Archive for the ‘Foodie’ Category

Orchard Road: Singaporean food at its best


2010
02.27

That very familiar spot along SM Megamall’s bridgeway is now home to a 250-seater hawker center whose often busy open kitchen draws in curious passersby. The thrill of flames and clanking woks of this place called Orchard Road are distinct reminders of Singapore’s hawker centers, along with a variety of authentic regional Asian dishes prepared right before your very eyes. The only difference is that Orchard Road is an improved version of a typical hawker center in Singapore – it’s comfortable and relaxing, clean, well-staffed and air-conditioned. There’s none like it around Metro Manila that makes dining experience unique and a bit more exciting at a price one can easily afford.

Orchard Road’s flavorful food offers are basically of Malay, Chinese, Indian and Western influences that represent the cultural diversity in Singapore. They have Singaporean chefs in the house that work with local cooks in making these dishes fit the Filipino tastebuds without compromising their authenticity. For starters, check out their appetizing deep-fried spring rolls or the White Carrot Cake made of diced and stir-fried radish with an egg mixture. Try their house specialties like the steamed Hainanese Chicken served with rice, chili sauce, dark soy sauce, and ginger paste, or their hot and spicy Laksa with shrimp, egg and chicken in coconut curry gravy. For dessert, order their Thai specialty called Iced Red Ruby. It is usually made by boiling pieces of water–chestnut covered in tapioca flour and red food coloring, served over shaved ice, rose syrup, and evaporated milk. The Kaya Toast (coconut jam-filled grilled toast) is perfectly paired with the classic “Teh Tarik” or “pulled tea”. These tempting offers could certainly make you forget about your calorie count, but let the most effective diet pill in the market take care of your dietary worries, or just simply jog the following day. That should solve your problem. :)

Ordering from their extensive tick-list of 60 plus food items can be quite a daunting task. But they have hosts that can assist you with your choices and take you to a self-serve counter where you place your orders, pay and get your number. While waiting for your food be delivered to your table, enjoy the sight of their classy Southeast Asian-inspired interiors and the fragrant smell of oriental flavors wafting through the air.

Orchard Road is the brainchild of Singaporean TV celebrity Vivien Tan-Vaca and her Filipino husband, Dudo Vaca. Together with local investors, they named this restaurant “Orchard Road” after the famous entertainment, retail and food hub of the country.

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Eat Pancit


2010
02.17

Note: I just had pancit for my nth birthday today. So I decided to write about it.

It has been a family tradition to have Pancit in every celebration – from birthdays to Halloween parties. Mind you, there are varieties of Pancit out there to choose from – bihon, canton, sotanghon, malabon, and recently the cup variety. Pancit in Hokkien is “pian i sit” which means “something conveniently cooked fast”. In the past, it would take us at least an hour to prepare the dish. But the advent of instant noodles changed the way we look at it. The dish lived up to its reputation as something easy to prepare. In fact, it’s just one cup of hot water away.

Every Filipino family honor this culinary practice since the time the noodles reached our shores from China in the 19th century. Yes, this particular dish is Chinese in origin introduced to us by these enterprising people, among other things like tikoy, firecrackers, abacus and probably an mmf drawer. To give it a marketing edge, they added a special meaning to it – long noodles symbolize long life. Who would refuse that? Cut the noodles short then you change its meaning. Have none, you run against fate. But these days, it took a different meaning. Eat more of it then you gain weight, plus interest. We have become a carbo-conscious generation.

But no matter how you look like it, this is not your ordinary Pancit. It’s versatile. Eat it with bread and rice. Fry it or boil it. Take them raw too. Put chicken, meat or seafood. Or just plain water. It’s filling and appetizing, not to mention cheaper at P5. If rice is a staple in this country, this one probably lands second.

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Burger tales


2009
06.20

Whopper Jr. from Burger King

After weeks of craving for a Burger King Swiss Mushroom Melt, I finally had my burger fix early last week at the nearby BK store in Robinsons Galleria. That was a superb lunch treat. I took down a Whopper Jr., giant apple juice and chips, and (melted) sundae with (melted) chocolate syrup. I went back to the office with my shades still on and a crazy smile scrawled on my face.

I still had those beef particles inside my digestive track until the following morning. It was like the experience I had when I once ate a McDonald’s Quarter Pounder. I felt constipated I had to drown myself with milk from the fridge hoping the bloated feel would be flushed down the plumber knows where.

Now Pinoy-style burgers were like donuts compared to its Western counterparts where portions were almost like the size of a regular dinner plate. I remember frequenting McDonald’s somewhere in Kingston-Upon-Thames every other day sampling almost every burger diet that was alien to my tastebuds. I guess walking around the town center under the cold noonday sun helped save me from that bloated feel and developing belly fat. I even drank too much Coke then. If you want to lose those burger pounds, this liporexall review might help.

I was a regular in this McDonald's branch somewhere in Edenwalk.So who invented the hamburger? It was not exactly McDonald’s idea. They say it was the Mongols during the peak of Genghis Khan’s conquest of the known world in the 12th century. Because they moved from one place to another checking out lands to conquer, they thought ground meat formed into patties was handy and easy to eat while mounting their ponies.

The term hamburger came from the word “hamburg steak” which was brought to America in the 1800’s by German-speaking immigrants from Europe. These immigrants were served meat patties grilled and placed between two pieces of bread while on board those Hamburg lines.

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A Slice of California


2008
03.08

Simple ingredients shine in this California-inspired full-service restaurant started by lawyers Rick Rosenfield and Larry Flax in March, 1985. These two legal eagles have found their way from the courtroom to the heart of the kitchen and reinvented California-style pizzas by adding more zesty flavors and rich textures and introducing other tasty recipes to their menu line.

This is how California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) was born in the sunny side of Beverly Hills, California in the United States. Years later, the best of California made its way to the international landscape. Global Restaurant Concepts, Inc., CPK’s local partner in Manila, brought the remarkable goodness of this authentic California pizzeria to the Philippine shores and has then conquered the picky palates of the Filipinos for nearly a decade.

original BBQ chickenshanghai garlic noodles

Inside the pages of what seems to be a typical California Pizza Kitchen menu is a world bursting with flavorful cuisine – from California-style hearth-baked gourmet pizzas and pastas blended with Mediterranean, Mexican and Asian flavors, salads, sandwiches and soups and mouthwatering desserts to a wide selection of bar drinks. Cherish good old times with their traditional bestsellers such as Thai Chicken Pizza, Jamaican Jerk Pizza, BBQ Chicken Chopped Salad and Shanghai Garlic Noodles. The Original BBQ Chicken Pizza remains on top of CPK’s classic favorites.

Every now and then, CPK comes up with new concoctions to accommodate the voracious appetites of its growing number of patrons. New items have found their places in CPK’s list of creative dishes: Cabo Crab Cakes, a blue crab appetizer served with roasted corn and black bean salsa and roasted pepper aioli; Miso Salad, fresh and crisp salad with blue crab and shrimp or chicken served along with shredded Napa cabbage, fresh avocado, julienne cucumbers, daikon, edemame, carrots, green onions, cilantro, crispy rice noodles and crispy wontons in Miso dressing; Blue Crab Cakes, a new specialty item made with blue crab, pan-sauteed and served with fresh grilled asparagus and spaghettini in a creamy lemon-caper sauce and the Italian Tomato & Basil Pizza with imported Italian tomatoes, mozzarella cheese and tomato sauce with fresh basil and parmesan cheese on top. For rice fanatics in the Philippines, CPK has introduced a variety of California-inspired rice dishes in hefty servings with Jambalaya at the forefront. A perfect way to end the entire meal course is a slice of a three layer moist Red Velvet Cake frosted with vanilla bean cream cheese and white chocolate curls served on vanilla bean sauce.

Have fun and savor the delightful taste of California’s best cuisine with a party of two or more at any time of the day. Stop by any CPK branches in Alabang Town Center, Glorietta, Powerplant Mall, Shangri-La Plaza Mall, The Promenade and Tomas Morato. Expect courteous and friendly CPK restaurant servers to provide you an excellent dining experience in a warm and cozy ambience you know is truly CPK’s.

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British Staples


2007
12.13

Coming back to Manila in good shape (translation: less baby fat) doesn’t mean I starved myself in the U.K. by just drinking water and eating bagels for breakfast. No, no, no. My appetite for good food has not changed a bit, not even once. I consider myself lucky to be in the company of people with hyperactive taste buds.

And the secret of a fit body is not Fitrum. It’s nanny work, folks.

We were frequent visitors of different restaurants in the town centre of Kingston-Upon-Thames. Here are samples of pure gastronomical delights:

Fish ‘n’ Chips

fish & chips
Deep fried cod in batter, chips (we call it French fries in Manila) and green peas. Fish ‘n’ Chips is a British staple that goes well with Coke. It looks oh so simple but it’s a double YUMMY. Price ranges from ₤4.50 to ₤5.50

Roasted Lamb

lamb
I ate lamb for the first time. I ordered one with all the trimmings – carrots, sprouts (they say these grow only in winter months), turnips that tasted like sweet potato (kamote) and mixed vegetables. Prices range from ₤5.00 to ₤6.00.

Cheesecake with Cranberry Syrup

cheesecake
Yummy dessert priced at ₤2.50.

We also ate at Beefeater, a restaurant along Leatherhead Road in Chessington, Surrey. They offer steaks and a variety of dishes. Average check per head could range from ₤8.00 to ₤12.00. It’s a nice and cozy place. One of the chefs is a Filipino.

beefeater

In terms of barbecue, I heavily recommend, not The Aristocrat Restaurant, but Frangos fire-grilled chicken barbecue that goes terrific with rice and your choice of mild to hot sauces. It’s the best-tasting barbecue in the world! We ate at Frangos in Odeon near Bentalls Mall in Kingston. (Sorry, no food picture as I was very busy eating then.)

Bon appetit!

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