Between Bites

Posts Tagged ‘LJC group’

Bollywood

Thursday, June 19th, 2008

I had a lunch buffet at Bollywood, Greenbelt 3 in August 2006.  Found the photos in my archives.  I’m craving for Bollywood right now…

dsc07614.JPG

It was around PHP545++ that time.  Even if the Indian food had a commercial taste than authentic, I loved it!!!  I stuffed my mouth with loads of samosas, tikka, curry, kofta and thier soft naan…

dsc07617.JPG

Fely J’s

Wednesday, May 21st, 2008

I was excited about Saturday evening because it was going to be a dinner with Bubba’s DLSU friends, where they humorously call the group “berks”.  With all the college stories that Bubba has shared with me, I have come to learn their berks “talk” –a set of coded words that only their group understands.  I enjoy hanging with the group because they are a bunch of really pleasant people –sensible, light-hearted and laidback.  This dinner was a special one because of Alex’s homecoming.  Alex works in Singapore but she is in town at the moment.  Compared to the rest that I’ve hung out with last year, this was only the 2nd time I’ve met her.  She was warm and friendly.  Her family is also going to Macau for a trip like Bubba and me in August (can’t August please come any sooner?)   

fel7

Larry J. Cruz usually owned the busiest restaurants in the Metro.  If I’m not mistaken, among the LJC group of restaurants (Abe, Bollywood, Bistro Remedios, Café Havana, Café Adriatico, etc.) it is only Larry’s Café in Serendra and Reunion Square in Malate that I have not eaten at.  Larry’s different concepts have always been a winning choice.  The latest one I’ve eaten at was at Abe in Serendra when I had a December dinner with Fay, a close friend from college who was visiting from LA with her family.  Abe, where they serve Kapampangan dishes with a twist, is actually Larry’s tribute to his dad, Mr. Abe Cruz.  Its counterpart is the newly launched Fely J’s, which is LJC’s homage to his mom. 

fel7

Fely J’s is a modern Filipino bistro in a family setting restaurant amidst the lavish surroundings of the fresh Greenbelt 5.  A big framed black and white photo of Fely J against a pink background greets the diners.  A pink lamp sits on the table below the photo and huge white tulips.  The white ceiling had big circle outlines and low lights.  A wall near the entrance door is decorated with slim bamboo sticks.  There is a Quiapo saloon enlarged newspaper clipping in one of the frames, the rest are paintings of aged women in pastel colors, which exudes aged elegance.  The dining area is surrounded with pink walls with white floral embellishment, chocolate wooden tables while some are round granite tables, and matching brown chairs with orange or cream seats.  The wait staff are all clad in black with pink apron.  

fel8

Since Bubba and I arrived late, everyone went ahead and ordered.  I would have wanted to try newer dishes like tilapia with sweet plum sauce or their butterfly butter prawns in curry but I guess the group ordered on the safe side with the more familiar dishes.  We had a late lunch at 5pm that I wasn’t able to eat much during dinner anyway.

fel9

On the Table: 

Pork Binagoongan

fel5

Catfish with Buro

fel2

Crispy Pata

fel1

Kare-kare

fel4

Sitaw with Kalabasa 

Dilis Rice

fel3

Mandarin Iced Tea

Fely J’s is modern in décor and refined in taste.  It is decorated with subtle artwork, plenty fresh white flowers and dramatic lighting that exude the same elegance in their concoction of Filipino food.

fel6

 

Celebrity Spotting:  Senator Chix Escudero at Fely J’s Fely J’s is located at the 2nd level of Greenbelt 5, Legaspi St., Legaspi Village, Ayala Center.  Make a reservation at 7288858. 

Album: http://cushee.multiply.com/photos/album/444/08_0517-_Fely_Js