Pre-birthday dinner at Cantina Laredo
(Waiting for a few more people)
I invited almost the same set of people from last year’s for this year’s birthday celebration. We held it earlier though because one of my guests was flying to Turkey the next day.
Aside from the good food, being spacious, and its attentive employees, the homey feeling is also a reason why I chose to celebrate in Cantina Laredo. Most of its employees are Filipinos. In a way, this means a lot for people like us who need psychological bridging of distance to home. Although they serve Mexican dishes, its totality has a Filipino touch.
Most of my guests are friends from the office. We don’t see each other so often due to nature of work. Hence, we were chatting endlessly even before the complimentary chips and salsa were served.
Do not miss their bestseller-appetizer. The topshelf guacamole is being prepared infront of the diners. So the waiting-peeking in accelerates the appetite.
Heto yung tipong babalik balikan mo (You’ll keep coming back because of this).
Avocados, tomatoes, red onion, jalapeños, and spices.
They also offer different variations of drinks. Find the piña colada, that was where I was seated.
Not too long before the set of yummies were served.
We had Cantina Laredo platter which has cheese chile relleno, tamale, chicken enchilada, and beef taco al carbon.
Then the appetizing fiesta grill made a grand entrance:
Fiesta grill is an all-type fajita (chicken, beef, lamb).
I liked the chicken the most. The cheeses/queso on it were well-blended. Just the thought makes me hungry. 
Camaron poblado asada turned out to be almost everyone’s favorite. I also had this the first time I dined here.
Carne asada steak wrapped around a poblano pepper filled with sauteed shrimp, mushrooms, onions and monterey jack cheese, served on a bed of chimichurri sauce
For dessert, we all had Mexican brownies.
The brownies with pecans are served on a sizzling skillet with Mexican brandy butter and vanilla ice cream.
As we were all looking at him, the biggest surprise came. The exclusive Cantina Laredo birthday song played and the group of its employees not only sung with it…
but also showcased their amazing birthday dance. 
It’s better than Sarah’s sundance. 
Whoever wore the hat had to dance. So he was passing it to me at that moment. No, I didn’t dance, you can just imagine all the diners in the restaurant were looking at me/eyeing our area. I was just giddily clapping all the time. While my companions feet were all secretly dancing. Okay, let’s include myself. Haha. Ang saya!
Now, I want a copy of that birthday song. I almost forgot I need to blow the candle. This is the tiniest (yet memorable) birthday cake I had.
I only had one huge wish: a good health. Ganun yata as you age, you finally realized you’re not invincible. Plus a number of general wishes.
Cantina Laredo, Al Khalidiyah, Abu Dhabi
+9712 635 4877
OMG the dessert is to-die for!!!
Ang saya saya naman! Now I’m craving for Tex Mex food. The last time was at Chili’s in Dubai of all places so that means over 9 years ago. Duh!
I would have melted like that ice cream if the staff of a resto where I was dining would sing the birthday song to me. hehehe
oh my, i want go to that resto!! dalhin mo naman ako dyan hehehe
what a nice pre-bday dinner. dapat nagsayaw ka kasi ikaw yung celebrant
sarap naman ng food…
looks like you had a blast! nice one wits! and you made me hungry too!
happy birthday again! mwah!
ang pinoy talaga kahit saan maasahan sa trabaho..halos lahat din ng sikat sa resto dito sa kuwait, karamihan pinoy.
teka,super nakakabusog ang handa,ang figure!(he he he)
pahabol:
parang singing cooks and waitress.
mexican type!
Haha, back at yah! Nagutom din ako sa pics mo. Yung dessert parang ang sarap, sarap!!!
Glad you had a fun night with friends on your birthday. =)
please send me some leftovers especially the brownies and pecans. i’m dying to eat one of those.
you really had a good party there. The food looks good yum yum. Parang Fridays yung resto may mga kumakanta pa.
Yumm…wow, food looks good. Seems your guests had lots of fun too.
I’m drooling over the mexican brownies *gaaaaaaah!*
Happy Boitday Jo!
i looove mexican food. and pina colada too. that was an awesome dinner b/day.
my b/day is in two weeks and i told hubs i wanted to either eat at this hole in the wall (our fave mexican rest) or at this other hole in the wall (sushi place). now he just has to choose which place to take me and he’ll make no wrong move.
hope your 30s will be more enjoyable and fruitful for you.
MALIGAYANG BATI!!!
Fab celeb! Natawa ako sa Sarah’s sundance. LOL. It’s always fantastic to celebrate birthdays with great friends and great food.
ang saraaaaaap! nagutom ako looking at the mex food. glad you had a nice pre-bday dinner! mwah.
what a birthday blast! ang saya-saya naman. sarap ng feeling ng kinatantahan ka at sinasayawan. kaya lang sna sumayaw ka rin. hehehe
the food looks so yummy. kakagutom tuloy.
What a feast. Looks yummy! I felt like crashing into your party uninvited.
wow,,heypi bertday!
nomnom…that mexican brownie looks so good, drooling now!
the food looks oh so yummy, and the guys are very cheerful too. happy birthday.
ang saya nung pictures! natawa din ako sa “better than Sarah’s sundance” lol…
wish tuloy kasama ako sa party mo. and now, i’m kinda sorta hungry and want a burrito!!!
Hi, wits! Happy Birthday ulit sa ‘yo!
Ang sarap ng handa mo! Gusto ko yung guacamole, sauteed shrimp and mushrooms at brownies with pecans! Hmmm…saraaaapp!!!
Good health to you, wits!!!
Take care and GOD Bless you always!!!
oh – my – god! That dessert looks sooooo good! Kahit yan lang sulit na talaga birthday ko! ;D
Glad you had a wonderful and super fun birthday celebration!
TSALAAAAAAAAPP!!!
hanep ang birthday celebration mo ah. and yung mga pagkain, super yummy kahit sa pictures lang. it was fun reading your story. belated happy birthday again! =)
that guacamole looks splendid!
looks like you had a lot of fun! buti na lang i just ate – all the food look really delish in your photos. another good health wish from me on your birthday! {big huuug}
Grabe namang post ito! I feel like going Mexican today! Everything looks so good.
your celebration sure looked fun. i wish you more great birthdays to come!
ang sarap ng foods
i like the brownies presentation it must be tasteful 
belated happy birthday witsandnuts
There goes my drool… and the keyboard receives wide open… splat!
Mouth-watering wits!
BETWEEN BITES
http://www.janedchua.com
Love this post! Yummy!
BETWEEN BITES
http://www.janedchua.com
nagutom ako dun jo a. ang daming food. looks like you really had a blast!