A beautiful wedding in Tali

Over the weekend, we found ourselves witnessing a beautiful wedding in Tali, Nasugbu, Batangas. What was heart-warming was the fact that the couple, Wari and Nikki, personally took care of all the details, including preparing the menu for the reception and all the meals within the three days that their intimate friends and family were enjoying a welcome respite from the hectic life in the city, in spite of intermittent rain.

There were no wedding coordinators in the Punta Fuego chapel, hence no distraction. The multi-colored blooms that lined the aisle enhanced the joy and glory of the event. There was only one pair of principal sponsors, and the officiating priest was a family friend. The widowed mothers of the principals hovered over their son and daughter, and the tenor Lorenzo flew in from Macau and did a stirring rendition of “Our Father” and “The Prayer.”

The lunch-reception took place in one of the residences on Tali Beach. Here the personal touch of the newly-wed couple was evident, in the choice of food served, amid the informal ambiance that pervades all family-close friends gatherings. The couple brought up to the venue an efficient kitchen brigade that produced several meals, from an extensive breakfast fare to a tenderloin lunch after the wedding rites.

The newlyweds took care of buying and bringing over every food stuff needed – the grilled lamb, the melt-in-the-mouth beef tenderloin, done perfectly, a selection of pasta (with anchovies, pesto, among others), avocado and arugula salad, fruits for dessert, and wines. 

The breakfast fare the following day had the strong stamp of Santis, like the meats – juicy sausages, cheeses and dips, salmon with capers, aside from corned beef made into omelets, tapa and daing na bangus, eggs, bread and sinangag.

That was indeed two and a half days of feasting, celebrating the union of two lovable individuals.

Every time we would be in Tagaytay, we never miss stopping by Rowena’s Tarts for some pasalubong. On the way back this past weekend, we again made sure we dropped in. The place has expanded tremendously. From the small store that it was with only a handful of items, today Rowena’s is no longer only a tart store. It has imported food from our neighboring countries and the region, a swimming pool at the back and a huge dining room where typical Batangas food leads the long list in the menu.

We found some new offerings – ube espasol, chewy with the tuber flavor, crispy salmon skin to munch on at P140 for a pack of 80 gms, tiny pritong lumpia (the size of a child’s forefinger) with dipping sauce, good for cocktails or as starter, for P85; mangosteen powder in a variety of flavors like coffee and chocolate; ginger and oregano brew with calamansi extract.

Rowena’s is located in Barangay Francisco, Tagaytay, tel. (046) 843-0129. Going towards Manila, it is on the right side of the street.

By the steps leading to the store are some vendors selling Batangas’ prized fish, tawilis. But they are dried, not the fresh ones. The lady seller swore it was genuine. We did not argue. There are four pieces in a pack. Twelve packs go for P100, but one can bargain and get an extra batch of six pieces.

Also rare is the daing na biya, a small breed of fish as well. They are tagged at P100 a pack of about 200 gms. She gave them to us with tawad (bargain) of P50. Fried, this is ideal to serve with a salad of tomatoes, onions and red eggs with a mixture of vinegar, sugar and ground pepper. We delight in this at lunchtime when we are alone at home.

Another stop by the roadside was for nilagang mais (boiled corn on the cob). The young man had two types, native and Japanese, the former at P25 for three pieces and the latter a bit more expensive.

Catching up with the Fathers’ Day Japanese buffet at The Palms Country Club, we noted – and stopped by – the Café de Lipa stall by the entrance. They sell a grind of Beans Mercado coffee and Batangas Brew. They also have paco atsara, ubod and santol as well as burong pajo (small green mangoes). They can be found in Market!Market! or through tel. 217-3525  

Have a happy Sunday!!!

E-mail comments and questions to [email protected]