Steamed Tofu

Chicken Feet

When you order dimsum, this is one of it that is hard to miss and that is “Chicken Feet”.  Chicken feet has a rich part in the Culinary history of China. One of the documentary that I watched, it was the favorite food of the emperor ( I just forgot the dynasty, hehe.)  The emperor would consume 30 peices of chicken feet per meal as his appetizer. Aside from China and Philippines, chicken feet is also a popular dish in South Africa and Jamaica. 

In our country, it is know as “Adidas”.  You can veryify by buying raw in the market. If you go to a barbeque stall  that serves this, just metion the brand and you will have it.  It is very popular because it is very tasty, tender and has gelatinous texture.  Why? Because it is mostly made of cartilage. For me, it is a perfect beer match.

I remember then when I had my schooling down under, our professor brought us to  a Chinese restaurant  and he told us that he was suppose to order this but we might not appreciate exotic food.  I told him that it is a street food in the Philippines and one of my colleague mentioned that in the Philippines, we even grill the head of the chicken.  He was surprised that this dish is not exotic for us. 

where to find

Chicken feet can be found everywhere in the country.  They are cooked adobo style, some are grilled and some are the dimsum type.  For this, I had my chicken feet experience in one of my favorite Chinese restaurant named“Luk Yen“.  THey have branches in Greenhills Shopping Complex and SM Mega Mall lower ground B.  There are may ways chicken feet can prepared and it will always depend in you type of taste. You can have it simply grilled and dipped in spicy vinegar.  That alone is a heaven sent food experience. Rapsa ang adidas men!!!  

Nachos

After a long day at work, my friends who came for different regions met me to attend a drinking session. Hehe. Just kidding!!!  They came here for their quarterly review “kung may benta ba o wala?”  I hope they have sale rather than none.  Going back to my food trip experience, we went to Henry’s grill and I had the chance to savor one of their bestseller and it is their Nachos. I was wondering why it was the primary answer when I asked,” what is the specialty of the house when it comes to appetizers”.  It was a straight answer from Weng, “ Sir, try our Nachos.  People come here because of that. “    Ako naman, dahil dakilang uto-uto, I did asked for it. It was something that I did not regret asking for.  It was a fantastic Nachos!!! Very good to have, wonderful to taste. It blended very well in what we were drinking.  My friends would order again and again every time the plate is emptied.

Where to Find

   

Sinigang na Sugpo

Steamed White Chicken

Chicken has always been one of the main dish in Chinese culinary art.  In fact, the Cantonese has many ways in how to serve and cook it with their traditional recipes.  Even the chicken feet, it dated far as the earliest dynasty in China.  It was the emperor’s food delight.  To our days, its the food trip of the emperor.  Hehe.  Now, when I am in the mood to eat chicken, one of my favorite stop is at Hap Chan and my favorite is the Steamed White Chicken.  Obviously, it is steamed and the color is pale.  It is served with sesame seeds and a sauce of a mixture of oil, ginger, and some leeks.  For me, I like it with soy,chilis, and calamansi.  It is very delectible that I can finish half of it in one sitting.  It goes very well with Yang Chow fried rice. 

Where to find

Hap Chan is located at major streets and dining areas in the Metro.  For this entry, i had it in their Antipolo branch along the Circumferential road.  It was a quite tastety chicken even though it may look bland.  This chicken has caught my attention through my taste buds and its looks. As what I mentioned before in food, ” Do not be decieve by the looks. For the taste will prove its worth.“  That is another food that is a total knockout for me.   I hope you will also try it.  It is worth the taste and the price as well. :)  

Inihaw na Pusit

Pinangat

Adobo

As part of my Adobo series, I asked my wife to prepared this all time favorite dish of mine for our vacation before school days at Canyon Cove .  What does it take to have a very special adobo that is different from what you can buy in the carinderias? Aside from the technique of blending the right spices, there is still one ingredient that will bring adobo to its perfection. That is time. Time is the element that most of the adobo makers forgot. The longer the adobo is soaked, the taster it becomes.  That is the reason why I ask my wife to prepare adobo a day before we eat it.  During the time you are cooking it, that is still the same ingredient that you have to master, the time for the water to evaporate and for the sauce to blend with the meat.  This is the technique great adobo makers have perfected.  This technique has separted the Ams from the Pros in Adobo cooking.

After you have your adobo cooked, there is still this variety that you might want to try. Dry the adobo with its sauce. It will become flakes that is perfect to a hot steam rice with vinegar and chili as the condiments. 

There is still another way that you might want to explore, stir fry the adobo in tomatoes and onions. Its another variety that was taught to me by my cousin from Marikina which he calls, “Adobo made in Heaven”.

There are diffent varieties that you can do to your adobo that makes it more exciting to eat. The bottomline, adobo padin at rapsa to!!!

Ngohiong

In Cebu, there is this spring roll that is uniquely a Cebuano signature dish.  It is called Ngohiong. it is made of ubod (pith), singkamas (jicama), ground pork some with srimp, and seasoned with ngohiong powder.  One of the best that I tasted is the creation of Chinese Nhohiong.  They have been making Ngohiong since 1960’s.  The sauce is a super spicy thick hot sauce and is best to combined with soy.  The more you take a bite, the more you want to eat.  It is that delicious. It is best with puso’ (hanging rice).

Where to Find 

Chinese Ngohiong is located at 354 Jungquera st., Cebu City.  You may also contact them at 032-2554568.   Be there before or after lunch time because this humble place if full of people trying to have a taste of this very delectable sprill rolls.  A truly Cebuano dish that you will appreciate dearly.  Very affordable, delicious and steamingly spicy.  Never miss this when you visit Cebu.  Definitely, I will have this again and again.

Tutta Carne by Amici

Pizza anyone? This is one opportunity most of us will grab if given a chance to savor this fantastic Italian Dish.  One of the best Italian pizza that I experienced is at Amici. The name of the pizza is Tutta Carne.  It is a pizza made of italian sausage, ham and pepperoni.  It is complete with the generous serving of mozzarella, tomato sauce. More to that, is is well complemented with their dried chili, salt and pepper.  This is something that you will eventually comeback to have it again and again.  All of their pizzas are baked using a woodfire stone oven. 

This makes the pizza special because it has the aroma and flavor that came form the “pugon” (stone oven).

Where to Find

Amici is located at Tomas Morato, Quezon City.  It is very easy to find because is below the famous Ratsy Resto Bar.  The service is also fast and the waiting time is short.  They are also accommodating in your request and the ambiance is simply clean and light. This is a place that you will enjoy wining and dining the casual way. Not stiffed, but relaxed. Not to mention, that they serve great Italian dishes.  When you drop by Tomas Morato, dont forget that there is an Italian Restaurant that serves a very good meatlovers pizza named Tutta Carne. Ciao!!!