 2 Menu (with slight changes on the menu based on the availability of ingredients). Why is it called the Gallery Menu? Coz usually it's served in the Gallery Room but on the day we booked, Silong (the main dining hall) was available so lunch was served there instead.
Presenting the Gallery Menu (brace yourselves for mouth-watering dishes) -
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Hors d'oeuvre: Basil leaves, kesong puti, toasted pili nuts and tomatoes (left),
Aromatic duck pancake with hoisin sauce (center) and
Sisig cup (right)
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| 1. Creme of Tinapa - Smoked milkfish chowder with guava and smoked tanigue |
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2. Seared Tuna Salad - pepper-crusted tuna loin topped with mango chutney
and fresh pineapples, accompanied with local greens.
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| 3. Bringhe Cakes - Adlai rice cakes topped with crabmeat and crabfat aioli |
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4. Pork Belly Adobo Confit - slow-cooked belly served with
grilled eggplant and mango salsa
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5. Duck and Onion - Pan-seared duck breast with onion puree,
pickled onions and onion ash.
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6. Pastillas Cheesecake - light cheesecake topped with
pure carabao's milk pastillas and caramel sauce.
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Everything was yum! I don't know how many times I said "manyaman" and "kanyaman" (Pampanggo words for "delicious") throughout the meal. Haha... But if I were forced to pick the top 3 among the 6, I have to say that would be the Creme of Tinapa, Pork Belly Adobo Confit and Pastillas Cheesecake. Just thinking about them now makes me drool. 😋😍 Haha...
Ms Mary Ann and Chef Claude are the most gracious hosts. Ms Mary Ann even joined us for lunch - that made my mom's birthday lunch more special! 😊 And in addition to the 6 courses, Ms Mary Ann had extra dishes served - Pitichian (home-cooked chicharon), taba ng talangka with rice and tibok-tibok made from carabao's milk with HBD formed by the latik for my mom. How nice! :) Super, super yum!!! 😋😍 Burp, burp, burp... 😍
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| Pitichian - home-made chicharon |
BTW, this is my third time in Bale Dutung (I tried the Kapangpangan menu and the Anthony Bourdain menu before). But I have to say that in all my 3 visits there, what always makes it special (other than the great food) are the conversations you have with the gracious hosts of Bale Dutung. This time around, I didn't just learn about food, Pampanggo culture, but also life lessons as Ms Mary Ann shared a lot of inspiring personal anecdotes.
My mom was super happy and so were all our tummies! 😊 It was a stress-free, quiet celebration for an introvert celebrant organized by an introvert. 😂😂😂
