God gave us friends in order to enrich our lives. The many joys of friendship include building dreams, discovering new things, sharing moments and making memories. Add in getting together, laughing our hearts out and enjoying an unforgettable meal!
I was up early on Aug. 6, a Saturday I had long been looking forward to since I got invited by friends to their hometown in Lipa City, Batangas. It was to be a mini-reunion with our Assumption batch mates Ichu Cadiz and Dola Arguelles, whom we fondly call the Lipa Chicks.
The drive from Makati to Lipa City was a very pleasant one. Emerald green fields refreshed our spirits. Hilarious childhood secrets were exchanged along the way. It didn’t take us long to get to the Star Tollway. Our first stop was a visit to Our Lady at the Marian Shrine in Carmel Church. As Sarina Jurado, Arlina de Jesus and I lighted candles at the shrine, Katarina Tolentino explained, “You know candles are lighted because the smoke brings your prayers straight up to God in heaven.”
After we prayed, we drove for about 15 minutes and, by the main road, stumbled upon Casa Marikit Ristorante Italiano. Its quaint brick exterior caught our attention. We all squealed in excitement as we were met by Dola and Ichu. Inside there was a fireplace by the entrance and wine bottles creatively juxtaposed on ledges. We felt like we were in a local trattoria in Italy. Pilgrims from the shrine also trickled in as we sat comfortably at our aged wooden table. Groups of women were catching up on their own memories, just as we were. The atmosphere was jovial.
Ichu’s younger sister, Michelle Fabie, owner of Casa Marikit, caught me admiring the impressive wall mosaic above the wash basin where I went to wash my hands. She smiled from ear to ear as she shared with me that her husband, Ramon “TJ” Fabie III, spontaneously drew the design on the wall and began tiling the colorful mosaic patterns himself.
Michelle and TJ Fabie opened Casa Marikit last February as a testament to their love for good food, fine wine and for each other. And when love is involved in a restaurant endeavor, trust that everything that will land on your table will be a lovely feast to remember.
Casa Marikit has an extensive menu. Its concept is country Italian cuisine served in semi fine dining done in family friendly setting. The restaurant serves reasonably priced wine and great food from appetizers to desserts using quality ingredients.
We thoroughly enjoyed our serving of insalata caprese (sweet tomatoes topped with fresh mozzarella, basil, kalamata olives drizzled with balsamico dressing), prosciutto di parma (parma ham with slices of fresh melon that disappeared immediately from the plate), insalata rucola (arugula tossed with gorgonzola cheese, toasted walnuts and sweet fresh pears), spinachi al parmigiano funghi triffolati (fresh creamed spinach in butter and parmesan cheese with sautéed mushrooms).
We also devoured a juicy, grilled rib-eye steak with creamy mashed potatoes, served with porcini mushroom sauce on the side, quattro formaggi pizza, tagliatelli tartufo (tagliatelli in a truffle cream sauce topped with prosciutto that I also took home for my son and hubby who didn’t stop thanking me).
I almost created a scene when bavette al pomodoro (fresh tomatoes delicately simmered with herbs on bavette) was served. The dish was so cholesterol free, healthy, and the sauce so tasty that long after the pasta was gone I played tug-of-war with the baffled waiter as I refused to let go of the bowl with a little sauce left.
Tiramisu and panna cotta for dessert was highly applauded.
Every single bite had us reeling with delight! The food on its own was glorious and savoring every dish, in the company of such dear friends who doubled the joys of eating.
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Michelle, 30, and TJ, 31, were schoolmates in Canossa Academy in Lipa City during elementary. Half way into college, they were reunited when they met in a bar one summer night in 1998. “He suddenly approached my table, knelt down and gave me a piece of table napkin with a poem he wrote,” Michelle recalled. But it was only in 2007, when their common friend got married and made Michelle a bridesmaid and TJ a groomsman, that they became romantically serious. The following year, knowing that they were meant for each other, they tied the knot.
“I saw right away that TJ was perfect for me. It felt different from the very beginning. Everything just fell into place without any effort. I saw him as a great provider, a great husband and the best father to our three children Tomas, Andres and Marikit,” Michelle said. “We chose Filipino names and decided to call each other ‘Nanay’ and ‘Tatay’ for our children to embrace being Filipino.”
Casa Marikit was named after their youngest child and only daughter but TJ said his inspiration for putting up the restaurant was “my wife.”
TJ’s passion is interior designing and architecture. He is a graphic artist by profession and he has a print advertising business called Somethin’ Big. His production office is right next door to Casa Marikit.
Michelle is VP for operations of their family businesses, a Japanese motorcycle dealership and animal feeds manufacturing.
In Casa Marikit, TJ is the dreamer, the originator while Michelle works on the details. He is in charge of marketing and operations but mostly seen happily grilling away in the kitchen or maintaining the garden. She, on the other hand, is in charge of the paper work, process flow and purchasing.
“We got this property as a gift from my father-in-law to us on our wedding day. He wanted us to build our house but my own father already gave me a bachelor’s pad that I converted into our home. So, we built a structure in the property that was given to us and put up a restaurant,” TJ explained.
It was their wish to put up a restaurant ever since they got married. They share a passion for cooking, entertaining and meeting new people. The delicious venture of Michelle and TJ is made more delightful by the love that the couple have for each other.
Indeed, our reunion proved to be a most memorable and enjoyable one. Dining at Casa Marikit in the company of loving friends was such a heavenly treat that I wish everyone could experience.
(To get there: Travel south on SLEX straight to Star Tollway. Take Lipa exit in Star tollway then turn left after the tollbooths. Just go straight and turn right after Fernando Airbase. You will see Casa Marikit on your left. Please call 0917-5046256.)
(Would love to hear from you at miladayjewels@yahoo.com.)