Alba's lunch buffet

I seriously have to go on a diet soon. None of my pants fit and I've been wearing the loosest shirts I could find in my cabinet. Worse was the feeling of lethargy since I've also stopped playing tennis. I must formulate a game plan, a compromise between healthy eating while achieving my goal of trying out all the 500 food items in the guidebook SPOT.ph's Top 10 Everything Food Lists. The categories weren't exactly a dietitians' dream list so there lies the challenge.

Anyway, I had vouchers that I wanted to use before the impending expiration date so I invited my brother and some friends to a weekend lunch buffet. Oh well, the diet will just have to seriously start the following day.

The venue was Alba on Polaris Street in Bel Air. I've actually tried their buffet more than a year ago so it was time for another visit. The interiors were too dark for lunch and almost all the tables were reserved for voucher holders. I guess it wasn't just me who only availed on the final weekend, even though the duration period was for six months.

The buffet spread was the usual design. Skirting made me cringe, since this idea should have been left behind in the eighties.

The Appetizer Table featured Tortilla Con Quezo, Tablea de Embutidos - "a variety of Spanish cold cuts", Ensalada de Caesar - "Caesar's Salad" and an assortment of bread with dips.

Champignon Agillo - "mushrooms in garlic sauce", Chorizos de Alba - "assorted homemade Spanish sausages" and Breaded Seafoods.

Pasta Bolognesa - "pasta with meat sauce seasoned with garlic, herbs and olive oil" and Verduras Con Ajo - "garlic vegetables".

Grilled Pork and Cochinillo Asado - "tender roasted suckling pig".

Paella Valenciana.

Pecado ala Romana and Spanish Chicken Barbeque.

Callos Madrileña.

Lengua Sevillana.

Brazo de Gitano.

Sliced Fruits and Canonigo - "delectably soft meringue cake with vanilla custard sauce".

Gelatin.

Some kind of noodle soup was provided at the start of the meal.

So I just had a little taste of the dishes. Some appetizers,

an assortment of dips with a few pieces of toasts and crackers,

mushrooms, seafood, chorizo, cochinillo asado,

lengua, paella, pecado (fish) and

callos. I skipped trying out the grilled pork, pasta, chicken barbeque and vegetable dishes. They weren't enticing at all.

I tried only two desserts, brazo and canonigo.

Gerry with his plate of food.

Dennis and Mabel completed our lunch table. The conversation was light and humorous, which was how it should be. No politics or any recent events happening in the country. I find those topics tedious to discuss.