Advance B-day lunch with Giji Kocher

MANILA, Philippines - A month before her birthday last July 5, Giji Kocher (a.k.a. Djoanna ‘Gigi’ Garcia during her showbiz days, center) treated some friends (Tim Evans of US Immigration, leftmost; immigration lawyer Jemela Nettles, second from left; and your columnist, standing) to lunch at her Buddha’s Belly, her favorite restaurant (‘Good food, good fortune,’ says the blurb on the resto’s flyer) located at 7475 Beverly Boulevard, L.A., CA 90036 (telephone 323-9318588). The menu consisted of Ginger Rice, Calamares Salad, Green Tea Tiramisu, etc. ‘All healthy food,’ said Giji. The owner, Jonathan Chu (second from right), said that Buddha’s Belly has a branch at 205 Broadway, Santa Monica, CA 90401 (telephone 310-4582500).