Category Archives: Food Trip

Foodtrip in the Metro: Binondo Food Wok in style

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Going on a trip need not be far. Sometimes, all you have to do is have an open mind and rediscover what you already have around you. Such was the case for Binondo, the home of the Tsinoys or Filipino Chinese.

I used to go to Binondo for bargain shopping and wholesale buys at Divisoria and 168 Mall. But one Tuesday afternoon, I rediscovered Binondo as one of the must-go-places to treat your taste buds to a feast.

This time, I did not commute but rode the all-new Ford Focus, which was on a test drive. Since I was “not yet” used to the roads in the metro, fellow travel writer, Kara Santos of Traveling-Up, sat on the driver’s seat while I took the passenger seat.

The Focus has the features of a luxury car but is categorized in the consumer car segment. One of these features is the Sync, where a mobile phone is sync with the car. When someone calls you, you don’t need to hold your phone but answer the phone through voice commands.You can also dial a number by just telling the number or the name of the person in your phone book. Watch this video.

Another cool feature is receiving a text message. All you have to say is “Listen” and the voice will read the message for you.

We got to experience these while driving along Roxas Boulevard on our way to Binondo. After surviving the traffic, we met Old Manila Walks’ Ivan Man Dy at the Binondo Church. Ivan enriched our minds first by telling us about the history of Binondo, which is believed to be the oldest China Town in the world. According to him, it was established in 1596. (The Spaniards came to the Philippines in 1521. Ah yes, I remember my History Class!)

My stomach (I only ate one piece of bread for breakfast knowing that I’ll be going on a food trip) was revolting. But soon enough, it became peaceful and happy when we got to our first food stop: Cafe Mezzanine in Ongpin St.

Cafe Mezzanine

Cafe Mezzanine is situated above the Eng Bee Tin shop. I didn’t know that a restaurant exist there. It was a pleasant surprise.

Firemen’s hats and photographs of fire disaster were displayed on the wall. Later on, I learned that the cafe is owned by one of the firefighter volunteers in Binondo. Ivan said that fire disasters were rampant in Binondo. Hence, the Filipino Chinese community formed a volunteer group for fire fighting and prevention.

Every food stop has its story to tell. Ivan began telling about how Tsinoys came about to the Philippines. To escape from poverty in Fujian province, the Chinese immigrants came to the Philippines to do business. Fujian province is geographically located at the southern tip of China, which is near our country. I then learned that not all Chinese food are the same. Like Filipinos, who have Kampampangan, Ilocano, Bicolano, and Tagalog dishes, they have different ways of cooking as well according to what region they came from.

In Cafe Mezzanine, they served Hokkien food (or the food cooked by Chinese who came from Fujian Province).

Dish 1: Kiampong (salted rice)

Cost: Php 75.00

Honestly, I’m not a fan of chopsticks. haha. Yep, I had a hard time picking those rice. You see, I’m proud to be Filipino even if I don’t look much of a Filipino. haha. So how was the taste? I love the peanuts but I’d still prefer YangChow over Kiampong. hehe.

Then I learned from food blogger Richard (who has Chinese blood) that kiampong is more of a “lutong bahay” or food that is for home consumption. It’s not a fancy Chinese food (which are mostly Cantonese food).

Dish 2: Special Fishball soup

Cost: Php 105.00

The soup was great to start the meal.

Dish 3: Lo Tau hu? Not sure with the spelling. (Simmered Tofu).

Cost: Php 45.00

This was what I like best in our first food stop. The tofu is covered in hot chili sauce with a kick of a little sweetness. The sourness of the atchara (slices of radish and carrots) placed on top of the tofu perfectly blends with the chili flavor.

Drink: Kundol Juice or Wintermelon Juice

It was only now that I learned that the wintermelon is kundol in Filipino. hehe. I only know of kundol in the lyrics of the folk song, “Bahay Kubo” (kundol, patola, upo’t kalabasa at saka meron pang labanos mustasa…you’re singing it right?)

The kundol juice was refreshing to the mouth. It was sweet and tasted like sago’t gulaman minus the sago and gulaman.

After a few minutes, we walked to our next stop, Dong Bei Dumpling.

Dong Bei Dumpling

Dong Bei Dumpling is a small dumpling place yet don’t be fooled with its appearance. It was another surprise. The owners of Dong Bei came from the northern part of China, hence, the dumplings that they serve are different from what were used to (e.g. siomai is a dumpling from the southern part of China like Hong Kong. It’s Cantonese style).

While the southerners/ Cantonese steam their dumplings, the northerners boil their dumplings.

Dish 1: Jiaoji- boiled dumpling northern style

Cost: Php 100

The Jiaoji is a bit slippery in the mouth. It is filled with ground pork mixed with greens (which I don’t know of). It has two dips: one is bland while the other has chili on it. It’s better to dip it in the chili sauce to give more flavor.

Dish 2: Sienbu? (Stuffed mini-pancakes)

Cost: Php 100

The stuffing is kuchay. Unlike the first one, this one is fried giving making it a lot tastier than the first one. It’s on the salty side.

Dish 3: Cumin Chicken (xinjiang)

The third dish was really surprising. The chicken along with the carrots and sayote (?) were diced and topped with sesame seeds. It has a taste of cumin which is usually associated with middle eastern or Indian food. But yes, it was Chinese food from the northern region of China.

Dish 4: Hamburger Tofu

This was an innovation to make pieces of tofu as if they were pieces of bread with a burger patty inside.

Among all the four dishes that we ate here, my choices were dish 2 (the pancakes) and the hamburger tofu!

We walked again to burn the calories to our last food stop, Awi’s at Nueva St., the street which is known for school and office supplies.

Awi’s Cafe and Restaurant

Awi’s is still owned by a Tsinoy. They renovated their restaurant with orange and apple green colors (favorite) that made it look funky. You wouldn’t think that it’s a Chinese resto. It was modernized.

Ivan said that this was one of his favorite restaurants in China Town.

Dish 1: Lobihon (noodle soup with bihon instead of lomi in it)

Cost: Php 130.00

Our group, Richard, Kara, and Dom shared a bowl of Lobihon. It was just okay for me. The black vinegar tasted like beer for me.

Dish 2: Gabi Cake

The gabi cake tasted good. The gabi is a form of extender that would make you feel full easily.

Dish 3: Coffee Spareribs

This was the winner dish for me! Tender pork coated in caramelized coffee was a feast to my taste buds. There’s a bitter and sweet taste when pork is chewed.

Drink: Dalandan Iced Tea

Cost Php 68.00

Chinese loves drinking hot tea but this modern Chinese cafe served an original concoction of dalandan in iced tea which was refreshing after eating all of the food.

It was fun to eat and learn at the same time in Binondo. Yes, everyday, there’s something new to learn and relearn even if we’re already familiar with the place.

****

Note: This is a sponsored trip. Special thanks to Ford and Ogilvy for inviting me to this food trip.

 

Food Trip: San Pablo, Laguna

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Taking a breather from work can be as easy as going on a road trip and food trip to Laguna.

The wind blew as the jeepney passed by farmlands. It was one fine Saturday. From the San Pablo Cathedral, J and I hailed a tricycle to bring us to Cafe Lago fronting Sampaloc Lake, the largest among the Seven Lakes of San Pablo.

Admittedly, I was underwhelmed with the view. Maybe, it’s because of the gloomy weather. The usual scenic photograph of Sampaloc Lake hugging Mt. Cristobal was nowhere in sight. Mt. Cristobal was hiding behind the clouds.

Nonetheless, J and I went inside Cafe Lago, draped with vines that flow like curtains. The eyes might be a bit sad but the stomach was definitely happy with turon partnered with tsokolate. It’s a bit pricey though. For a merienda, its price was similar to those cafes in Manila.

After the tasty merienda, I went out to look for subjects. Photography enthusiasts would surely enjoy the walk along the Dagatan Avenue. There were many interesting subjects like the kids playing, a man fishing, or the local folks staring at the lake.

The food trip did not end there as we visited Sulyap Gallery situated in Cocoland Compound. At first glance, I hesitated to get pass by the gate. No one seemed to be there. An old volkswagen and a scooter were parked infront of the main entrance. I readily thought that it was the restaurant when a guy in a motorcycle approached us.

“Dito po ang restaurant,” said the guy. He then led us to a two-storey structure reminiscent of the past. I thought I entered a different time zone—a time when the Spaniards colonized the Philippines. From the exteriors to the interiors, everything was put together to create a “back to the past” atmosphere.

I didn’t remain in my seat waiting for the food. I shot happily.

The waiter then recommended that we try their Bangus Belly and their specialty, Kulawong Puso ng Saging.

Service was not that fast. So expect to wait 20-30 minutes before you get the food on your table. But I can say that the food was worth the wait.

Here’s the Bangus Belly topped with fried garlic bits and tomatoes. This is good for 2-3 servings.

The Kulawong Puso ng Saging was a winner! It’s a specialty of San Pablo. The smoked flavor blended well with the coconut milk. Yummy! It’s indeed a must-try dish. But of course, you get what you pay for. The dishes were a bit expensive (price range-Php 300-500 per dish).

If you want to experience more of Laguna, then check this out.

Dining experience in El Nido

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Whenever I plan my trips, I always miss researching about food. So when I went to El Nido with J and Janet, I just asked for recommendations from reliable Pinoy Travel Blogger friends.

Thanks to Nina of Justwandering.org and Eskapo’s Dong Ho who both recommended Squido’s. Dom added that we should also try Art Cafe.

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The Vietnam Rose Series: Homestay with Minh Viet’s family

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Hundreds of motorcycles driving around the rotonda welcomed us as the bus finally arrived in Can Tho City.

While most of our companions chose to stay at a two-star hotel, we deviated from the majority’s choice. I persuaded my parents that we should stay at a Vietnamese Homestay to get a different experience. My persuasion worked.

The vehicle parked in front of the two-star shabby hotel. A young man in his 20s approached us and introduced himself as Minh. He’s the owner of the homestay, where we’ll be spending the night.

My parents were surprised that we’re riding motorcycles on the way to Minh’s homestay. I just smiled at their worried faces. I hopped on the motorcycle and couldn’t hide my smile riding alongside hundreds of motorcycles in Can Tho City.

From the city, it took us 25 minutes before we arrived at Minh’s home beside the river. Though Minh knows a little English, he tried his best to talk with us. He said that he’s a tourism student and would want to be a tour guide when he finishes college.

I’ve researched and seen good reviews in TripAdvisor’s specialty lodging for the Mekong Delta. It was also recommended by fellow PTB member, the Solitary Wanderer Aleah who stayed there as well.

Minh showed us our room made of thatched nipa. It has two double beds, an electric fan, and a toilet of its own. And yes, they have mosquito nets. As simple as it was, the room was homey.

I checked the toilet. It was clean and decent enough.

There is also an outlet for charging phones and cameras.

I dropped my bag and wandered outside. A young girl at the veranda smiled at me. I asked her name. She replied with all her best in English, “My name is Nghâ.”

I didn’t understand the name. She repeated it and I followed her until I pronounced it right. Her mother, the housekeeper laughed as I tried to chat with her but the conversation didn’t push through as she couldn’t understand my English anymore.

As expected, they have hammocks at the veranda. I rested in one of them. It was relaxing. Minutes later, another woman came. She introduced herself as Minh’s mother. She then told us that dinner would be served at 7pm.

She was also having difficulty to converse in English. But she used the universal language, SMILE, to communicate with us. She used hand gestures to convey that we Filipinos looked like Vietnamese too. The only English words that she uttered, “Same Same.” (And then she smiled).

It felt great to chat with locals like them who tried their best to mingle with us despite language barrier.

It was a family affair as Minh’s brother set up the table and served the meals.

We called it a day after feasting over spring rolls, sweet and sour red fish, fried noodles, fried little shrimps (okoy), and vegetable soup.

The home-cooked food prepared by Minh’s family was one of the best Vietnamese food that I’ve tasted.

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Foodtrip: The Battle of the Batchoys in La Paz

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You haven’t been to Iloilo if you haven’t tasted their batchoy in La Paz District where it got its name.

Batchoy is a noodle soup dish with pork innards, liver, and chicharon. The history of this Ilonggo dish dates back in the 1930s but let’s leave it at that. Let me share my batchoy experience in La Paz itself.

My early flight to Iloilo made me crave for a good breakfast. It’s on my list to eat batchoy at the place where it started, La Paz. From the Iloilo International Airport, I rode a van going to Jaro. The driver said that it’s nearer to La Paz.

The van stopped and parked in front of SM Jaro. I went out of the van with no one but Dora and my backpack. The Jaro Belfry welcomed me with the sun’s rays hiding behind it.

Clueless on what multicab to ride, I approached the traffic enforcer in blue uniform. “Ano pong sasakyan papuntang La Paz?” (What multicab should I ride when going to La Paz?), I asked.

The traffic enforcer answered me, “CPU.” He did not just answer my question but also hailed the multicab for me. Wow. What a helpful local. From that time on, I knew I would have a great time in Iloilo.

I sat at the front seat and told the driver that I would be going to the La Paz Public Market. The fare from Jaro to La Paz was Php 7.00. It only took me 10 minutes to get to La Paz.

The driver then told me to walk across the street and pointed the public market. All eyes were on me while I was walking at the market. The big backpack and Dora caught people’s attention. “Uy si Dora!” 

When I reached the first store, I asked the vendor where I could find “the batchoyan”. He then told me to just walk straight ahead and I’d see the eateries offering batchoy.

TED’s OLD TIMER

I didn’t know that another Ilonggo was walking behind me. He heard my question and guided me to the eateries. “Kung batchoy, dyan sa Ted’s.”  I would have wanted to avoid Ted’s because they have branches in Manila. I wanted to try something different but the helpful local was looking at me and even led me inside the eatery.

So, I first tasted the La Paz Batchoy at Ted’s Oldtimer. They have different types of batchoy. I ordered the extra super batchoy for Php 68. I wanted coffee or juice as partner but they only have softdrinks. No choice. I ordered 7-up for Php 17.00.

When the bowl of batchoy was placed on my table, it was smoking hot. I prayed and sipped. The soup was thick and rich. It really felt good in the stomach.

Observations: Prepared well with chopped liver on top & ground chicharon.  Few noodles. few ingredients

DECO’s Original La Paz Batchoy

When my Ilongga friend Hera learned that I ate at Ted’s, she said, “Mare, you should try Deco’s. Dapat with egg yung batchoy. Masarap dun!” (You should try Deco’s batchoy with egg. It’s delicious.). J, who has visited Iloilo before, also recommended Deco’s but I didn’t listen to him. hehe. But since my friend Hera is a local, I gave Deco’s a try. Fast forward to my third day in Iloilo.

I was early at the venue for the Kasadyahan Festival. Good thing, I was assigned near the La Paz Public Market. I already saw Deco’s on the day that I arrived in Iloilo. It was just a few steps away from Ted’s.

There were locals eating at Deco’s too unlike in Ted’s where I was the only customer. I ordered the batchoy with egg (extra- Php 65.00) and a bottle of water (Php 13.00) all for Php 78.00

Observations: Eating with egg was indeed better and made the batchoy tastier. There were pork strips aside from the liver. The chicharon was crunchy. Deco’s batchoys are cheaper than Ted’s too.

Which of the two won my stomach? For this battle, Deco’s won.

***Special thanks to Hera for this recommendation! And of course to J. I know I should have listened to you too. :)