Monday, September 30, 2013

Suzhou Dimsum - the best comfort food for me

A lot of Suzhou Dumplings branches have been sprouting from nowhere. Among all the branches, you must try these three because they're authentic - Malate, Chinatown and Mandaluyong. Others I can't vouch for.

Personally, I like going to Suzhou Malate, its this hole-in-the-wall place among a sea of beerhouses and nighclubs in Mabini street. This place opens til late at night. And your first  Xiaolungpao is best experienced here. Xiaolungpao are soup dumplings you dip first in vinegar,  sip the soup then finish it off.

Suzhou serves them in 4 pieces per order, I suggest two orders immediately because they only steam upon order. These dumplings doesn't have the very thin layer unlike the ones is more refined places like Shi lin or Lugang,  And at 100 bucks per order, this one's a steal.

Hot and Sour soup, very addicting, you've been warned!

Fried Beef Noodles, hits the spot, every time

Xiaolungpao -Make your tummy happy with these babies

I also love their Hot and Sour soup, the mix of hotness and sourness whets my appetite more and is best paired with their Fried Beef Noodles. We also order the Panfried Shallot Cake. And just like McArthur, I'm sure you'll be back.

Here's their menu from zomato.com
http://apac1.zmtnws.com/menus/6303474/22251c831b60427bcab9b5451ad0df75-7.jpg


Suzhou Dimsum
A. Mabini St. Malate Manila
4 spoons out of 5

Note: Parking may be a problem if you're coming
lunch or dinner time


Food Republic in Plaza Hollywood, Hong Kong

Can't decide where to for lunch? You can never go wrong with a food court, And when you're in HK, there's good eats in Food Republic. We were actually looking for Dimdimsum, but we killed two birds with one stone, because Dimdimsum is located at Food Republic in Plaza Hollywood (H & M downstairs); perfect after a trip to Nan Lian Garden, coz it is just a few minutes away.

Owned by the Bread Talk Group of Singapore, Food Republic can be found in other malls in HongKong and Singapore like Wisma or Silvercord. This one can be found at the 3rd floor of Plaza Hollywood Mall (Diamond Hill MTR exit).

Check out the pics of some of the yummy food we ordered, plus including the Hakaw from Dimdimsum. Dimdimsum's Barbecue Pork Buns (Asado siopao) are one of the best I've tried.
Hakaw and Barbecue Pork Buns

Food Republic hosts a good select group of fastfood choices


Roastings
Lechon macau with barbecue pork (asado)
Rice roll with yutiao (bicho-bicho)

Dimdimsum is Yumyummy!

Food Republic
3/F Plaza Hollywood
Diamond Hill MTR Exit

Friday, September 27, 2013

D Rose Live In Manila

The second leg of the D Rose live in Manila Tour was a 3 on 3 event at the Araneta Coliseum last September 15. It started 10:00 am featuring schools like Arellano University and a select group of kids from Thailand. The Thais who's just in high school won, beating Arellano U so they get a chance to play with the NBA's youngest MVP DRose. The event was graced by some of the celebrity endorsers of Adidas like Phil and James Younghusband, Chris Tiu, Anne Curtis, Karylle, and more

Here are some pics of the event:
D Rose, Chris Tiu, Josh Urbiztondo

Anne Curtis

James Younghusband getting D Rose's autograph

D Rose and the Team Thailand

Yat Lok Roast Goose 一樂燒鵝 in Central, Hong kong

Pink signboard says its HK$69 for Roast Duck Leg

colorful chopsticks


Roast goose -tender and delcious

You want good roast goose without paying a high price? Forget Yung Kee, go to Yat Lok.
 We discovered this place 5 or 6 years ago in a Hong kong trip with my sisters, when there were long queues of employees outside. This place even made it to the 2011 Michelin guide.

Last week, we rediscovered the place after going through a flight of stairs at Queens Road (finding this place was a bit tricky though) Just turn right after you see a Vietnamese Resto
(I forgot the name but we will try it also sometime)

Just seeing those roast duck on their window makes makes my mouth salivate. The roast goose is still very plump and juicy and oh so good. Nothing special with the rice though.

We ordered the Roast Goose rice and Roast Goose noodle
With a side plate of choi sum and a steaming hot bowl of dumpling soup.
It was good and filling, and did I mention the slightly salty and crunchy skin?
The goose was not oily unlike other places. Delish!



They use glass noodles a bit like the Korean chapchae


Dumplings, pretty good as well



4 out of 5 spoons

Yat Lok
28 Stanley Street, Central, Hong Kong

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Four Seasons Claypot Pot Rice 四季煲仔飯, in Yaumatei (廟街, 油麻地) Hongkong

the queue during 7 pm

the menu says it all



rows of claypots waiting to be served
The oyster are big


Oyster cake in duck egg batter, delicious!!


They say that if you want a good dining experience, follow where the locals eat. I have read good reviews of the claypot rice in HK, but I never thought this one was near our hotel. If you're in the Yaumatei, make sure to visit Four Seasons Claypot Rice at Arthur Street. I've even read that the great Anthony Bourdain even ate here and loved it.

But... this place looks like a hole-in-the-wall and the tables are cramped.
But judging from the fragrant smell of claypot rice wafting in the air, and the people patiently waiting for their turn, it looks like its worth the wait.
Spareribs and Sausage Claypot rice

Chicken and Salted Fish Claypot rice... yummy
Claypot rice is literally toppings like chicken or sausage over fragrant rice and cooked in the famous stoneware originating from the southern regions of China and Malaysia. Four seasons offer you a no-frills setup in their menu, there's an English Menu but most of the stuff they serve are already in the wall.

You add the soy sauce last then mix the rice

Surprisingly, turnover is pretty fast and we already have a table in 10 minutes (well its communal). After scanning the menu, we settled with the classics -

Spareribs and Chinese Sausage Claypot rice HK $32
Chicken and Salted Fish Claypot Rice HK $ 32
Duck Egg Oyster Cake (2pcs) HK $25

First to be served were the Oyster cake since the claypot rice took 20 minutes to cook.
This was absolutely one of the most delicious things I've ever tasted.
It was fried perfectly, and the batter was crunchy and not over-oily. The oysters were big and my tastebuds were excited. This indeed is a must-order in their menu, and there goes my cholesterol level.

Then came the claypot rice. When I opened the lid, the fragrant aroma immediately seduced my appetite, the spareribs and sausage balanced each other out. It was delicious. But one difference I noticed is that they don't cook it with the the soy sauce and let you add it to your desire. Tip: You have to mix the rice immediately when you open the lid, to prevent the bottom from getting burned, but that was the burnt rice best part for me, in Tagalog we call it "tutong"The chicken with salted fish was even better, this is one of my unforgettable meals in HK. Try this just in case you're in HK.

4 out of 5 spoons 

Four Seasons Claypot Pot Rice 四季煲仔飯
46-58 Arthur Street , Yaumatei






Thursday, September 12, 2013

The Ice Kacang at Chicken Rice Shop

The Philippines may be known for halo-halo. But other countries have it as well, Japan had its flavored shaved ice as early as the 1900's, Malaysia/ Singapore has its own Ice Kacang.

The Chicken Rice Shop may be known for their Hainanese delights, but leave room for dessert. Their version of Ais Kakang (read as Kachang) has a sweet blend of raw sugar syrup, coconut milk, red beans and ground peanuts. This one is satisfying and its a steal for P 70.  

Chicken Rice Shop
Can be found at Harbor Square near CCP,
Robinsons Place Ermita and Katipunan

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Wildflour... more than just Cronuts

People are wild over cronuts. You know, the flaky, oh so wonderful, buttery crossover between a croissant (kwa-san) and a doughnut. And when you're at Wildflour at the BGC, expect long lines.

But guess what, if you want to avoid the lines, and you just want to find out what the hype is all about, here's a tip, get a table and order a drink and of course, order your cronut to go (they allow two per table, and more if there are remaining from the batch that people are lining up for)   By the way, they have 6 maximum order per person. These cronuts don't come cheap. These fried babies cost about 120 pesos to 150 pesos each.

Tiramisu Creme Brulee is <3 p="">
Strawberry and Chocolate Cronut

Baguette with salted butter

Scanning their menu, they have all day breakfast, poached eggs, homemade sausages, etcetera, etcetera, but since we came here for dessert, you chose the Tiramisu Creme Brulee. This one takes home the award for Best Dessert ever, digging into it, the globs of chocolate inside will definitely send you to chocolate heaven. This is really, really good.

And of course we ordered chocolate and hazelnut cronuts and we were "lucky" enough to get vanilla.


The vanilla cronut is oily and buttery biting into it, you can taste a cream filling sort of like biting into an eclair. But when we tried the chocolate, now I was testament that this dessert is worth the hype and the long lines.

Visit Wildflour at G/F Net Lima Bldg, 4th Ave cor 26th St Fort Bonifacio, Taguig
Next time we'll be back for the Croque madam and the Chocolate pot au creme