Happy Foodies

<figure class="wp-block-image alignnone"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oggie/6295265603/"><img alt="Malaysian Beef Rendang" src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6032/6295265603_22327e3f51_b.jpg"></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Malaysian Beef Rendang</figcaption></figure> Ahhh, those Malaysia, truly Asia commercials running endlessly on the cable channels. Catching them every so often, you can't help but wonder about the sightseeing, shopping and of course, the eating over there. By a stroke of luck, Happyfoodies got an invite from AirAsia Philippines and Tourism Malaysia for a look-see, look-buy and look-taste in Kuala Lumpur. One of our memorable food stops was Madam Kwan's at the upscale Pavillion Mall which is a good opportunity to see why the place is popular.

<img alt="Luz Kinilaw in Davao" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/6170/6168205848_cf70761ae2_o.jpg"> We concluded our recent Mindanao trip with an overnight in Davao City. With limited time on our hands, the temptation to cram never entered our mind as we took our sweet time shopping for durian candies, malongs and ref magnets at Aldevinco before heading out for dinner to where else but Luz Kinilaw. We came on a midweek evening but the place is still half-filled with eager diners. Funny but the times I've eaten here, I've never ordered their kinilaw (fish or seafood cooked with only vinegar or a similar souring/acidic liquid) as the biggest attraction for me was and is always, the Inihaw na Panga ng Tuna (Grilled Tuna Jaw).

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/6208/6068633168_ac9d664ee6_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="500" height="667" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/6208/6068633168_ac9d664ee6_o.jpg" width="500"></a></div> <figure class="wp-block-image alignnone"> <figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Fried Chicken with Hash Browns and Vegetables at Rock Inn</figcaption></figure> We came to Sagada on a weekday to explore the foodscape as much as the landscape. The weather, as always, was conducive not only for hiking but also for good eating. In the limited time we stayed, we found either newer places or newer offerings from the old reliables. Here we share some of our favorites.

<figure class="wp-block-image alignnone"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ironwulf/5570251136/"><img alt="Bu-os " src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5063/5570251136_48cab86a32_b.jpg"></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Bu-os (Ant Eggs)</figcaption></figure> Real good food with the absence of impurities and natural is done by going back to nature. In my recent Tour with Lakbay Norte 2, we visited the isolated forest town of Adams in Ilocos Norte. After our hike to visit Anuplig falls, we had a late lunch where they served us meals which they consider organic. It's those simple dishes with ingredients freshly hand picked from their surroundings which made them good on their own.

<figure class="wp-block-image alignnone"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oggie/5543648346/in/set-72157626183294517/ "><img alt="Oh My Gulay House Salad" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5136/5543648346_0ce3ed66fe_b.jpg"></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Oh My Gulay House Salad (P100)</figcaption></figure> Go up five flights of stairs, past the sporting goods store on the ground floor, the drinking joint with the blaring karaoke on the second, a gym on the third, more offices on the fourth, and enter the world of artist, Kidlat Tahimik. There are artistic curiosities on this high-ceilinged, top-most floor -- large installations here, framed paintings over there. The plants spread all over the place are real, lending it a lush, texture-filled vibe. Up on the second level, the dining area offers a panoramic view of the city center. Welcome to Oh My Gulay along Session Road in Baguio.

<figure class="wp-block-image alignnone"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ironwulf/5389593401/in/set-72157625909902752/"><img alt="Hot Choco at Soul Cafe" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5132/5389593401_1e94bac272_b.jpg"></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Hot Choco at Soul Cafe</figcaption></figure> Food discoveries during travel have always been the heart of Happyfoodies. And during this Lakbay Norte 2, a familiarization tour of select places in Northern Luzon, we get to try out some interesting food stops on the way to Baguio from Manila on our first day. We had breakfast at SOUL Cafe in La Union, snacks at Cafe Isabelle and dinner at Hotel Elizabeth's Flora Cafe.

<figure class="wp-block-image alignnone"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ironwulf/5222769571/in/set-72157625263656779/"><img alt="Baked Bun with BBQ Pork" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5249/5222769571_cb6fd4ff03_b.jpg"></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Baked Bun with BBQ Pork (HK$12)</figcaption></figure> It's already past mid-afternoon when we, armed with maps from the HK airport, alighted at the MTR station in the Mongkok district. Nina (of <a href="http://justwandering.org">Just Wandering</a>) whetted our collective appetites with a tale of a much-written about hole-in-the-wall place that serve this really different kind of siopao. Since we we were in the vicinity for a look-see of Mongkok's electronic shops later in the afternoon, we thought why not find the place and taste for ourselves? Turns out the place wasn't really hard to find as we ran into a motley group of hungry diners, both local and foreign, hogging the sidewalk along Kwong Wa Street. We were given a number and told to wait an hour.