Happy Foodies

<figure class="wp-block-image alignnone"><img alt="Crispy Pork Binagoongan (P160)" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3499/3915535468_a2215631b6_o.jpg"><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Crispy Pork Binagoongan (P160)</figcaption></figure> One of the perks of eating out of town is the chance to taste unpretentious food. Not to say we’re jaded by city food but there are times when one would just like to sit down to no-frills fare. So when your happyfoodies went to Virac in Catanduanes, we had to ask the locals where they’d prefer to eat out. One place that keeps popping up is Sea Breeze Restaurant. That it’s mentioned in Jens Peters’ Philippine Guide only whetted our appetite to give it a try.

<figure class="wp-block-image alignnone"><img alt="Nam Heongs Chicken Rice" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3501/3915390983_f21df70ac0_o.jpg"><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Nam Heong's Chicken Rice</figcaption></figure> When in Malaysia, mention Chicken Rice and locals would definitely say Nam Heong as its equivalent. It's an institution known for cooking Chicken Rice using an age-old recipe which dates back to more than 70 years when the establishment started. Now, it has a number of franchises in Kuala Lumpur. But is the quality still the same? We trooped to one of their branches in Sungai Wang Mall to try out its famous Chicken Rice as well as some of its other offerings.

<figure class="wp-block-image alignnone"><img alt="Sun Fong Bak Kut Teh" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2455/3892932690_98ea2f0481_o.jpg"><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Sun Fong Bak Kut Teh at Imbi, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia</figcaption></figure> The constant rain and the cool weather these days made me yearn for a serving of hot soup to warm my taste buds. And fresh from my recent trip to Malaysia, one dish which taste still lingers in my head is the Bak Kut Teh (Pork Bone Tea Soup). Originally used as a therapeutic soup introduced by the Chinese, it has become a popular Malaysian dish. I first tasted the Bak Kuh Teh in Kota Kinabalu Malaysia way back. On this recent trip, our guide Marie who's also a self-confessed foodie led us to Sun Fong Restaurant, one of the famous Bak Kut Teh restauarant in Kuala Lumpur bringing in the Klang goodness in the city.

<figure class="wp-block-image alignnone"><img alt="Cha Ca La Vong in Hanoi Vietnam" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2554/3867048913_6fb19c4dde_o.jpg"><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Cha Ca La Vong in Hanoi Vietnam</figcaption></figure> Imagine a restaurant with only one item in the menu. Hmmm, we even forgot if there was a menu at all. There is such a place – it’s Cha Ca La Vong and it’s in Hanoi. At a time when most eating establishments adopt the “the more, the merrier” approach when it comes to food offerings, this restaurant in the Old Quarters of Hanoi takes simplicity to the other extreme. Who would argue with this formula when it’s over a hundred years old? That this institution is listed among the must-visit places in Vietnam gives us an incentive to try and see what the fuss is all about.

<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.