happyfoodies.com – Philippines Food Blog

Macau’s Little Turtle with Big Noodles

The noodles came one after the other. It seems overwhelming but after at least a two hour- flight, we were famished and ready to eat just about anything. It’s my first time in Macau and what better way to get started but to sample some good ole local food. “We’re heading to the Little Turtle,” said Joao, our Portuguese with Chinese lineage guide. The name was intriguing enough to make everyone want to check it out.

Tags: Chinese, Congee, Dimsum, Macau, Noodles

A Taste of Asia at Makansutra

Going back to the Manila Ocean Park last weekend became a trip not only for your happyfoodies to rediscover the oceanarium but to fish for something else – the food offerings at the Makansutra Asian Food Village located at the Ocean Park mall.

Makan means “eat/eating” in Bahasa while Sutra means thread or line holding things together (or metaphorically, a collection of such lines or things such as in the Hindu scriptures) in Sanskrit. This is especially meaningful as Makansutra is envisioned to be a place gathering together fare from all over Southeast Asia sold hawker-style. Granted that one may not always have the opportunity to travel but at Makansutra, one can let his/her taste buds do the traveling. Will K.F. Seetoh, the Singaporean foodie who inspired this enterprise, approve? Tag along with happyfoodies and find out.

Tags: Asian, Bak Kut Teh, Laksa, Manila, Noodles, Pad Thai, Satay, Soups

Street Eats, Lao Stye

For an intrepid traveler looking to discover and connect with the locals, one need not look further than the streets. Eating by the sidewalk may raise some eyebrows and pop in hygienic concerns. Yes, there are risks but having gastronomical ailments in truth is as rare as hitting the 5 numbers of a 6-digit lottery lotto. So going beyond the risks, eating along with the locals is a great immersion in their culinary culture. And in Laos, it’s not such a bad thing as most eating establishments are along the sidewalks.

I was feeling adventurous when I was in Laos, so when I met with my local guide and he asked me where we want to eat I told him, “we’ll eat where you guys eat”.

Tags: Baguette, food, Lao, Laos, Luang Prabang, Noodles, Pakse, Paksong, Sticky Rice, Vientiane

Savoring the flavors of Tasty Dumplings

Mention Binondo and one immediately conjures up images of crowded streets, Binondo church, Chinese herbal medicine stores, Eng Bee Tin hopia, and of course, the-hole-in-the-wall eateries. I used to live in Manila and Ongpin was a regular haunt but not anymore. Venturing to the Binondo Church one Sunday and the almost mandatory side trip to Eng Bee Tin, I chanced upon this seemingly small restaurant with the signage, “Tasty Dumplings”. And so started food trips to this eating place that yielded tasty surprises.

Tags: Binondo, Chinese, Dumplings, Manila, Noodles, Pork Chops