Whenever I think of neighborhood bistros, I think of a place where you can find good food, that is moderately priced, and choices that can please the whole family.
And by whole family, if we are talking about MY family, we are talking about tapas, Filipino food, pizza, and comfort. We all look for different flavors, some of us look for rice, and Miguel and I usually look for pasta.
Finding all of these things in one place where we can escape as a family when I don’t feel like cooking, or even for a date night, when Nino and I want to share a bottle of wine and catch up with the craziness of the week is a BONUS.
Nino and I met Eric Nubla through our friend Jun Del Rosario.
Whenever Jun and Gail would invite us into their home, Nino and I knew we would meet interesting people, and enjoy fantastic food from their kitchen, lovingly prepared, by the whole family.
We would not only go home with our bellies full from drink and faire, but we would also go home with full hearts from our deeply fulfilling friendships.
We never had the pleasure of meeting Eric during those gatherings. In fact, it was only after Jun had passed that we met many of his friends who we knew shared the same kind of friendship that you choose simple because, being around these people makes you feel really good.
Jun was good like that.
Nino and I both looked up to him and his wife Gail, because we loved their dynamic, yet gracious ways in which they hosted their friends, and their no nonsense way of being “good to one another.” In fact, in the past couple of years, Jun and Gail and Nino and I grew closer as they were a huge source of support through some very trying times we experienced as a couple.
Jun visited Eric’s first restaurant often. Gail loves their pizza. Their kids are friends with Eric’s kids. It truly was a family affair whenever the Del Rosarios would visit 81 Place in Merville. So much so, that Jun coaxed Eric into opening an outlet, here in the south, because he knew that Eric’s menu of comfort food would be welcomed in the community.
He knew that Alabangers (as finicky as we all are) would enjoy the way Eric served up goodness and comfort in a casual atmosphere that had clean comforting interior.
Earlier this month, Sabrina and I welcomed some mommas from Mothers Who Brunch to try out some of the most popular dishes in 81 Cafe and Bistro for themselves. It was a relaxed morning that turned into an afternoon of good food, good conversation, and giving the mommas some “me time,” so they could return to their families with full bellies, with a renewed sense of purpose in parenting.
Simple as this gathering was, it was just a little time away from the mundane so we could bond and laugh over some Frosé and share the helpful ways we all decompress, with or without the family, and even our husbands.
And we like to do it in a casual setting, on a prettified table, with ladies who understand the challenges of motherhood and what we face on a daily basis.
Flowers by Yumi can prettify your tables, create bouquets for all occasions, and make any momma happy with their floral offerings.
As a special treat for the mommas, Flowers by Yumi not only created the simple center pieces for our brunch table, they also sent each momma home with a beautiful Ecuadorian Rose.
Our day together did not end with full bellies and pretty flowers on the table.
Eric treated the mommas to some pampering at one of our favorite places with some more goodness. With Orly Philippines, we were all treated to the services of our choice at Coco Nail Studio.
Anna from www.acraftedlifestyle.com is enjoying her back massage while we are chatting away in the comfort of Coco Nail Studio.
It was relaxed.
Nurturing.
And informative.
Orly has launched their new Breathable line which is not only safe for pregnant women, eliminating many of the harmful elements found in most regular nail lacquers. In fact, it’s so safe, you and even apply this polish on your littles!
If you want to know more about Orly Breathable check out this link: http://www.mommanmanila.com/orly-breathable-treatment-color/
The thing about when we get together with our friends, we really enjoy sharing something new and finding inspiration in one another. Motherhood is hard. We need small breaks every now and then, and whether those breaks come in the form of date nights with our hubbies to renew or stregthen our relationships, or quick getaways with the ladies for brunch, one thing is for sure:
We really enjoy doing this over good food.
Don’t you?
81 Cafe and Bistro
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Flowers by Yumi
https://www.facebook.com/flowersbyyumi/
https://www.instagram.com/flowersbyyumi/
Orly Breathable
https://www.facebook.com/orly.ph/
https://www.instagram.com/orlyph/
