Rice above

Amazing how local chefs are continuously finding ways of elevating local dishes.

Biboy and Liz brought this box of rice cakes from a famous shop in Laguna.

It's the traditional bibingka, but elevated through its flavours. Aside from the classic bibingka, they also have choc-nut, almond yema, and ube. As an 80s kid, the choc-nut one was the best for me.

Alas, their only store is in Laguna, so it might take some time before we get to enjoy these rice cakes again.

Spaghet it!

This might be my "official meal" whenever I'm in Bicol.

For the past 4 trips, I'd always go to Bigg's to have their spaghetti and pizza bread combo.

The spaghetti is super good! 

Actually, this spaghetti is better than Jolly Spaghetti IMHO.

Lomi at large

That would best describe this Lomi that we had.

Gosh! The bowl itself was so large that it looked like a basin. And they did not - DID NOT - scrimp on the toppings. And to think that this isn't their biggest bowl.

You'll need an extra large appetite to actually finish this.

Meals with Mark: Rico Nando's

Only 80s kids will get the reference.

While we're in SG, one of the restos that was in my list for Mark to try was Nando's.

This restaurant is wildly popular in South Africa, and serves peri-peri style chicken. What makes them popular is the choice of sauces that you can pair with your chicken.

I've tried this before and was very happy with their meals. The chicken is super tender and flavourful, and the sauces give it a different zing.

That's why the next time we're in SG again, we'll have this battlecry:

Just Nando It!

One for the (Pala)books

Had time in between classes, so it was the opportune time to hie off to Quiapo and try all the food items that's been appearing on-line.

Actually, there was only 1 thing on my agenda, and that's the palabok.

Went to Quinta Market and saw the cluster that sold this iconic Pinoy noodle dish. The brand that usually trend on-line are Pastora's and Jolli Dada. Saw both, but eventually went with the one closer to the entrance.

Yup, it was Jolli Dada. Yes, there was a line, but it was manageable. Plus, they gave me a seat instantly, and that was a big plus. Also, their palabok was available instantly!

Overall, the palabok was good. Very flavourful. Has the right balance of flavours and textures. And for the price, it was value for money.

Was it worth the trip? It was okay. Off-hand, I'd still go for Little Quiapo's palabok.

But still, I'm glad to have had this experience.

Meals with Mark: You can Canton me

It's been ages since Mark and I were last at HKIA. In fact, it was during our last layover there that we ran into Claire and Oboy.

We were looking for a place to have lunch, and we were debating if we should do our usual McDonald's, or try something else.

Eventually, our decision was to have Cantonese cuisine.

We both had dumplings with soup. Mark had the chive dumpling, and my order was the pumpkin  dumpling.

Trust HKIA to have top notch food. This meal was so good!

We should fly through HKG more often.

Cat-chy cuisine

Speaking of cats...

When we had lunch at Kodawari a few weeks ago, this poster automatically caught my eye:

The whole thing is SO Japanese! From the text, to the layout, to the cute dish with a cat-shaped rice, looking at it transported me to Tokyo.

Mush as I wanted to order this, ended up going for a noodle dish.

But I'll be back for this plate of cuteness.

It's a "Stil"

After doing many a videos on the ubiquitous "pastil," today was the day when I actually get to try it!

Saw this Pastil place in Cubao, and they served Tuyo Pastil. And being a Tuyo stan, this was a no-brainer.

It's actually good. No frills, full of flavour, and it's just P55!

This 'stil is a steal!

Salad Days

If there's one thing that I've been eating every day and with every meal in BKK, it's this:

Som Tam!

This is my all-time fave Thai food. It's papaya salad with the right combination of sweet, savoury, sour and spicy.

I can eat this every day! (Oh wait, I already did!)

Meals with Mark: Gusto-tory delights

The question of where to have lunch first is a perennial one for Mark & myself.

When we asked each other that question yesterday, the answer turned out to be just a ew meters away.

Cafe Gusto!

So, our first lunch in Tokyo is Italian by way of Japan.

We had Mentaiko pasta, Margherita pizza and fries. Let's not forget the drink bar.  All good, as expected.

Like many of our constants, Cafe Gusto does not disappoint.

Heart. Health.

En route to our hotel, Noel told me that it was his first time in Cebu. Being a frequent traveler there, it became a goal to show him a glimpse of Cebu in our very short, overnight trip.

That's why for dinner on our 1st night, we went to Larsian. It's been 5 years since my last visit there, and the place has improved a lot in terms of the set-up. The food, of course, is consistently good. Since Noel and I are both non-lechon eaters, we went for grilled seafood, and a bit of chorizo de Cebu.

Of course, we could not not order the classics. Like puso:

And lato salad.

Not only did it taste good, it felt good that what we ate was healthy.

Meals with Mark: Breaking Don

Of course, it wasn't all Western fast food places.

For our first meal in Tokyo, Mark and I went to Tokyo Midtown. This was our usual haunt when he was still based in JPN.

There's a good line up of restaurants there. Since this was during our first day, and just a few hours after our arrival, we had to have our fill of Japanese food.

We ordered Dons - a Tonkatsudon for him, an Oyakodon for me.

This don is a do!

Another place to Sing

It's good to see more and more Singaporean restaurants opening their doors here in MNL.

First, there's Nanyang. Then, Tiong Bahru Chicken. The, Ya Kun Kaya Toast.

Here's a latest addition that I spotted in Glorietta.

We've come a long way from Rasa Singapura in Morato.

Here's another place for Mark and I to try.

The Favorite

No, this isn’t a post about the 2019 film that gave Olivia Colman her first Oscar.

This is about another favorite.

When I was living in HKG, one of my Chinese colleagues asked me what my favorite Filipino food was. After hearing the query, my mind went blank. Mainly because I didn’t have any.

Growing up, a lot of the food we were served were more Spanish than Filipino. Which could be the reason why I didn’t have a particular Filipino dish that could be considered a fave.

Eventually, it came to me. The answer to my colleagues’ question was: Ginataang Halo-Halo.

They would usually cook this at home for merienda. We were usually part of the cooking process - taking the “malagkit” and forming them into balls. And oftentimes, i’d be making cubes instead of balls.

Until now, I can never resist a good bowl of Ginataang Halo-Halo. Whether it’s from a restaurant or home cooked, i’ll never miss eating a bowl (or two).

But of course, nothing compares to homemade and home-cooked Ginataan. Just like this one:

Yup, I finished 2 bowls of this. 

Mmm-Bap

No, this isn’t about Hanson’s song. And no, the title isn’t misspelled either.

This is about my newest discovery.

It turns out that the Korean Store at the corner of 20th Avenue also sells prepared food! Which led me to buy Gimbap for dinner. With Chili’s g Cider, to boot!

Mmm, this is good!

Feeding my Seoul

Whenever I’m in Seoul, first on the agenda is a quick snack. 

So, an hour after touchdown, it was off to 7-11 for this:

With a Triangle Gimbap and Chilsung Cider in hand, it’s safe to say: Annyeong Seoul! I’m back!

Okay, Coral!

It's a given.

Whenever my travels take me to HKG, there's one place that's a "must-visit."

Cafe de Coral!

This iconic HKG fast food joint was part of my life during my 4-year stint in HKG. It was my go-to place for breakfast, lunch, dinner, even tea times! It's an ubiquitous part of the landscape and there's always a branch near you wherever you are.

Even if this trip is a very short 3D/2N, Cafe de Coral HAD TO BE part of the itinerary. So, this is where we had breakfast on our 2nd day.

The interiors of Cafe de Coral have been upgraded. But the service and the food is still the same.

Okay, that's one "must-visit" checked off the list.

Meals with Mark: Return to Lotteria

The first time that Mark and I ate at Lotteria together, it was back in Tokyo. 

They had a branch in Miraikan and we ate there after visiting the museum.

Now, 10 years after that, we're back at Lotteria - in Seoul, no less.

That makes this fast food joint one of those places that we've eaten in different countries!

Take it to the street!

After binge-watching "Street Food: Latin America" and "Street Food: Asia," the series that constantly and consistently made me hungry is back! Now, they're featuring street food in the good old U.S.A.!

Thanks to this series, I'm now seriously planning to go to Hawaii for their authentic Spam Musubi and Poke bowls. The Poi looks interesting, too. 

Also, watching this makes me want to go to New Orleans for Yakemein and Hansen's Sno Bliz, Portland for Mama Dut's vegetarian bahn mi and Loaded plates, and California for Carnitas del Momo and the Pinoy restaurant called Dollar Hits.

Hope they feature street food places in Atlanta and Houston as well, since that's where we frequent. But until that U.S. trip happens, let me just feast my eyes on American street food.

Meals with Mark: Temple feels

It's been almost 5 years since Mark and I went to Tokyo. That's why it's always part of our conversation, particularly, when we'll be back to visit again.

In the middle of those conversations, we compensate for missing Tokyo by eating at Japanese restaurants. And tonight, we tried a new one in Vertis North.

"Asakusa" is a tempura place named after the area that's close to our hearts. After all, we'd often visit the Sensoji Temple, especially if there are visitors who are first-timers in Japan. Because a trip to Tokyo isn't complete without a photo with that gigantic red lantern at the entrance of the temple.

Mark ordered the prawn tempura with chahan, and my order was the vegetable set with the cold soba. Our verdict, the food was legit and it brought us back to Japan. Even for a night.

Bonus: there was a nearby Japanese store pop-up and was able to get these snacks that we'd usually buy in Tokyo.

It's so nice to spend Monday night being transported to Tokyo. By way of QC. Harhar!