Laya: Personal Dining Experience

     For our 41st monthsary last September 2010, we dined at Laya in Antipolo. It is Chef Ricci and Ms. Irene's home which they gladly shared to others, along with Chef's masterful skills in the kitchen.

Welcome to Laya

     Last week, we received a message from Laya, saying that they will be bidding farewell to their culinary journey here in the Philippines. Their goodbye and thank you letter can be found in their Multiply site -- http://layapersonaldining.multiply.com/journal/item/47/Goodbye_and_thank_you.

     We dedicate this blog to them, for giving us such a wonderful, one-of-a-kind dining experience! They would be closing Laya and their newly opened Earth Cafe at Pinto Museum, also in Antipolo, by the end of July and would be starting a new chapter in their lives. We'd like to share our unforgettable day at Laya as a way to let them know how much we appreciate them for their kindness, hospitality and especially the food they shared with us! :)

Contact information

     It is through Multiply that we have come to know about Laya - and boy were we excited to go there! It's our first time to have a kind of formal dining where a 6-course meal is served and introduced by the chef himself! It really was a wonderful feeling! Each dish would be brought to us and Chef Ricci would proudly describe what he made for us.

Serenity

     LAYA is a private kitchen, hidden in hilly Antipolo where we seek to give each of our guests a unique, private and personal dining experience all their own.

     Once you enter the gate, you would climb up cobblestone steps and see the facade of their home, an open balcony where the guests get to taste Chef Ricci's Thai-inspired creations. They have a pool and a cabana where you can relax and enjoy the sun. To the side is a small bar where they can have snacks and savor drinks. :)

Place for R&R

Thai bust

     We made arrangements before going to Laya. We were able to contact Ms. Irene to make reservations for the 18th of September. At Laya, they offer the Laya Signature Course and the menu for the week. On that day, the menu was called Thai Classics. We decided to order both so we could enjoy the best of both worlds. :p

Tea candle

     Before enjoying the 6-course meal, Chef Ricci gave us a treat! His served his own creation - melon ball, cherry tomato with a green dressing (we forgot then name but it tasted really great!) It was a teaser to the dishes to come. :p The iced tea was really good too! It was nothing like we've had before, refreshing and cool to the taste buds. We finished at least 2 glasses. Hehe! :)

Melon Ball and Cherry Tomato

LAYA SIGNATURE

     Laya's signature included Thai-inspired dishes, veggies, and Filipino ingredients like kesong puti, chocnut and fried bananas. The main course was the mouth watering grilled US hanging steak in red curry cream sauce with potatoes on the side. It was a very satisfying meal with  combination of strong and soothing flavors! Our taste buds got really excited! :)

Trio of Appetizers

Stir-fried Kaffir Lime Pork in Lettuce Wrap;
Thai Golden Bag with Sweet Chili Sauce; 
Crab Rangoon with Homemade Spicy Mango Dip

Organic Pumpkin & Cashew Nut Soup

with Coconut Cream Froth & Wanton Crisps

Grilled Spice-crusted Chicken Strips

with Mixed Greens in Ginger Soy Dressing

Fresh Lime and Mango Sorbet

Grilled US Hanging Tender Steak

in Red Curry Cream Sauce

with Spiced Crushed Potatoes

Duo of Spring Rolls:

Mango Cashew Kesong Puti

and Chocnut Banana Spring Rolls

with Cream Cheese and Chocnut Dip

THAI CLASSICS

     This is a collection of dishes that is bursting of flavors, characteristic of Thai cuisine. Thai food is mainly spicy but is balanced by the other kinds of taste: sweet, sour and salty. All the dishes are also presented well and are very aromatic! The meal served was really appetizing and appeals to the taste buds greatly :)

Thai Fish Cakes

with Sweet Chili Relish

Tom Kha Gai

(Thai Traditional Chicken and Coconut Soup

with Lemongrass and Galangal)

Crispy Catfish and Green Mango Salad

Kaffir Lime & Coconut Granita

Steamed Seafood Souffle

in a Banana Leaf Cup served with

Coconut-scented Jasmine Rice

Thai Coconut Pancakes

stuffed with Mangoes & Bananas

in Coco Jam Sauce

DINING EXPERIENCE

With Chef Ricci =)

     Our celebration here of our monthsary was one we'd never forget! Thanks to the hospitable homeowners and Chef's wonderful skills in the kitchen! 'Twas truly a simple yet special day.

     We're excited to visit Earth Cafe before it closes by the end of July. We are sure that it would be another great affair, what with the artworks adorning the place. :)