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Joyeux Noel!

Froehliche Weihnachten!

iFeliz Navidad!

Gledileg Jó!

Buon Natale!

God Jul!

Gun Tso Sun Tan’Gung Haw Sun!

Kurisumasu Omedeto!

Maligayang Pasko!

We have read so many good things about the restaurant Mamou that it had always been on our list of restaurants to visit. About three weeks ago, on a Monday night, I was able to reserve a table to celebrate J.‘s (my wife’s cousin’s) birthday. Our reservations were for the 6:00 to 6:30 PM first seating. The second seating is at 8:30PM. But we came upon this horrendous traffic, so I called the restaurant and asked if they could hold our table until 7PM, which they did. Bonus points there. But we did arrive on time though.

Baskets of soft warm bread were immediately served after giving us the menu. I ignored the menu for a little bit and focused on eating the delicious bread that I smothered with butter. Sarap! It was gone in a few minutes. But they quickly refilled it.

We started with a Grilled Veggie Salad. And for our entrees, we ordered WAWA’s Roast Prime Rib Platter (the bigger one). We also had Roast Pork and Chicken (half serving), Mamou’s Linguine Vongole, Duck Adobo Flakes, and Baked White Fish.

The Grilled Veggie Salad had capsicums, eggplant, zucchini, and fusilli with anchovy dressing. Since I have this allergy to eggplants, I just took a small bite and noted the grilled smoky flavor. It is quite different from the usual salads with greens, but it was very tasty. It looked more like a pasta dish to me because of the fusilli.

WAWA’s Roast Prime Rib Platter came with two side dishes. We chose Mashed Potatoes and Cream Spinach. The prime rib itself looked good. As you know, I don’t eat beef, but I took one tiny piece and tasted it. It was palatable, at least for me,  and so I was able to eat this. While the serving looks big enough for two or three, I noticed that it was quite thin. Very thin. :oups: A far cry from those seen in the different reviews I’ve read. I was expecting something like this.

(Photo Source)

But the Mashed Potatoes and Creamed Spinach were very good.

The citrus-rubbed Roast Pork and Chicken that came with red rice and black beans and the Duck Adobo Flakes with red rice and scrambled egg were satisfying.

I enjoyed Mamou’s Linguine Vongole the most. The linguine was cooked to perfection (al dente), and the clams were very tasty without that fishy taste. Very well done.

The Steamed White Fish was succulent. Unlike frozen fish used and served on most restaurants that tend to be flaky, Momou’s fish was very firm and yet soft. You can tell that it was fresh.

Despite our disappointment with their steak, it was still a good meal. The service was excellent. The restaurant has this homey casual ambiance and isn’t pretentious at all. We’ll be coming back to sample a few more of their dishes and maybe to give the prime rib another try.

Mamou

Serendra, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig

Contact nos. 0917-816-2668; 8563569

(Photo Source)

There was this New Year episode in the TV series Ally McBeal that I wouldn’t forget.

If you think back and replay your year, if it doesn’t bring you tears, either of joy or sadness, consider it a year wasted.

-John Cage

Looking back, I think my wife and I had our fair share joy and sadness. As I’ve said countless of times, it’s one great roller coaster ride. And I wouldn’t trade any minute of our life for anything. It was good. It was bad. But at the same time, it was awesome. And I’m thankful for so many things.

I’m thankful for supportive and faithful family and friends. They never tire of listening and shoving giving advises, whether it’s about love, relationship, marriage, life in general, or sex life (unsolicited but nonetheless appreciated). Thank you.

I’m thankful for a loving and nurturing wife, who held me and took care of me especially during the last two nights that I can’t sleep and coughing my lungs out. I’m feeling so much better now. Thank you.

I’m thankful for a faithful God. He has been very good. I feel blessed beyond my wildest dreams when I go to sleep each night. And though we’ve had our share of hard times, I wouldn’t change them if I could, because through it all, God has been good.

Avalon.ph is holding a What are you thankful for this 2009 contest. Visit the Avalon.ph blog for contest mechanics and for a chance to win a 2010 Moleskine Colour-A-Month Daily Planner.