Serendipity walk leads to food for thought

A professor of mine at AIM (Asian Institute of Management) taught me that, in order for us to gain inspiration, we need to go outside our comfort zones and trek to new paths. I have been a firm believer of this for quite some time now. Thus, my “serendipity walks” — wherein I would drop a pencil to a particular road map and see where the tip of the pen directs me — were born.

From gastronomic trips to a particular region in France, a plenary indulgence tour of churches going up to Santiago de Compostela in Spain, to getting lost in the streets of Zamboanga City and even revisiting the entire Luneta Park, my serendipity walks remind me that life is meant to be lived well, and that the smaller and simpler things in life should be taken to heart.

Talking about all things heart, that was the first thing that came to my mind when I met Gerry Apolinario, the man behind Gerry’s Grill. I am now more star-struck when I meet entrepreneurs and artists than I do celebrities, so when I sat down with him for dinner at his other baby, the restaurant Aresi at the second floor of Il Terrazo (at Tomas Morato corner Scout Madrinan streets) while viewing our pilot show for Events Incoporated (Saturdays at 6 p.m. on QTV-11 — shameless plug), I was deeply inspired.

First, it takes a certain form of serendipity for Makati folk to tread to QC spots. Urban souls have become such creatures of habit that they refuse to leave the comforts of their bubble. Hey, guys, almost every place in this city is an Edsa drive away. The true city explorer knows no bounds and is willing to go to great lengths to discover new treasures. And a new treasure is what we discovered that night at Aresi.

Aresi means ‘i like’

That evening, the entire Aresi dining area was filled with gastronomes and party gnomes who were all up for it, but they didn’t expect what was coming — a supreme feast for the senses prepared by chef Berna Hewins. Meatballs in rich tomato sauce, chop chop salad, five cheese pizza, shrimp pesto pasta, devilled chicken Italiano, grilled double-cut pork chop (an eye-popping giant number), and lava cake for dessert — whew! “Course by course, one by one — till you shout, enough I’m done!” to quote Lumiere’s show-stopping Be Our Guest number in Beauty and the Beast.

Aresi, which means “I like” in Greek (see, you have enriched your flirting vocabulary now) has been a fixture in the QC dining scene — it also boasts a grand wine selection from Napa Valley (Aresi’s name evolution was Aresi to Napa, and now back to Aresi). That night, I chose to play it simple and stuck to sangrias as I introduced the guests to each other. Aside from the viewing party, guests also got treated to Machiavelli Chocolates by New York and Manila’s favorite chocolatier Raul Matias, whose gourmet treats are all the rage at Rustan’s. Seeing the yummy chocolates in purple boxes made me say “Aresi!”

Me and my co-host Sam Oh also chose to fulfill some wishes — among them was to throw a party for divers for Bubbles Paraiso and a dinner with top chefs for Chef Rosebud of Qtv’s Quickfire. Others brought home gifts from Facial Care Center and Shu Uemura.

Aresi’s marketing associate Cacai Apolinario and Gerry’s Mrs. Herself, Grace Apolinario, were on hand to welcome the guests to their home of great food right in the center of Tomas Morato — I call it the Hollywood of Manila, what with its proximity to the network’s studios, where network stargazing is as normal as style spying in Greenbelt. On my first visit to this area, I said hello to Jessica Soho. That night, there were too many to mention, but suffice it to say, it was an evening that was filled with inspiring people who inspire through their lives alone.

I like!