MANILA, Philippines?When designer Patis Tesoro hosts a meal, she does so with panache and a bit of quirkiness.

Imagine an outdoor setting composed of eye-catching ethnic fabrics, flung over wrought iron chairs paired with an antique balayong table, the most distinguished of the Philippine hardwoods.

It is set with patterned plates, vases filled with bromeliads and 1950s glasses. A parrot is placed near the head table to entertain the early birds.

That was just one of the vignettes she whipped up at Salud Gallery Café, the restaurant in San Pablo City, Laguna, run by her daughter Nina and her son-in-law chef Paul ?Pol? Poblador.

The restaurant is known for Filipino foods prepared through modern techniques.

One Sunday morning, Poblador prepared Filipino comfort foods with a twist. The corned beef with hashed browns was garnished with a curry leaf from the garden that added flavor and scent.

The fried suman was served with mango compote. Poblador?s Pinoy Ceasar?s salad was a medley of petal-head ferns, organic tomatoes, red eggs, white cheese and a dressing with a touch of Batangas fish paste.

The food was laid out on a table that appealed to the eye and the palate?the jackfruit from the garden, the heirloom flatware, the delicate napkins and the various plates.

Each was a well-thought out concoction, with its individual complexity of texture and color to stimulate the senses.

The dishes were presented in Tesoro?s maximalist fashion, a style based on abundance, creative and personal expression.

It emphasized the mix of period articles with flea-market finds, and a penchant for giving a new spark to old things.

However, in this exuberant setting, the food was still the highlight. For instance, the potato and mushroom omelet, inspired by Italian country cooking, was concocted from local farm fresh eggs, organic marble potatoes from Quezon and Laguna.

The eggs were whipped so that the omelet was fluffy, cooked till dry and baked. The dish was prepared with understated china and flatware, embroidered napkins and embroidered glass holders on the balayong table.

Indeed cooking and entertaining were both experiments in producing eye-catching compositions.

Salud Gallery Café is at Kusina Salud Compound, 285 Barangay Sta. Cruz, Putol, San Pablo City, Laguna. Call 0921-7726985 or e-mail kusinasalud@gmail.com