A very simple Valentine dinner

When the prices of red roses are ridiculously high, restaurants are filled to the brim, credit cards swiped constantly and chaotic traffic dominates the streets, it must be February 14. And whoever invented Valentine’s Day must be a marketing genius!

During this day, traffic seems to be getting worse every year and what took minutes to travel from point A to point B now becomes literally hours. Nerves are strained instead of feeling good, to be able to enjoy a good meal with your loved ones.

Your favorite food columnist makes reservation days ahead for a set menu that fits budgetary constraints and point B in the past years has been Mactan Island with its many fine hotels, good restaurants and adequate parking spaces for its guest.

A nice welcome drink would be a glass of white wine since my wife and I decided to have a simple Valentine dinner. But instead of a pair of glasses, what greeted us at the pool side was a whole bottle of Moet and Chandon Imperial Champagne and a long-stem red rose. I must have a fairy godmother in this establishment.

We began our four-course meal with a salad, Insalata di gamberi con Pomodorini e Basilica (Prawns with Tomato Basil and Red Onion in Extra Virgin Olive Dressing). Red dominates the salad, from the very fresh prawns to the red onions and tomatoes and the serving was extra generous, full of flavors and it was a complete meal by itself.

The soup Crema di Patata e Fungi (Creamy Potato Soup with Mushrooms) was a delicious surprise from the kitchen under the directions of Chef Marco Ghezzi. It was not part of the menu and what was planned to be a simple dinner turned into delicious complications.

Pasta was Tagliolini al nero di sepia in crema di piselli (Black Tagliolini with Prawns and Calamari on Green Pea Sauce) and a nice Italian dinner has always one or two sources of carbohydrates. The pasta was infused with squid ink, hence its unique black color and because the ink has some proteins, it imparts a unique flavour. 

There was a pair of violinists to entertain guests at the pool side and they can play any song that guest would request. Immediately the music that came to my mind were Bad Romance and Poker Face from the CD album, The Fame Monster of Lady Gaga. But it did not sound appropriate for the occasion so I decided on Need You Now of Lady Antebellum and a classical piece, Spring (Four Seasons) as performed in a Julia Fischer music video.

Main dish was Filetto di Grouper in Crosta di Patate (Grouper Fillet topped with Crispy Potato served with Broccoli Veloute). The fish was delicious and again the portions were very generous. I usually empty the plate knowing that food wasted is mortal sin but I had to leave the potatoes since I already had my fill of calories.

It was time for desserts and we had the Trio Panna Cotta made with chocolate, vanilla and strawberry. And this wonderful evening at AQUA, Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort & Spa reminds me of a poem by Geoffrey Chaucer (Parlement of Foules):

“For this was on seynt Volantynys day, Whan euery bryd comyth there to chese his make (For this was St. Valentine’s Day when every bird cometh there to choose his mate)”.