Jerome’s 30th Birthday @ Mesa {Foodee}

I met up with my friends, my P&G batch mates, to celebrate Jerome’s 30th birthday over lunch at Mesa in Greenbelt 5, Makati City. It was my first time to try the place but I had heard that it was popular, so I was excited to try it.

I was the last one to arrive and when I got there, they had all been there for quite some time already yet they hadn’t ordered main courses yet, just appetizers. “Why not?” I asked incredulously. “We got so busy talking that we forgot,” Jerome replied sheepishly. Well I suppose I can’t blame them. This was a reunion not just for me, but also for them. In the group, only Drew is still working in P&G.

Adobo flakes

Baked tahong (mussels) with cheese

“So what are you craving?” I asked the pregnant one as I slid into the booth next to her. “Nothing in particular, really,” she replied, glancing over the menu. “By the way, have you told them yet?” I asked, dropping my voice lower, referring to her pregnancy. “No,” was her answer. “Why not?” I asked for the second time that day. “Well, I thought that it would be obvious when they saw me so I wouldn’t need to tell them,” she explained helplessly. “But apparently not. And now I haven’t found the right timing yet.” I looked at her. She didn’t look pregnant indeed. “Okay, let me help you find the right moment,” I volunteered.

Just then, the others started talking about something that somehow led to a comment about a baby, so I grabbed that opportunity to say, “And speaking of babies, guess who has one! Kes!” I pointed both my outstretched arms fanned out in her direction as if to say, “tada!” Kes then said, “I have a baby, guys!” But somehow the guys were still speaking and didn’t really hear what we said or understand it or they probably thought we were joking so the announcement fell flat. Way to go, Dee.

“Guys, listen up, an announcement is being made here! Kes is pregnant!” I said urgently. Kes nodded along with me, but everyone was taken aback and took a moment to react. Let this moment go down in history as the most awkward pregnancy announcement of all time, no thanks to yours truly. LOL.

After we had gotten that over with, we finally decided on what to order, with a little help from the waitress whom we asked for recommendations. She chose well! 😀

Inihaw Sampler (P725) Grilled chicken leg quarter, squid, liempo, bangus belly, mussels, shrimps and pork bbq.

Tilapia – crispy boneless served with four sauces (P340) My favorite sauce was the sukang pinakurat (spiced vinegar)

Laing 2 Ways (P170) Taro leaves, pork, shrimp paste and coconut cream topped with adobo flakes, served original and crispy

Bagoong Rice (165) Stir fried rice tossed with shrimp paste with shredded green mango

Then I just had to have my favorite:

Mangga Salad (P115) Julienned green mango with shallots and cilantro, dressed with sweet fish sauce

As well as my favorite drink of all time:

Buko Shake!!!! aka coconut smoothie which, for some reason, is rare in Singapore

Kes guessed that I’d order that even before I said anything. My friends know me so well. Heh. And then she decided to order the same thing and everyone else followed suit! The result?

Buko shake party! 😀

We feasted on sumptuous food and played catch up with each others’ lives while laughing, as we always do, over the littlest things. While circumstances have changed since we first met 8 years ago, I’m glad that I can still call these guys my friends even though we no longer see each other every day like we used to. I’m happy I get to see them once in a while. Thanks for that opportunity, Jerome! Happy birthday again!

Oops, why isn’t the birthday boy in this pic?