Binondo Food Trip Part 1: Wai Ying

Last night Yuri and I went on a roadtrip. A spur-of-the-moment sort of thing. And yes does qualify as a "roadtrip" because driving from Fairview to Manila is no small feat.

Benavidez St. at night

We decided to go to Binondo for a light midnight snack. Things got out of control though and our "light snack" turned into a full-blown meal that held me over up until breakfast today.

I'm quite embarassed to say that this would be my first time to eat at Binondo. Don't get me wrong, I'm at least a monthly visitor to the Divisoria scene (a 5-minute drive from Binondo) but I never really go there to eat.  I only go to the area to haggle and hoard supplies for our catering business.

So this time we went to Manila for the sole-purpose of eating.  Luckily we have a friend who's lived there her entire life.  Nothing beats getting information from the source.

She told us Benavidez St. is the only street you need to know about if you're a newbie to the Binondo food scene.    We did get there at a little past 12 midnight so that kinda narrowed down our choices.   Good thing my friend's #2 pick was still open at that late hour.

Narrow store front.

Wai Ying is the real deal.  If you're looking for a clean Chinese resto, this is NOT the place to visit.  Wai Ying is a hole-in-the-wall Chinese fast food joint.   They're famous for their affordable and delicious meals.  You'd have to be willing to get down and dirty though.  It's part of the charm and the experience that is Wai Ying.

2nd floor seating.

The place was more than three-fourths full when we got there.  By the time we were done, which was at around 1am, the place was packed!  It reminded me of Hongkong and Malaysia, where the hawkers and locals start pouring into the streets around 11-ish (PM) onwards.  Everyone's just out to eat!

White Chicken Mami Php 95.00

My friend was raving about the White Chicken Mami so I knew we had to order that.  I did not expect their portions to be huge!  Especially for the price.  They used a quarter of a chicken per order.  The white chicken was sooooo good.  The meat was tender and well-seasoned (as far as white chicken dishes go).  The Ginger-Scallion sauce was the icing on the cake!  It took the dish to a whole new level.

Deep-Fried Mantou Php 50.00

The Deep-Fried Mantou (Chinese steamed buns) was also highly-reccommended by our friend.  Crisp on the outside and light and chewy on the inside.  We were advised to dip it in condensed milk so we had to request some from the server, since it's not something they usually serve with the mantou.  That became our dessert.  Yum!  

Radish Cake with a Hoisin Dipping Sauce Php 55.00

Kutchai Dumpling Php 55.00

We also ordered a plate of Radish Cake and Kutchai Dumpling (ground pork with garlic chives).

Plus, their HK Milk Tea was really refreshing.  It was a steal for Php 50.00 per glass.

We ordered all these for just us two.  LOL.  They're a lot more filling than you realize.  In fact, I could barely stand up when we were done. 

Our Verdict:

Erm I kinda forgot to take pictures of our plates after we finished eating because there was just too much food.  My bad.  We had to take home our left-over radish cake and mantou.  This is not a reflection on the taste or the quality of their dishes.  We were just gluttons on this trip.  I'm giving this place 4 stars (out of 5).  The food is amazingly affordable!  Still can't get over it.  Everything cost us less than Php 300.00.  Cleanliness was the only issue but, again, that is part of the adventure.  :)     

I'm definitely going back for their amazing Soy Chicken (Php 380.00) and dimsum (Php 45.00 - Php 75.00).

If all goes according to plan, we'll be having another Binondo food trip next weekend.  Can't wait!



Address: 927 Benavidez St., Binondo, Manila
Hours: 7AM - 2AM

Lani M. and Old Penang

About this gig I was talking about in my earlier post, turns out I can finally say who the celebrity was. It was no other than Asia's Nightingale Lani Misalucha(!!!!). We fed the production crew and her entire cast. Yay joy!  They loved the food and the service.  Whew.  Now I can finally breathe and move on.

I've always admired her for her incredible vocal range and her comedic flair.  Her Celine Dion and Tina Turner impersonations were dead-on last night. I got such a kick out of her skits.  I was able to watch almost the whole concert. Such a treat! Oh and The Newport Performing Arts Theater was simply gorgeous! The awesome lighting and high-tech screens added so much class and depth to her song numbers. Unfortunately I've no pictures to show as proof.  I wasn't allowed to take pictures back stage and inside the theater.  They tell me it's for security reasons. *sigh*  At least I'm absolutely certain that I didn't dream up this whole thing because my eye bags tell me otherwise. They haven't completely disappeared yet.

Oh but I do have this!

I know I'm raving like a ninny here but it takes very little to make me happy. Going to UP Diliman for fish balls is sometimes the highlight of my day. So imagine how I've been feeling since after the concert. I'm (to say the least) bouncing-off-the-walls-crazy-happy!  I have to thank a friend for this amazing opportunity.  You know who you are. :)

Lani Misalucha performed with the Resorts World European Dance Troupe. Most of whom looked like they walked out of a Chippendale show (to Yuri's dismay). Har har.  Yuri had nothing to worry about though.  Their ruffly neon costumes and fishnet shirts were too icky to garner THAT sort of reaction from me.  I'm not sure if that was what Lani M. had in mind for her back-up dancers. Hmmm.

The show was delayed and started at 9PM so Yuri and I had time to grab a quick bite. You know me, my idea of a good dinner is 500 bucks or less. I get such thrill from finding a good deals; meaning, affordable and really tasty meals.  Since we were at the upscale Newport Mall, dining with Metro Manila's high-rollers, my 500 peso requirement quickly whittled down our choices to about 4 restaurants;  Mcdonald's, Stackers, Kopi Roti, and Old Penang. I didn't even look at Mcdonald's since we'd been living on Mcdonald drive-throughs for a few days now.  I've been to Stackers too so that was out of the question.  Kopi Roti just had nothing special to offer (that I know of) aside from their coffee bun.  Old Penang it was.  The fact that I'm a nut for Malaysian cuisine kinda swayed me in their favor anyways.

The tipping point was this dish right here.

Char Keoy Teow Php 220.00

Char Koay Teow or stir-fried rice noodles.  It's been a while since I tasted a decent version of this.  It definitely isn't the best plate of char koay teow in the Philippines (recommendations anyone?) but it did manage to satisfy my craving for it.  To their credit, they used good-sized fresh prawns and the bean sprouts were quite crisp.  They also added their own twist to the dish by adding chorizo (chinese sausage) to the mix.  I wish the noodles were a bit more charred though.  

Fried Rice Special Php 245.00

The Char Keoy Teow was on the spicy side so it was a good thing we ordered their Fried Rice Special to go with our noodles (not that anything is ever too spicy for Yuri).

Their fried rice was a winner!   I am a rice monster.  Ask anyone close to me.  I can decimate at least 4 cups of rice per meal on a good day.  I know what I'm talking about.  Their fried rice was simple yet well-executed.  Not too oily and just the right amount of seasoning.  Also, I'm pretty sure they went light on the MSG because I didn't get a headache after the meal.

The main ingredients were prawns (which we substituted to chicken because of Yuri's allergies), barbecue pork, and chorizo.  They finished it off with a nice helping of fried shallots on top. Yum!  Fried shallots are ridiculously tasty.  They add so much flavor and texture to fried rice.  In fact, I cook my sinangag (Filipino-style fried rice) with fried garlic and shallots.  I picked up this obsession of mine with fried shallots from my uber long visits to Indonesia when I was a kid.  Fried shallots bring back all those good childhood memories. :)

Old Penang still tried to keep the " hawker" feel in the resto with the staff uniforms, tables, and stools.  I'm sure that was a bit challenging what with the luxurious feel of the Newport Mall.

Our verdict:

We finished three-fourths of the Char Keoy Teow and completely wiped out the fried rice.  I'm giving Old Penang 3.5 stars (out of 5).  I'd give them another shot since I've only tried two dishes.  I'd like to try their Hainanese Chicken Rice and their Laksa the next time I'm there.  Hopefully I'll be at the Newport Mall a lot. :)

Work Mode

I know it's been a few days since I last posted anything. I swear I'm not being lazy. It's just that our business is back in full-swing. I have to admit that Yuri and I did get get a tad carried away with our out-of-town trips this month. Hey, we can only milk the-newly-wedded-couple-on-a-vacation excuse for so long. I could probably get away with that line for a year tops so we figured we'd squeeze everything in right after the December rush.

So yeah we're back in the real world, what with the pile of bills cropping up, which effectively cleared the rosy pink haze. Anyhoos, so we got this exciting gig for today and tomorrow which included breakfast, lunch, snacks, and dinner. This event came as a pleasant surprise to us even if it was all terribly short-notice. As last-minute as everything was already, they suddenly decided to make a few changes on the menu and the head count at 2AM this morning. Yes you read right, 2AM THIS MORNING! Three friggin' hours before their supposed breakfast delivery. So I've been at my wits end since then trying to catch up to our delivery deadlines while revising our recipe quantifications. I even had to send my dear husband to make an emergency market run for the additional ingredients we needed due to the changes. So yeah fun times. Just another day at work. Our kitchen felt like a restaurant today . Non-stop action.

I'm so glad that despite the setbacks, Yuri still got great feedback from our client this afternoon. I'm so relieved! If the client's happy then I'm.. ecstatic! It's not over yet though. I'm crossing my fingers (and toes if that helps) that everything goes over smoothly tomorrow. If all goes according to plan, I'm hoping I can disclose who our first celebrity client is. :) For fear of jinxing it I shall keep my mouth shut for now. In the meantime, I have my costing sheets and recipes to keep me company. Oh and we're about to pre-prep one of our desserts in an hour. Cookies and Cream Cheesecake. Mmmmm.

Wish me luck!

Comfort Food at Mom & Tina's

They've got good hearty food that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Also, the prices are wallet-friendly (a.k.a. Michelle-friendly).  Definitely my kind of restaurant.  lol.  Mom & Tina's Bakery Cafe puts a twist on classic dishes to make them truly memorable.

It used to be an itsy bitsy stall stationed at the main entrance of Panciteria San Jacinto (which is beside the building where they are now).  Mom & Tina's Bakery has been there for more than ten years if I remember correctly.  My mom and brother (big fans of their desserts) used to buy their mini cakes without fail every time we'd eat at Panciteria San Jacinto (our go-to restaurant for big family get-togethers and such). 

Now they've upgraded and moved into the neighboring building with the same inspiring American country-ish decor and feel.  Leaps and bounds from the stall we used to visit.  Never would I have imagined that they could accomplish such an amazing feat.  It's really inspiring.

Yuri and I stopped by last week to check the place out.  Yes, it took us this long to dine here even though they had moved into their new home for more than a year now.  You see, every time we attempted to go we'd be deterred by the lack of parking or by the amount of time we seemingly had to wait in order to get good seats.   We managed to snag one of the three tables with comfy couches on this visit so were quite happy.

We ordered the first two things that jumped out at us in the menu.  I was immediately drawn to the U.S. Beef Tapa and Yuri went for the Chicken & Spinach Lasagna.  

U.S. Beef Tapa Php 185.00

It was wayyyy better than what I was expecting.  I did a double-take when the plate was placed in front of me because my beef tapa looked like bacon.  Hey I wasn't complaining.  Everyone knows that bacon is the fastest way to my heart any foodie's heart. It was crisp and just had enough fat on the sides to really give it that bacon look and crunch.  It came with garlic rice, oh-so-fluffy scrambled eggs, a dollop of atchara, and vinegar on the side.  All this for P 185.00.  I was more than satisfied.

Chicken & Spinach Lasagna with Garlic Cheese Rolls Php 160.00

Now this was a treat.  Just look at that overflowing cheesy bechamel sauce just begging to be tasted.  I only got to try a few forkfuls because Yuri kept shooing me away from his plate.  Hmph.

I liked it that they served the lasagna piping hot.   The bechamel sauce was both exquisitely creamy and light.  All the flavors blended together perfectly.  Comfort food in a decent-sized ramekin for just Php 160.00.  My only complaint (and it's the teeny tiniest one) is that the spinach part was missing in the dish.  Other than that, it was lovely and we'd definitely order it again.

Our verdict: 

So hmmm yeah.  We pretty much wiped out those plates.  I'm giving them a solid 4.7 stars (out of 5), on account of the parsley we left on our plates and because Yuri's ramekin wasn't licked completely clean.  Seriously though, they've got great value for money, cute decor, and a relaxed ambience.  Mom and Tina's Bakery Cafe is definitely worth visiting again.  And again.  And again.    

We only had thirty minutes to eat so we skipped out on dessert.  A mortal sin, which I will do penance for on my next visit there.  One of the servers told us that their steaks and callos dish are crowd favorites.  Oh and my brother tells me that their Shepherd's Pie is amazing too.

And so on our next visit, Chuck Steak, Shepherd's Pie , and Callos it shall be.  :-)

Address: 106 E. Rodriguez Jr. Ave, Bgy. Ugong, Pasig City

Booty Shakin' in Aklan

I'm finally back in Manila with a working internet connection.  Yes that's my excuse for not writing a single entry in four days.  Or maybe I was just enjoying myself too much.  We were at the Ati-Atihan Festival (in Kalibo, Aklan) for 5 days and 4 nights.  The deafening drum beats seem to follow me everywhere even in my sleep.  It was literally two 24-hour days of non-stop drumming.  People were just dancing, drinking, and partying like crazy on the streets.  Sleeping, apparently, was a foreign concept.  I am completely blown away by their devotion to the Sto. Nino and their stamina.  Although to be honest, I think half of the people that were there showed up just to party and drink.  I find myself still tapping my fingers to the hala bira beats in my head.

It was a unique experience and I'm glad we went.  I've picked up some nifty dance moves to add to my arsenal.  Harhar.  NOT.  Arguably their signature feet shuffle and booty shake would probably get me kicked out of any reputable club.  Then again that's what's fun about this festival.  You can shake and shimmy any which way you like.  Nothing is too "uncool".  I think that's why my dad was hell-bent on going.    My dad decided to unleash all of his signature dance moves that usually had me cringing and melting with embarrassment.  In the ati-atihan setting he just blended in.  Whew.  Thank God.

Oh my parents had such a grand time!  They were swaying and waving their hands like there was no tomorrow.  I couldn't keep up with them but I was happy to see them laughing and enjoying themselves.  With hundreds of colorful costumes parading past me and bodies painted in every color possible dancing fervently and passionately to the marching bands, it's pretty hard not to get carried away and join in.

I can't possibly put into words the festive mood and the electric air of celebration.  I'm better off letting my pictures do the talking.

We marched with them to the plaza.

Dancing their hearts out.

One of the many kids who participated.

Mom, me, and the Sto. Nino.

The plaza.

The plaza was the final meeting point of all the ati-atihan "tribes".  This was also where the judges looked them over since a winner is chosen on the last day of the fiesta.  Here they went round and round the plaza square dancing with the Santo. Ninos and displaying their colorful attires.  This would go on for two whole days (believe it or not).  They were tireless.

Here are some of the amazing costumes we saw.

Neon colors are the fashion.

Heavy headdress with capiz accents.

A combination of grease, paint, and or charcoal.

Orc.

There's another way to go about it.  Here are some of the non-traditional ways of dressing up for the ati-atihan.

These two are usually seen at the D'Mall in Boracay.

Mr. Fabulous.  :)

Awesome!

A family of reptiles.

Organized chaos.

There were probably more than ten thousand people squished in that plaza.  Yuri says it was a hundred thousand.  We're really bad at estimating as you can see.  The point is that there were A LOT of people.

It got wilder as the day progressed.  The young people and big fraternities started making their appearance in the afternoon spraying people with beer and such.  By 7 PM almost everyone participating in the parade was drunk.  Red Horse was generally the beer of choice.  The locals told us that alcohol allowed them to march and dance for that long.  We got to join one of the groups in the parade and shots of brandy was being passed around and offered to everyone.  Luckily the people of Aklan are extremely friendly and hospitable so it was all relatively harmless.  I think.

I have to thank our host family in Aklan.  They graciously fed us for the good part of the two whole fiesta days.  The famous Cebu Lechon (whole-roasted pig) , Inubarang Manok (an Aklanon dish composed of native chicken, lemongrass, ubod),  Pork Ribs, and Lengua were some of the dishes that they'd usually cook for us.  They also served an abundance of fresh oysters.  Yummmm.  I wolfed down a whole plate.  Nothing new there. Teehee.

Lovely and buttery.

We also hoarded our fair share of goodies from the Biscocho Haus, a popular bakeshop with a scattering of branches in Iloilo.  Lucky for us, they had a store at the Gaisano Mall in Kalibo.  We loaded up on the biscochos (toasted bread with milk and sugar) and the butterscotch squares, which they're also known for.

The trip could not be complete without a bit of sightseeing.

Dela Cruz House of Pina.

Top-of -the-line locally made products.

Here I bought a pretty set of coasters (6 pieces) for just Php 204.00.  Half of what it would cost me if I bought it in Kultura or Rustan's, since the Dela Cruz House of Pina is one of their major suppliers.

All in all a tiring but unforgettable trip.  All the beliefs and traditions inherent in the ati-atihan, both pagan and religious, were exciting to see.  It's one of the best ways to see and understand the Philippines.  Plus, Boracay is just a bus ride away from Kalibo.  A viable option if you'd like to get away  from all the noise and have better accomodations.  Yuri and I might consider going back next year if our budget permits.  Until then I have my pictures to enjoy and to remember these four days by. :)

A Filipino Christmas is Violet and Yellow

So we were driving home after our jogging stint in UP when we passed by the go-to puto bumbong/bibingka lady inside our village.  It's just a makeshift tent (with no name) on the sidewalk of the main street (Sampaguita St.) with three palayok (clay pot)  burners for the bibingkas.  The smoldering coal just beckons to passersby with a promise of freshly-cooked traditional Filipino snacks.  Since I only moved into the area when Yuri and I got married, which was 5 months ago, I've only heard stories of this fabled puto bumbong and bibingka stall.  Yuri and my brother-in-law rave about them all the time.  Unfortunately, we haven't had a chance to sample any of their tasty treats since they opened in December.  Yuri and I were completely slammed with catering gigs last December, so we always got home late.  Each time we drove by Sampaguita St., the stall would already be closed OR on the off-chance that we did make it home early-ish we'd see cars queued up along the sidewalk waiting for their bibingka and/or puto bumbong orders.  During those times we were just too out of it to wait and line-up.

So earlier, we were pleasantly surprised to see that the stall was still open, especially being it past December and all.  Puto bumbong/ bibingka stalls are usually already closed by this time of the year so we thought for sure that our village lady had disappeared by now.

I was not passing this rare opportunity up.  I demanded asked Yuri to turn the car around so that we could FINALLY buy some.  The ones I sampled during the Christmas season were really icky versions of the two said snacks.  It made me feel like something was still missing from my Christmas experience... up until today that is. :) You see, puto bumbong and bibingka are the quitessential Filipino Christmas delicacies.  The scent of puto bumbong and bibingka from the street vendors marks the nearing of the holiday season just as snow does for the Western world.

We ended up buying one of each.  It's just an easy two-minute drive from the stall to our house so they were still hot when we got there.  

Puto Bumbong is simply a bamboo-steamed rice cake topped with muscovado sugar and shredded coconut.  I got mine for Php 40.00.  It's simply galapong (glutinous) rice soaked (and then dried) overnight with violet food coloring.  The rice mixture is then placed inside the bumbong (bamboo tubes) and then cooked in the lansungan (heat steamer) which is filled with water and pandan leaves.  A laborious process that is usually taken for granted by most Filipinos.

The rice cake itself is lightly seasoned bordering on bland.  The muscovado sugar and shredded coconut complete this snack.  I just love the velvety and gooey texture of puto bumbong.  Vendors usually add a good dose of margarine on top of the puto bumbong but mine had only a touch of it which I prefer.  It's shelf life is just 2 days.  This isn't a big deal at all since everyone I know eats it on the spot or at least as soon as they get home.

A bibingka is a soft and spongy cake made with rice flour, coconut milk, and eggs.  It's usually cooked with slices of salted egg in the middle and then topped with shredded coconut.  The cake is cooked in banana leaves with pre-heated coals under and above it giving it a wonderful smoky char on both sides.  The heady aroma of toasted banana leaves is also something to look forward to.  The smell immediately filled up the whole car as soon as my bibingka was handed to me.  It's really fluffy and moist when done right and best eaten while it's still piping hot.  This cost me Php 60.00 which I was happy to spend.

These two delicacies are intrinsic to Filipino family traditions.  I always get warm fuzzy feelings when I get to eat them.  Simple, hearty, and uniquely Filipino fare.

I'm hoping that they're still open til the end of February.  Crossing my fingers.  Or at least until I get back from my Kalibo trip.  Which reminds me... I need to start packing.  Ugh.  Well, good night then.

Lumpiang Sariwa Done Right

Kuya's Special Lumpiang Sariwa (Filipino-style fresh spring rolls). The only place that completely satisfies my lumpiang sariwa craving!

I got to taste my first Kuya's Lumpiang Sariwa at the Vira Mall Food Court (Greenhills). When I went up to their stall and saw that they were only selling just one product, which I thought at the time was insane, I knew had to try it. Selling only lumpiang sariwa is a pretty bold move.

Anyway I tried it and was a convert! Okay fiiine, they were on to something here. For P 42 pesos you get this and two generous servings of their sweet-garlicky lumpia sauce.
.

The lettuce leaf they use to wrap the vegetable filling in is always fresh and crunchy. The filling is an assortment of sauteed vegetables (mainly ubod, carrots, and sayote). The secret to the success of this lumpia is the seaweed seasoning they put inside the lumpia together with the cut up crunchy-fried rice noodles. It just adds a whole new layer to the flavor and the texture of the dish. I LOVE seaweed, be it fresh or dried.

See all the good stuff I was talking about? Mmmmmm.

It also has a sprinkling of ground roasted peanuts and fried crunchy garlic bits inside the lumpia. It works really well with their sauce and just brightens the flavors in your mouth. Another thing I like about their lumpia is that the wrapper is nice and thin. Other wrappers are a bit too thick and tough which ruins the whole dish.

Their stall in Vira Mall has closed down.  Bummer.  I've been feeling down since I found out.  Maybe I should've bought more lumpia.  Good news is, I found out last week that they had another stall at the SM Fairview Food Court which is just 10 minutes from where I live so YAY!

I'm on my way there now. :)

Hongkong and Tim Ho Wan

Tim Ho Wan.  The highlight of the Hongkong part of  HK-Macau honeymoon back in September 2010.  You may have heard of this place since it's the famously affordable Michelin-starred dim sum restaurant in Mong Kok.  Incredible 5-star fare made accessible to the masses.   Who could possibly pass up on that??? Nuh uh not me.

For the life of me, I would not have been able to find this restaurant on my own.  A hole-in-the-wall eatery with no English on it's signage whatsoever.  It's owned by Chef Mak Pui Gor, who was formely the chef of the Four Seasons Hotel's Michelin-starred restaurant Lung King Heen.   

If I took 5 long strides down Kwong Wa St. I could have easily missed Tim Ho Wan because that's about how narrow the store front is.  Only it would be pretty hard to casually walk past Tim Ho Wan especially with the crowd of hungry locals and tourists taking up the whole of the sidewalk in front of the resto.  If you can't read their signage, then this would definitely clue you in.  Thank God we had our friends with us to lead the way.  Thank you Mr. & Mrs. Diplomat for this amazing experience!

Mr. Diplomat met us at our hotel.  What he initially described as a 5-minute walk from our hotel to Tim Ho Wan, turned into 10-minute walk because me and Yuri were slowing our friend down.  Apparently it was a "5-minute Hongkongese walk", and they can walk with the best of them in New York.  People over there, as I've observed, walk EVERYWHERE.  They can walk really fast too.  We Manila city-folk are not a walking people.  Or it could be just me.  My excuse is that the pollution would probably do me in, what with my annoying allergies and asthma.  My walking is confined within the filtered and AC comforts of the malls and the semi-fresh air of the Academic Oval in UP.

Back to the program.  When we got there Mrs. Diplomat was already in line outside the store.  They'd given us a copy of their menu, which had English translations, to hasten the ordering process.  It was a little after 7pm and we had to wait for 30 minutes which is a relatively short waiting period.  The air was rife with anticipation and impatience.  Yuri and I didn't know what to expect, but we kind of knew it would be awesome just by looking at the amount of people in line and the faces of the exiting customers.

It was a tight squeeze inside.  I was already on elbow-to-elbow terms with diners seated at the table beside us.  There was definitely a method to the madness.  The servers just whizzed by with a don't-mess-with-me-glare from table to table in an extremely efficient manner.

Please do not judge me by my poorly taken pictures.  This was pre-LX5 and my old camera was not the best with low-light settings.

Feast your eyes on these!

Hakaw (Steamed Shrimp Dumplings) & Steamed Egg Cake

Steamed Beef and Mixed Vegetable Dumpling

Cha Siu Bauu (Barbecue Pork Buns)

Between us four we probably ordered 2 sets of 9 different dishes.  The hakaw and cha siu bauu was to dieeeeee forrrrrrr.  In between bites I could not stop raving, giggling, and drooling.  The steamed shrimp dumplings were delicately encased in translucent melt-in-your-mouth pastry.  When you bite into them they just burst in your mouth the most beautiful way possible.  That was arguably the best hakaw I've ever eaten.  The cha siu bauu was such a treat too.  This dish is usually steamed but at Tim Ho Wan they serve it fried.  It's light and fluffy with a delicate caramel crisp on top.  Other dishes that really stood out for me were the Steamed Egg Cake and the Pan-Fried Turnip Cake.   The couple from Amsterdam seated beside us were trying to strike up a conversation but I was too distracted by the food to contribute anything useful to mix.    

My senses were on overdrive.  The artistry with the pastries and flavors was intense. And to think that each dish costs only 10 to 20 HKD.  You can't get that at any other Michelin-starred restaurant for sure.  We owe it all to our gracious hosts. 

Tim Ho Wan I shall return. 

Address: Tsui Yuen Mansion, 2-20 Kwong Wa St., Mong Kok, Kowloon
Hours: 10am -10pm (but I heard that they stop giving out tickets at 8:30pm)

Mish Mash of East and West

I'm feeling loads better today!  Still not a 100% but at least I'm getting there.  Yesterday was a miserable for me.  I was stuck in bed with fever, colds, sore throat, and a touch of asthma.  My killer combo.  Ugh.  Thank God for Yuri (hubby) who patiently plied me with food and meds all day.  Luckily, he was in the mood for a Lord of the Rings marathon, which lasted all of 9 hours, so he wasn't complaining at all.

This is the third day and my palette is still completely shot.  Everything I eat tastes like paper.  So I figure it would be useless and pretentious to write about food when I have been barely eating.  I don't mean to turn this into a health blog but I was looking at all the stuff I've been inadvertently taking and realized that I am one messed up chick.  

So hypochondriac me did my own version of Bobby Flay's Throwdown.  Except this one's really geeky.  And should be on Discovery Health instead of Lifestyle.  Obviously I have too much time on my hands right.  Plus I'm extremely bored.  In any case, here it is. 

My East vs. West Challenge. Tada!... ?

Contender #1:  Alternative a.k.a. "Asian" Medicine

Siang Pure Inhaler, Echostore's Spa in a Bottle/Lifesaver, Pei Pa Koa Candies

I could've added Salabat Tea (Ginger Tea) but I ran out.  :(  Oh and can I just say that Echostore's Lifesaver is a dream!  Can't live without it.  I've got to thank my college bud Sheryl for replenishing my supply!

Contender #2:  Modern Medicine

Tempra Forte, Strepsils, and No-Drowse Decolgen

I decided to not include my allergy and asthma medicine to even out the playing field.    

Yes I took all these without even realizing it! Forgive my not-so-scientific methods, but hey some sort of combination did work because I got a 2-day turnaround!  

On one side we've got VCO (virgin coconut oil), peppermint, lavender, orange, menthol, eucalyptus, camphor, borneol, honey, and a blend of complicated Chinese herbs.

On the other, we have paracetamol, phenylphrine HCL, and dichlorobenzyl alcohol, and amylmetacresol.

I took both Strepsils and some Pei Pa Koa candies.  Two very different approaches to sore throat relief.  I've been taking Nin Jiom Pei Pa Koa in syrup form since I was in grade school because it was said to relieve sore throat, lessen asthma, and decongest.  We lived in Malaysia for three years so we got the Chinese medicine influence from there.  No matter how biased I am, I have to admit that Strepsils did the job faster.   

Now let's get to the Siang Pure Inhaler and the No-Drowse Decolgen.  I took/used both for nasal decongestion and my headaches.  By the way, I've got to say that the Siang Pure Inhaler is leaps and bounds better, in terms of strength and effectiveness, than the Vicks Inhaler.  I discovered Siang Pure in Macau when I was suffering from colds and a killer migraine.  Of course Decolgen had an instantaneous effect but I have give props to Siang Pure for helping me breathe easier in between my Decolgens.    

Anyways you get the drift.  One bored person is enough.  I don't want to bore you guys too with my obsession for meds.

My conclusion?  I definitely prefer alternative medicine to modern medicine because a) i don't get any side effects, b) they come out cheaper most of the time, and c) ingredients are all-natural.  

However, they seem to work better for less severe symptoms.  For the virus that I have right now, my alternative meds definitely won't cut it.  But I think it did help speed up my recovery.  It sort of worked like a booster.

 So yeah, taking modern medicine will be the surefire way to recover for obvious reasons BUT if you've only got minimal or minor symptoms I'd go for the alternative meds first for the reasons I stated above.

And that's your tip of the day from Quack Dr. Michelle. Harhar.

Again I realize that I'm a product of a very confused society stuck in limbo where traditional and modern ways of living aren't at odds but are actually side by side.  Just go to Quiapo and you'll see what I mean.  Fortunetellers, various deities, and hawkers selling talismans are lined up outside of Quiapo church.  They're drumming up quite a business too.  I've no plans on tackling THAT today since I've still got a headeache thank you very much.

Oh well, at least I've got options.   

Brainwashing Manifesting in a Vitamin C Tablet

Allergy-induced colds are such a hassle.  I'm not alone though.  Almost everyone I know has some form of it this week.  I even vetoed Yuri's supposed jogging stint later at UP since he too has just recovered is still recovering from a bout of severe fever and colds.  MEN. Tsk tsk.

Anyhoos, I've started taking Vitamin C tablets even though my nutrition class professor pounded it in me that Vitamin C only works as a preventive measure.  So drinking fresh calamansi juice and taking Vitamin C tablets does absolutely nothing for you when you take it during your colds.  Shocking ain't it?  It'll help your body fight it's next cold/flu war but you've got no other recourse but to weather out your current battle (and drink the proper allergy/colds/flu medicine of course).  Yeah well, I drank my Vitamin C anyway as a guilt-reflex since I've been lazy with my supposed daily intake of vitamin supplements.  Plus, my mom's nagging errrr voice trumps my professor's sermons any day.  As I've discovered, independence and marriage never freed me from my mom's teachings.  I carry it around with me like a guilty conscience.  Ha! She'd be so proud.

These days I catch myself saying and doing the exact same things she used to do that used to annoy me to no end.  It's really not a bad thing since I love my mom to bits and she's been an amazing role model for me.  The point is that it's FREAKY!   

So there.  The 500mg Vitamin C tablet that I'll be drinking is an ode to you mommy dearest.  *me waving the white flag*

Chocolatey Choco-late de Batirol

Choco-late de Batirol.  A cozy garden hideaway.  It's the perfect place to enjoy a cup of freshly-made choco-late done the traditional way.  This cafe has always piqued my interest but this is the first time we actually stopped to take a look.  It's easy to miss since it's located right before one of the exit gates (Scout Hill) of Camp John Hay in Baguio City.  I think this sort of look and concept would be hard to pull of at any other location but the hills and climate of Baguio make it look like some sort of fairy cottage ensconced in a pretty rainforest.   

Quaint signage.

We caught them 5 minutes before their closing time so we weren't able to sample any of their hearty Kapampangan fare.

Wooden artifacts and ecycled materials.

It's really enchanting at night... or creepy depending on how you look at it since the surrounding area is pitch-black except for this place.  It really calls out to you.  They usually have sprigs of fresh flowers on each table but they cleared them out before I could take a picture.  No biggie.  We were there for a cuppa choco anyway.

Barista with his"batirol" and "molinillo".

Part of the menu.

I had the Kahlua Choco-late, Yuri (hubby) had the Traditional Blend, and Ku (brother-in-law) had the Baguio Strawberry Blend.  I got to taste all three.  I should've tried theirs before I drank mine because mine packed quite a punch and was on the sweet side because of the Kahlua.  Yuri's had the most balanced flavor.  Ku's was similar to Yuri's Traditional Blend except it had the wonderful aroma of fresh strawberries wafting up from the clay mug.  It added another layer of flavor in the most subtle way.  Ku's was the best out of the three.

All in all their their choco-late is thick and earthy.  It's perfect for the cold weather since it warms up your insides real quick.      

A word of caution though for lactose intolerant sufferers like me.  I wouldn't go there on a first date if you know what I mean.  It doesn't help that the mixing process with the use of the "molinillo", which acts like a whisk, incorporates A LOT of air into the choco-late mixture. ;-)

Baguio Strawberry Fix

I've a bit of catching up to do.  Let me backtrack to a week ago.  Seven days ago I was in Baguio with Yuri.  I was on a mission.  The plan was to do nothing but sleep, cook at home, and get our Strawberry Taho fix.  We didn't want to deal with the Baguio traffic, which can get pretty ridiculous during the holiday season, so we planned our trips outside to a minimum.  Besides, we came armed with assorted sausages, mozzarella, shallots, garlic, rice, bread, a tray of eggs, and assorted seasonings so we were quite happy at home. 

On our second day there, we decided it was time to brave the streets of Baguio to go looking for our Strawberry Taho.  It took us a full hour to get to Burnham Park and then another hour to abandon our plan because we couldn't find a place to park.  So a supposed  ten-minute minute drive turned into a two-hour nightmare.  We went back to our place and switched plans.  We walked.  Not to Burnham Park but to Mines View Park.  It was just a ten-minute scenic trek from our place to Mines View and Good Shepherd.  I was just happy to get to somewhere after all the fruitless driving. 
       

Finally, there it was.  Strawberry Taho! :)  A snack of fresh silken tofu, strawberry syrup, and pearl sago.  It has real strawberry bits which makes it more believable.  Only in Baguio.  They sell the Regular Taho too but why'd you want to eat that when you can have this???  Bad news is that the price has been jacked up to Php 20 per cup.  It used to be only Php 15 per cup the last time I had it, but Mines View has always been a tourist hotspot so they could've been milking it and charging a bit more.

 
While I was there I bought some fresh strawberries as well.  I've never been a fan of ultra-crowded places but we were literally in and out of Mines View in five minutes.

Bottomline was, I got my strawberry fix and I was one happy girl.