Eat It Up: Hermanos' Fish Tacos

Fish be with you: Irresistible fish tacos at Hermanos are simple yet satisfying. Just because you can't eat meat, it doesn't mean you can't have a little fun. Every week of Lent I'll be sharing a different meat-free find from the different restaurants in Manila starting with last time's adorable watermelon steak by Pipino. Mexican food seems to have gotten a second wind in the local dining scene. Recent entries like Órale!,...

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Lent It Be

In an attempt to make a major sacrifice last year, I gave up meat, sweets, and alcohol. It was at times unsuccessful---I was handling food reviews for the magazine I used to work for, and during a trip to Beijing, a visit to Da Dong for its famous Peking duck left me weak in the knees. I succumbed to the gluttony of the evening and ate the best duck I've ever encountered so far.It still haunts my dreams, waddling along...

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Eat It Up: Watermelon Steak

Pipino's irresistible watermelon with asparagus, taro miso mash, and pickled mushrooms will have you smitten for summer and beyond As a rule, I don't grill my fruits. It's just one of those things - like walking with wet socks or eating a whole jar of mayonnaise with a spoon. I'd rather not, thank you very much. Fruits by all accounts are meant to be served chilled, preferably in bite-sized juicy chunks, or,...

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VILLA CAFÉ: Babi Rocks!

by Twinkle When Chef Jam Melchor of Villa Café posed the question “What’s your favorite cuisine?”, I was ready with my usual repertoire of world delights: Chinese, Japanese, Italian, Korean. But before I could answer he said, “Di ba people usually say Mexican, Italian, para sosyal? Bakit hindi Filipino?” (Don't people usually say Mexican, Italian, to sound sophisticated? Why not Filipino?) Hmmm… he did have a point. Whether...

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Orient Express Part 1

I've always wondered how the Chinese name their restaurants. I suspect it's by spinning a roulette labeled with words like 'jade', 'dragon', and 'palace'. "Silky Flying Golden Buddha Garden it is," one might say, proud of stringing the words together. Mine would be Man Ho. Just because. But until Quezon City grants my business permit, there will be Binondo. Yes, it's dingy and decrepit, its heaving mass stitched...

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Kablam! for your Buck: Lech-Get-It-On!

One of the most popular dishes in the Philippines is lechon baboy or roast pig. A traditional part of any fiesta, the reddish brown porker doubles as both meal and centerpiece for the occasion. You'll always wanna be near the start of the line so you can get a good serving of the meat, and that always-first-to-go crispy lechon skin.Alas, lechon is not perfect. The traditional cooking process can sometimes leave...

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