Happy Foodies

<figure class="wp-block-image alignnone"><img alt="Cabanatuans Punos Chocolate Casoy Ice Cream" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3479/3851340145_57d61159d1_o.jpg"><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Cabanatuan's Puno's Chocolate Casoy Ice Cream</figcaption></figure> While it was raining in the Metro over the weekend, your happyfoodies were following the hiking and food trail to the northeastern part of Luzon. One of our stops on the way home was Cabanatuan, and at the suggestion of a friend, we made a stopover at Puno’s Ice Cream and Sherbet to cool off the increasingly hot day. Our friend says it’s a must-visit place and we were just happy to oblige.

<figure class="wp-block-image alignnone"><img alt="Luang Prabang Breakfast Noodles" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2630/3818170806_6633acf270_o.jpg"><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Luang Prabang Breakfast Noodles</figcaption></figure> 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”.

<figure class="wp-block-image alignnone"><img alt="Shen Din Kha Makimi (P85 regular, P100 large)" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3376/3649859213_4cc674cf38.jpg"><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Shin Din Kha Makimi (P85 regular, P100 large)</figcaption></figure> Sunday is a nice time to go to Manila’s Chinatown. It’s less crowded, there’s not much traffic, and most restaurants have room to spare. Some would argue it doesn't really feel like being there in Binondo if it’s not crowded. But there are times when it would be nice to be able to sit down and grab a bite without wading through the crowds and waiting for a long time even for short order items on the menu. Your happyfoodies chanced upon this panciteria, Shin Din Kha, while on a food trip with friends about two weeks ago. We were full at that time so we had to bypass this small restaurant. But a recent Sunday lunch found us wandering here again, this time with hungry tummies.

<figure class="wp-block-image alignnone"><img alt="New Po-Heng Fresh Lumpia (P45/order)" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3300/3600279269_a5fe2f5b81_b.jpg"><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">New Po-Heng Fresh Lumpia (P45/order)</figcaption></figure> So what do we avid traveler-photographers do during the monsoon season? Hmmm, at times, we just brave the weather and go ahead with our trip. But sometimes, we’d wisen up and not push our luck, opting to stay in the city and find something else of interest. That is exactly what we did recently when along with two fellow foodie friends, your happyfoodies braved the Saturday monsoon rains to eat their way through a Saturday. Nevermind the overcast skies and intermittent rains, the muddy streets and damp air, but really, is there something more pleasurable than sniffing out the delicious smell of Chinese food wafting from shops and hole-in-the-walls and succumbing to the temptation?

<figure class="wp-block-image alignnone"><img alt="Dorado served on Kabaya Leaf" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2456/3537652661_f5dc690339_b.jpg"><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Dorado served on Kabaya Leaf</figcaption></figure> “Where do we we eat?” Tired and famished from all the hiking and traveling, it’s a question we ourselves keep asking whenever we’re in Basco. This capital of Batanes, is usually the jump-off point for visitors exploring the Philippines’ northernmost province. Happyfoodies collates some noteworthy eating places to help out first-time or returning visitors.

<figure class="wp-block-image alignnone"><img alt="Spaghetti Aglio Olio e Pepperoncino (Php 175)" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3301/3438382666_f1fac15352_o.jpg"></figure> It’s been quite a while since we last stepped into Amici in Don Bosco in Makati City. Oh, we’ve always considered this restaurant that boasts of affordable, home-cooked Italian-style cuisine as a comforting constant in a constantly changing foodscape. But ever since its takeover by a new management team two years ago, we had our apprehensions. And there’s also the expansion to include a branch in SM Megamall. Did the move to professionalize the operations alter the relaxed eating experience? Or worse, change the great-tasting food we’ve always come to love? To find out, we dropped by on a Sunday afternoon for a late lunch – something that was not possible when Amici was still run by the Salesians of Don Bosco. Obviously, this is one of the benefits of the new management as Sunday is a very nice time to avoid the big weekday office crowds and take your sweet time to savor each and every bite. The verdict: still as lip-smacking good as ever.

<figure class="wp-block-image alignnone"><img alt="Seryna Spicy Tuna Maki (Php 170/ 6pcs)" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3428/3318081937_19f0724ee7_o.jpg"><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Seryna Spicy Tuna Maki (Php 170/ 6pcs)</figcaption></figure> We venture to Mile Long and Makati Cinema Square every now and then and pass the small road leading to Makati Square. We often see the SERYNA signage flanking the side entrance to the Little Tokyo complex and wonder what’s inside. Not that the place has received little media publicity but we always wanted to sample what’s been written about and what the steady stream of diners (evidenced by the endless flow of cars parked on the strip) has been dropping by for. Last weekend, we got a chance to do just that when a trip to another restaurant didn’t go as planned.