A Valentine Service
INK’s writing apprentice, Sarah Calimag, ventures into a Friday night’s dinner and her experience at Resto 101’s Valentines Dinner event.
“This is love, this is life.”
Valentine’s Day is one of those days in the year where guys go crazy in deciding what type of presents they should buy and surprises they should make for their girlfriends; and where girls can’t stop squealing and blushing after they’ve received bouquets of flowers and boxes of chocolates. Happy couples would know this day as “Valentine’s Day,” but for those otherwise, this day is better known as “Single’s Awareness Day” or “Single’s Appreciation Day.”
In line with this special day, Restaurant 101 opened its doors for a special dinner, a celebration, a romantic date or for those foodies looking for a reasonable and gastronomical experience. Restaurant 101’s Chef de Cuisine Julian Koberl, together with his team of regular staff and student employees, prepared an array of dishes both pleasing to the eye and the palate.
Sweet music flowed about the Atrium and the restaurant floor where guests happily indulged in their beautifully plated meals, while being attended to and served by a team of student employees and volunteer students, mostly freshmen who are currently taking up their service laboratory classes. This team was hand-picked by Resto 101’s assistant manager Paco Naguiat who’s criteria for the team was dedication, hard work and the passion to serve and bring smiles to the guests’ faces – I was definitely flattered and excited to be a part of the chosen few.
“At first, we were all nervous because for us, freshmen, it’s our first time to serve during a special event. But we were excited, too! We really learned a lot and we will always treasure this experience,” said Gemelle Lim, one of the volunteer students.
Seeing all those satisfied faces toward the close of the night, was a friendly reminder to everyone to appreciate those around us. In a relationship or not, what matters is being surrounded by it – from family, friends, colleagues. Love does not shut anyone out; rather, it opens up to different things and experiences. “Keep love an open door.”
