9 course Thai dinner

Yum.

In ordering Thai food, ask what the house specialty is. They may have a set course in line. Trying it will be best. Usually, the restaurant asks how hot you want it. Best to order mild to medium. 

HK Trip

I'm back! Yes, another travelogue!
We sistahs promised each other we would have one local trip and one international trip once a year. This is our international trip of the year!
Hong Kong and Macau!

We stayed at a clean but strange sort of Hostel in the heart of Cuaseway Bay. When you get down from the building, you are beside Stefanel, Armani and DKNY.
Read more to see tips and tricks in a five day HK trip!

Time Square! We were surrounded by malls, shops and brands!
There's Sogo, Watsons, WTC, Laforet, Timesquare and Fashion Walk!
Yeah, there brands and brand all over. it's something I noticed. HK fashion Designers are not as well known. i tried to find some local brands but all I see int he local mags are international brands.
If you don't want to spend that much in shopping, go to the bazaars. There are lots of them all over. Each station has it's own. Cuaseway has a few. Central has a lot. For cheap market, go to Tsim Sha Tsui.
If you want brands concentrated in one area, go to Macaua Four Seasons and Venetian. Fashion Walk and LCX and other Japanese fashion centers are located in Causeway Bay.
They have it all!
Yes, Japanese fashion is quite popular. Laforet and Sogo are close to each other here.
Beware: Hongers tend to discriminate Minalanders.

Food! Their cheap food might not convert well in our money value but let me tell you, it is so good! The food in the street is nothing you can eat in our street. Hongers have a different taste in fashion and food. Here we ate in the night market street where ever six o'clock, it is lined with tables and food is served hot. Yummy!
Caution! Not for the sensitive tunny for it may seem a little unsanitary.
Don't worry, I didn't get sick!

Disney Disney Disney!
Man, I felt like a kid!
I ate and ate and ate, rode rides, bought some souvenirs, ate again, drank this, ice cream there. Oh, yeah, ate and took home some Disney food to the hostel.

Hongers don't clap much after every performance. Disney staff who are Hongers don't smile much either. It mgiht be a cultural thing. Don't be offended. You can smile all you want. Hey, it's Disney land!

Yeah, people might say HK Disneyland is small but Disney is Disney. It won't disappoint.
Bring about HK$500 with you. That would cover food, beverages and souvenirs. Price range for drink is $20. If you go inside a fastfood area it can be only $18. If you buy it in the street cart, it can cost up to $24. Food price is about $40 to $60 per meal. Snack like the burger meal at Orbit Cafe is $56 with drink. Orbit is the cheapest so far.
The Mickey Tiramisu from Maxim Bakery is only $22.
Souvenir key chain or candies might cost about $50. Stuffed toys are about $200.
FWI: There is a HK Disneyland store in the Airport. It is cheaper because it is tax free but not all goods are available. Buy your goodies in Main Street. it's the most complete. If you want buzz Light year goods, buy it in Tomorrow Land.
Tip: Bring umbrella, extra shirt and comfy shoes/slippers.

The Venetian Macau

We had one day of Macau via Cotaijet. Ticket costs about $134 going and $170 coming back. Last jet leaves Macau at 11:30pm. Buss is free going to Venetian.
Don't worry about converting to Pataca(Macau Money). You can pay in HK$ but expect some change in Pataca.
The whole day, we spent it at the Venetian. there is so much to do. They have a food court if you find restuarants expensive. Food is about $50 to $90 per person. Serving is big so three people can share two orders. There is a wide choice of Aisan food and two western restaurants.
The venetian has twoo floors of stores. Everything is high end brand stores like Coach, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Hermes, Bvlgari, etc. it was sale the time we went there.
Don't worry about entertainment. There have 3 canals where you may ride the gondola. Hey, it's venice. The wall facade immitates the old Venice world. There are lamp posts and shuttered windows. Most of them are just decoration.
The highlight of the Venetian is the street performers. They call it Streetmosphere. There are mimes, jugglers, stilk walkers, musicians, living statues and singers.
You'll never get bored!
To crown it all off, there is Zaia, the Cirque du Soliel performance only at the venetian. Licket is a little pricy. Get ehn at a travel anget's to get discount. Buy ahead of time. It's worth seeing! Show starts at eight. Ends at nine thirty. Buy some souvenirs if you wnat or just browse through their souvenir shop. They, you may take the bus back to the ferry port and go home. Passport ready!
Caution: Do not buy ticket from individauls selling you tickets outside teh ferry terminal. Go inside the terminal and buy it inside. Don't beleive the sellers who sell it for $100. It mgiht be fake. Tickets are non-transferable and non-refundable. You need to show your Passport to buy.

This is a fascinating restaurant. I found out about it on our last night. I instantly announce we had to eat there.
Since we were already full from dinner, Achi Terry, Diki and I decided to get some poopie ice cream.
Yes, they serve it in a toilet bowl. Price of ice cream is about $45 each. It it big and you may have to share with someone and not even finish it. Drink is about $29. You may want to share this as well. Service is good. They charge 12% service charge.
There are two branches: Cuaseway Bay and Mongkok. We ate at Causeway Bay. It is at the 4th floor of Watsons. There may not be signs but you may ask people.

***
All in all, our HK trip was wonderful. A bit tiring but owrth it.
Caution: Culture Shock everyone. They may seem a little rude but that's just everyday for Hongers. When eating, they suddenly take your plate away, it's aqueue to get out. For them, it's eat then skidadle. They don't talk after eating or make friend with the next table.
Tips: Wear comfy shoes. Train rides are fast but you be standing a lot then running around the station can make your legs big. Oh, if you can, ride the tram wherever you can. If you ride the front of the second floor, you get a panaoramic view of the city. also, it is cheap. It consts only $2 any where.
Leave the hotel 3 hours before departure time. They won't let yuo in 1 hour before departure. It takes 1 hour to get tot he airport since it's in another island. It takes 1 hour to find your way around to check-in and then you wait int he pre-departure area for 1 hour. Lots to eat and lots of shops to see. It is a little pricey. Go to the thrid floor. Burger King is probably the cheapest meal to eat. Go buy a Ben & Jerry's. It's worth it. A scoop is $30 each. Yummy. I tried 3 flavors. We so stuffed by the time we borded.

Good luck travelers!
Hope this way insightful!
If you have comments and additional info, please comment!

Bobby Chinn

Fullybooked Fort, Halloween

Kinda started late. As in 6:20 late. It said 5:00pm in the invite.

Proffesional Gate Crashers

What do we know of such people?

We think they are people we know and we didn't bother to invite them then they just show up at your party/wedding.

Nope, there's really an art to it.

I went to a laureate for lunch. Sort of a family reunion with friends and relatives. There are over 200 guests and half of them don't know they are related. We attend this to know we are related. This family association can be dated back to our pre-colonial China days.

Anyways, there was this old lady in our table. She's wearing a dress like you buy it in a tiange and a suit jacket. When the food was being served one at a time, she started to horde the meat and canned soft drink.

Note: A table seat twelve and one dish is being served one at a time in a typical Laureate.

Alright, we though, bad table manners-much! She horded so much meat when we all took small quantities only. Then, she scooped them in plastic bag.

I hate to be related to this woman!

Then, when the last of the dessert came, she went off from table to table taking left-overs.

Normally, the managers don't mind. But you'd never know if food is the only thing she takes. What if she took your cellphone?

We later learned she is a pro-gate crasher. With more than 200 guests, its hard to spot them and they are not usually alone.

According to stories shared: a couple of pro gate crashers had IDs of Media on them. No kid! These are pros. They come to eat and take home some food.

The nerve!

Note: the host pays at least 1,000 pesos per person. Each guest is usually counted. Extra drinks have extra charge!

So, party hosts beware! Be aware of these people and see if you have these people in your party. They may dress the part but they don't have good table manners!

Guess the Food!

Guess what these are:

Picture A. It's brown and sticky.
If you think this is Barbeque Spareribs or something like that...

Wrong! It's Biko! Behind it is not garlic chips but V-cut BBQ Chips.


Picture B. What does it look like?

Alien Planet?

Di ka taga-Dabaw! It's Marang. A bit half eaten. Yum!

Davao and Food... Again

I was in Davao the whole week!
Yup, the city where food is always good!
I've learned that Harana's prices went up. So, we went in front instead to Cubyertos, along Torres. Chicken Salad is a must! Can't get enough. Ate it twice and took out a third time.
Rising prices? In a budget?
Go eat Chinese! There's this place called Mandarin. Food=SULIT! Order anything. Eat everything!!!
Makes me fat. Food and lots of choices!

Yesterday, we went to Torril. Lechon on the road and picnic in Campo Agua. Picnics are good. You can't do that in polluted Manila. Air is still clean in Davao and food is still prepared with love.
:-)

Must eat snacks:

• Eclairs form Boulangerie, Victoria Plaza
• Merco Jelly Roll or Plain Chiffon Cake
• Chocolate Cake and Cathedral from Cecil's
• Chicharon with Pinakurat Vinegar
• Peanuts from the Streets
• Bola-Bola Siopao from Famous
• Durian Tarts/Candy/Pie

Healthier Way to Eat Ice Cream

Some would associate Ice Cream with Summer. Well, doesn't mean we can't cut down a little.
Ice Cream too small for a big bowl? Trick your mind. Here's a useful tip to make ice cream yummy and not-so-fattening. In a nice-looking bowl, take a scoop of your fave ice cream. Just one. Ok, Maximum 2. Cut up some fruits. Try the summery fruits like mango and pineapple. Then put A banana split on half. You can put unsweetened rice crispies or animal crackers. I put one chocolate cookie cut in half here. Then, don't put syrup. Put a Tbs. of Virgin Coconut Oil. Trust me, it is very interesting when it hardens with ice cream.

Super Chocolate

Chocolate Buffet at Sofitel Metropole, $15 a person. Worth it? Yum! Super chocolate!!!!!!!!

Another Guilt-Free Snack

I'll call this "Guilt-free Rolls"

What you need:
6 or more pieces of Wheat bread slices
1/4 cup cream cheese (fat free if you can)
1 Tbs. non-fat milk
1 Tbs. Mayonnaise or Mayomagic
1/4 cup grated quick-melt cheddar
3 cloves of garlic
1 medium sized green or red bell pepper (Both if you want color)
A hand full of chopped spinach leaves
Snippets of fresh basil
Dash of Pepper
Dash of Salt

How to do it:

1. Cut the sides of the wheat bread. Using a rolling pin or a hand round glass bottle, roll flat the slices of bread.
2. In a bowl, mix Cream cheese, mayo, milk and cheeses. chop in small cubes the bell pepper. Mince garlic. Chop spinach and basil. All all those to the cheese mixture. Add salt and pepper. Add more if needed, depending on taste.
3. Spread it evenly on the flattened wheat bread then roll it. Slice then serve!

Good for snacks! Can be served in cocktails too!

Sagay

A nice quiet place to eat...

Sagay Restaurant in Casa Leticia. They now serve Mexican stuff. I had the pleasure of sampling some food.
Taste good. Yummy Mexican food. These over here are the Beef Quesadillas.

Food Places and More

Davao is a home to a variety of restaurants and food chains. Here are some Sulit places I've been to na good food and affordable.

Chickies and Patties
Chickies has been around since I can remember which is more than 20 years na siguro. They are known for their chicken and other short orders. I love it here. I remember eating here is a treat. They were the best fast food chain in Davao until Jolibee and later McDo came into the scene. They have my fave gravy, macaroni salad and yummy arachibuteric Leche Flan. Yum yum! Make sure to get two pieces of Chicken!!!

Pritong Manok
Pritong Manok is known for Duh! Fried Chicken. Translate Diba!
They are found in most all mall food courts and even near markets. They sell chicken per piece. They now have diversified their products to include Tender Juicy Hotdogs with rice. Try ordering three pieces of chicken smothered in gravy! Yum. They sell their chicken depending on the part you want. The cheapest is the neck which is about 18 pesos. A big breast is 47 a piece.

Boyd's
Italian? Try a bowl of pasta for about 85 pesos. It includes a long (definitely long!) slice of garlic French bread. They bake the bread themselves! Good food, cheap too. Don't worry about the ambiance. Looks can be deceiving. The inside is actually cozy.

Picobello
It's on top of JS Gaisano. Nice place if you love Italian. They have a kilm (exposed brick oven) where everyone can see and smell the yummy pizzas baking. The prices are cheap and you can avail of their offer of buy one take one during 2pm to 5pm. Excellent food!

Harana
No, nobody's serenading you there but the food feels like a serenade of the senses. Harana is practically older than me. It started as a backyard barbecue place. Then they rented the place at Torres St. and built a playground for children to play while waiting for the food. Now, the playground and good bbq are the trademark of Harana.

Kuya Ed's

Nobody can beat a buffet like Kuya Ed's. For 2 years, they still boat their 99 peso-buffet. You may choose from a variety of Filipino dishes. Occasionally, they bring out siomai and tempuras. Guaranteed busog!

Cecil's
Cecil's mainly sells cake. But they are the yummiest cakes! Need cakes fast? They are better and cheaper than Goldilocks! Doesn't taste commercialized either. They have kiosks in malls where they sell cakes per slice. They also sell short orders. A hefty slice of chocolate cake is about 47 pesos. A cream puff or éclair is 18 pesos each. Dessert anyone?

Merco
Before Goldilocks even set her lacy foot in Davao, Merco was there. They are known for their birthday cakes and sandwhiches you can eat in the cafe with ice cream topped on them. No kid! They don't mind what you eat! As long as you're having a blast! A big 8-10 slice black forest cake costs about 300plus pesos. 500 in Goldilocks and Red Ribbon and they taste commercialized. Merco has retained their quality for more than three decades.

So, when "libot-ing" Davao, don't be afraid to try out the food. Try any place! Food is good in Davao, that is a guarantee!

Satisfying Your Belly at Belly's Grill

Your Belly will be Full at Belly's Grill.

Located at the corner of Mabini St. and Quirino, Davao City, this unassuming little restaurant is actually home to good food. In the mood for grill and other Filipino Specialties?

Specialties: Hito (Catfish), Ostrich meat, BBQ pork and Chix, kinilaw, tuna belly and more! The taste of the dishes are varied but you know grill when you taste it.

Ambiance: The location is very accessible. There is ample parking. Inside, the lighting is good and the aircon is cool. It's not too fine dining but it certainly not carinderia.

Critique: Belly's is actually a bit of mixed market and confused owners. Service-wise, it is good. They are very accommodating. All in all, food is good!

Cool Lunch. It was my first time to taste ostrich and hito. Ostrich steak tastes and feels like beef. There is a slightly different aftertaste but it's likeable. Hito was good. Not malansa at all. Tastes really fresh and cooked right. Very crispy. Not too oily, just right. I like the taste.

Food Trip Experience Rank: * * * *

Here's some more opinions on the food trip. With pictures too.
http://www.mydavaocity.com/bellys-grill/

Davao and Food

If you think Davao is just a province, think again!

It actually has sophisticated taste, for the ultimate food experience!

Check these two restos out! They are hot and I'm not talking about the spices!

If you're looking for a taste of Asia without leaving the country, try these out. Tsuru is a taste of authentic Japanese cuisine. Hanoi, named after the city of Hanoi, boasts the best of Vietnamese food. They are both healthy and an experience for the senses.

Both restaurants have branches at J. Camus street (near Apo View, Beside Casa Leticia) and also at Damosa Gateway.

http://casaleticia.com/

Food Trip Experience: * * * *

Indian Dining in Davao

Oh, wow! An Indian Restaurant in Davao! Why not? After all, Davao is known for food trips!
I got invited to a food trip last week and was able to sample Indian cuisines in Taj Minar. Mr. Zafar was kind enough to entertain us and explain each dish his restaurant served us.
I must say, it is authentic! I can tell. My mom is a chef and she cooks Indian every week. You can see the Cinnamon sticks and the cardamon spice in the meal. The curry was good and dessert was quite delightful. That is, if you have the taste for it.
Judging the whole menu, it is worth eating a quiet lunch in.
It is a must, a culinary experience even for the inexperienced!

Here is the website to the place.
http://www.tajminar.com/
Taj Minar is found in Damosa Gateway, Davao City


Food Trip Experience Rank: * * *

For more reviews and pictures on Taj Minar click on Kuya Bloggie's blog:
http://www.davaodeli.com/2008/01/taj-minar-indian-restaurant/#more-60
Here's my sis' review:
http://iceglade.blogspot.com/2007/12/christmas-season-2007-taj-minar.html