Alfresco dining has been included in most restaurants nowadays, mainly because there have been quite a few areas wherein the smoking and non-smoking area need to be defined more. Plus outdoor dining, most especially if the area is landscaped beautifully (with three elements: land, water and air), provides an attractive and more pleasurable experience.

There really is something attractive about alfresco dining. Whether it’s the fresh air, hustle and bustle of the roads or the people watching which you can do from your seats – eating outdoors has many benefits.

So how do you incorporate the three elements in your alfresco dining area? If the area is enclosed (with no roof), most restaurants place an artificial waterfall or pond to make the area cooler. When the sun is out, patio umbrellas are there. Air is present through the wind chimes strategically placed along the area. It also can contribute to the serenity of the place with its musical tones. The advantage of having wind chimes is that you can also use them as accents to achieve the look and feel you want for your restaurant. For example, bamboo wind chimes are more suited to grill places and restaurants that have a nature theme. There are many designers of chimes that create stunning pieces of art that can be specially designed to match your outdoor furniture or decor.

The metal wind chimes, an example of which are aluminum wind chimes, can have different musical tones. Do not limit the wind chimes outdoors though – you can use them indoors too! Doorways and windowsills are the obvious areas for installing these.

Combining different types of chimes in your alfresco area can provide a wonderful symphony of sound in your restaurant that will make it a delightful place for experiencing gastronomic delights.

I resolve to try at least two of the meals he mentioned, considering two of his best meals came from the Philippines! I undoubtedly would need the best weight loss products after eating.

You can read the blog post here, and I am posting his reviews on two of those Pinoy restaurants: Bistro Filipino and Antonio’s (which is only 30 minutes from my place!)

9. Bistro Filipino, Manila, The Philippines
S and I were an hour and a half late to dinner… not because of the traffic or any other excusable reason, but because S was caught up in the frenzy of exploring all the great local designers in Greenbelt 5. We had SMS’d our friend apologizing. She said not to worry. No one was ever on time in Manila anyway, she told us. By the time we arrived, we were starving and apologetic (S was also laden down with new purchases). Chef Roland Laudico, a friend of our friend, arranged for us to try what felt like a parade of his most exciting and popular dishes. The food, Modern Filipino is the only real way to describe it, was amazing. If I close my eyes, I can still almost taste the sinfully rich but oh so good Adobo Overload he made for us. For a full run-down of the meal, you can read about it here. I’m dying to revisit this very special restaurant. Or better yet, convince someone to open a branch here.

 

1. Antonio’s, Tagaytay, The Philippines
My favourite meal of 2009 took place in a charming, manor home 90 minutes south of Manila. Antonio’s is, to me, the French Laundry of The Philippines, a beautiful, culinary gem set in a charming rural environment that foodies flock to for long lunches, romantic dinners, and special occasions. S and I visited Antonio’s in August last year (read about the trip here) and we’ve been dying to return ever since. I just need to go on a diet first in order to prepare for my next meal there. Because while the food is fabulous and some dishes are charmingly sophisticated, it’s also heart-stoppingly rich. Antonio’s is one restaurant I’d be happy to travel to The Philippines to eat at every single year.