Author: ajay

Eating in restaurants is my vice or indulgence, since I don’t smoke and hardly ever drink. I don’t claim to be an expert, but at one point in this blog’s life, I’ve been called a foodie, which is defined in this site as “someone who has an ardent or refined interest in food.”

Ardent, yes; refined is still something I have to achieve since most of the time, I prefer lutong bahay (home cooking), carinderia fare and making tusok the fishballs. Eating out - especially charting untried culinary territory - remains an adventure since you don’t know whether what they will serve you is up to par with your hard-earned peso’s expectation. Unless of course the meal is free, then it becomes less of a burden

I’ve long thought of making this post, from the point of view of a customer who has splurged my salary on food and patronized restaurants all these years. It is true that times are hard and it’s doubly difficult to keep businesses afloat; still, proprietors forget that it is often the little details that count. If you, as a customer, has something else to add or say, please feel free to share them here:

1. Giving me change; giving me very very loose change. I still have to ascertain if this is unique to the Philippines. Let’s say I’ve paid for my meal in cash, and expect a change of P680. I’d surely dread it if the server returns with an assortment of peso bills, two P10 coins, 4 P5 coins and 20 pieces of P1 coins. Wow! Don’t know what they mean by this, but nothing screams more of “gimme a tip! gimme a tip!” I do hope those presumptuous cashiers give patrons the option to determine the amount of gratuity, instead of cheapening themselves by implying that I should give loose change , when in fact I mean to give a whole paper bill

2. Forgetting the presentation. This is applicable to the last Asian restaurant I went to, where the nasi lemak I ordered looked and felt more like kaning baboy (pig food). Airline meal was better. If I have to pay for something that is priced way above a fastfood combo meal, I expect more in terms of quantity, taste and presentation. It is not so much the appearance, but the way the food is served on the plate. A bit of presentation can spell the difference between classy and tacky.

3. Messing up with the doggy bag. First of all because not all of us are have dogs, so please don’t wrap our left-overs like it’s meant to go to the dogs (literally.) If I had my way, the best way really is to prepare the doggy bag in front of the customer, instead of bringing left-overs back to the kitchen for packing. One time in this Chinese restaurant, a half order of left-over pata tim was only one fourth when we arrived home. You never really know what happens next.

4. Keeping a filthy toilet. Because unfortunately , most of us judge restos by the backyards they keep. Even Anthony Bourdain says so. If your toilet is unkempt, then how worse can your kitchen be? Equally guilty are most of the mall restos which have no toilets at all, and the nearest one is an escalator ride away!!

5. Overly-solicitous staff. As Mr. Z would say: we want to dine in peace, please don’t intrude unless we ask for you. Unless am an old-timer, I came to your establishment to eat, not to chat. The opposite of solicitous would be inattentive staff, those types where even asking for water takes an eternity. Nuff said.

6. Putting the menu away, too quickly. It works almost like a reflex action on the part of those restaurant servers, they take the menu away as soon as you give your order. I wish they can even ask, am the type who wants the menu to stay on the table, either because I want to read it further, or I still have not chosen my dessert!

7. Order takes too long. This must be on top there of customer complaints, and nothing changes. It is unforgivable because people eating out are either very hungry, or don’t have time to spare. In this fast-paced world, there is so much you can do already with 30 minutes of waiting. In the last restaurant I went to, we waited for 25 minutes… and to think that we were the only customers in the house!

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Kanin Club in Paseo de Santa Rosa has been on the radar of foodies for over a year now. Either I’ve missed one opportunity to go there, or I haven’t been to the Laguna-Tagaytay border for some time. However, a good restaurant shouldn’t stay rooted in one area for long. I was certainly happy to know that they’ve opened in Alabang, which is nearer where we live. The location is that quiet,uncrowded restaurant row called the Westgate Center inside the Filinvest Corporate City.

As its name implies, Kanin Club specializes in rice dishes and some other savories which shall be dealt with later. Photo shows their Sinigang na Sinangag - fried rice that’s flavored like sinigang, with all the sinigang bits like sliced tomatoes, green pepper and pork. It is crowned with vegetables fried in tempura batter, which gives one a crunchy intermission before you wade your spoon into the rice. Taste was not too sour or overpowering. The only thing missing from this concoction was the soup!

Even in its secluded location and the fact that it was past 1 p.m., the restaurant’s tables were full. Waiting time was a good 15 to 20 minutes. My twins (the future foodies) sat in the wooden staircase and scrutinized the menu.

Our first order was the crispy liempo - fried pork belly with a trio of sauces: Pinoy vinegar, soy sauce and chili sauce. Nothing outstanding,but this is home cooking. I am reminded of my childhood when I sat in my aunt’s kitchen and munched on fried pork that was meant for sauteeing.

I consider crispy dinuguan the star dish in Kanin Club which is full of “crispies” on their menu (crispy pata, crispy tenga, crispy pork binagoongan, to name a few.)

Am not a member of the Iglesia ni Cristo, but I wouldn’t touch dinuguan (the Filipino dish translated as stewed pork blood) even if you present me with the most mouthwatering puto. Dinuguan and puto are what some people’s merienda dreams are made of. However, the KC menu was encouraging to say the least, and coaxing was all I needed. It claimed that crispy dinuguan was a dish that even non-eaters have learned to love…which made me think, “I can do it, too!”

True enough, am the only one from our table to try this, as my daughters aren’t too adventurous yet to eat dinuguan. A spoonful became a couple of spoonfuls and I sit there mystified by my conversion. The answer was simple really: crispy dinuguan was pork blood sauce on the outside, and crunchy lechon kawali on the inside. I have to admit, it made for a wonderful pairing. There was some to take home, and the crispy dinuguan was still good the day after. I give this offering a definite thumbs up!

MY son, the picky eater, ordered his favorite pancit canton, and the piniritong manok (fried chicken) which never came. The pancit was ordinary, am surprised it’s included in the menu when it rightfully belongs to a panciteria. After the crispy dinuguan, the Club would do well to include other out-of-the-way dishes. How about balut??

Itsi Bitsi is sauteed Sitaw, Bitsuelas, Sigarilyas mixed with what appears to be ‘pulled’ beef strips. This was kinda try, but tasty.

Two of Kanin Club’s popular desserts: the leche flan generously topped with macapuno (sweetened young coconut) as well as Turon KC, with or without ice cream. The turon is especially a bestseller. That’s because it’s not only made of caramelized banana, but also ube haleya, macapuno and red mongo beans. As good as a heavenly serving of halo-halo itself!

Kanin Club Alabang
Telephone Number 771-1104

Kanin Club, Paseo de Sta. Rosa
Sta. Rosa, Laguna
Telephone Number (049) - 771 1400

It’s a health conscious world we’re living. It’s not just enough to eat your fruits, walk daily, drink eight cups of water, take your vitamins and adopt the whole get-fit caboodle. These days, people also get to “wear their health,” as we’ll see in the following examples.

Subject no. 1: FitFlop! The latest designer incarnation of the ubiquitous thong sandals became famous when the likes of Oprah and Heidi Klum started to endorse it, and celebrities like Julianne Moore started wearing ‘em. FitFlop takes pride in its slogan “It’s the flip flop with the gym built-in.” The official literature says the brand gives your feet a workout through its MicroWobbleboard technology in midsole which lets you exert 15% more energy in walking. More effort means you get to burn your muscles more, thus toning and firming the legs.

I’ve had my red FitFlop for over a month now, and I can’t tell the difference yet. Probably the reason is that I also work out in the gym and have always walked fast. But I do like the its quality, especially the non-slip outsole. I wear the FitFlops when the occasion allows,such as during weekends. I think it’s better to try something that claims to have health benefits, and go from there.

At present, FitFlops are sold for three thousand pesos in Manila stores like R.O.X. on Bonifacio High Street. Mine was a gift taken from the Victoria’s Secret catalogue which sold it at $50; still, it was such a hassle being taxed for this at the Post Office. On another note, this Newsweek report on the bad effects of flip-flops is rather… disturbing.

Subject No. 2: titanium accessories, like bracelets and necklaces! I remember how someone tried to sell me one before for $200 under a multi-level scheme which would have required me to sell it to other people too. I couldn’t understand at first how a long strip of metal can bring one health benefits, even though I’ve seen the stuff being worn by a lot of Koreans at work. Am just not the type to believe in these things. Recently, I gave in and bought one… just not the expensive ones I see in the other stores. I think it cost only a little more than 500 hundred pesos in Toby’s Arena Mall of Asia. I’ve been wearing my unbranded titanium necklace for close to a month and I feel better. I feel lesser aches and pains around the neck and lower back area which usually occurs when am stressed. Holy schmoly, this one works!

Discussing durian, the fruit, The Philippines most recent celebrity visitor Anthony Bourdain was once quoted as saying in his TV show No Reservations: ” Its taste can only be described as…indescribable, something you will either love or despise. …Your breath will smell as if you’d been French-kissing your dead grandmother.”

Dead grandma or not, durian certainly looked like it was a staple in Davao City - at least for this tourist. Huge pieces of the fruit were laid out on the sidewalks, more than mangoes or watermelon. I actually had to do a double take, as I first thought it was jackfruit or langka, if not for the pronounced spiky ends. Davao City prides itself for being the “fruit basket of the Philippines,” but at least credit it for being focused in marketing its primary product. It should rightfully be called the “durian capital of the country.”

Even the smell of durian is simply repulsive to some, and to adventurous eaters, it is an acquired taste. I remember my first taste of durian ice cream last June in Singapore, and how I’d describe it as an “unpleasant kind of pleasant.” Ugh.

Anyway, I am just amazed how some Davao natives take to durian as if it was green mango and bagoong. Our guide was actually craving for it right after our hearty seafood meal. And to think she had durian shake to go with it.

The durian shake looked good. I presume the strong durian flavor has already been washed away by the addition of milk, sugar and ice.

But I was proud to have sipped the durian cappuccino which was the signature coffee in Blue Gre, a popular cafe in the city. A bit pricey at P135, Davao visitors afraid of tasting the real durian should at least have a shot at this one. Maybe they can change their mind. I tried this because am a coffee lover

The pasalubong counter in the Davao international airport also had an array of desserts, from durian pie to durian candies and other tasty bits. Could try some next time.

So another year has gone by. You know you’re getting officially getting old in the digital era when friends greet you via Plurk and your Facebook Wall. I haven’t yet reached the great 4-0 but I realized that am already in my midlife. Still have to write my own profound thoughts on the matter. Certainly, what I don’t want to be is to be old and jaded. I may have mellowed considerably, but I still want to view the world with open eyes and pursue my life’s passions with the same excitement as before, if not more.

One of my life’s passions being food. No way I can celebrate my birthday without it. Some friends and I planned to eat out at the Highlands Steakhouse in Mall of Asia without knowing that they have my favorite prime rib buffet going on. Simply had to have that. Dear Santa would understand if I splurged a little on my birthday, especially as I said before this prime rib was better than secks

The Highlands Steakhouse Eat-All-You-Can Prime Rib Buffet is available lunchtime from Monday to Saturday for P1100 net and is ongoing till November 30 only. It’s inclusive of a selection of soups, salads, desserts, rice and sidings.

Birthday treat #2 : lechon! It all started when Spanky circulated this email about the “incredibly flavorful” Sabroso Lechon. At once, mind started flying and my mouth watering. Simply had to have i-t!!! The boyfriend, who was gracious enough to sponsor the lechon, couldn’t understand at first the Filipino concept of the “blowout.” I had to explain that it’s a cultural thing, all the while feeling guilty that I didn’t let him taste lechon during his visits here.

Here was Sabroso Lechon when it was freshly delivered in the office….

… and here it was after about 40 minutes. Poor, poor piggy. Blame it on the fact that Sabroso Lechon was the best I’ve tasted in a long time. Like the lechon Cebu, it didn’t come with a sauce. But that’s good enough considering that you can taste the saltiness and the yummy stuffing from the greens. Until now, am craving for the lechon (Made in New Manila, not Cebu) and hope I get to taste it again for Christmas. The boyfriend simply must have this when he comes home in January too; guess I’ll have to treat him this time, hehe.

Another scrumptious treat: the delightful Coffee Crunch Cake from Purple Oven sent over by the friendly GM folks (salamat, Amor) What can I say, it was perfect for a coffee lover like me. The mild mocha taste blissfully mingling with crunchy chocolate bits. I was wondering where Purple Oven is, since I threw away the box prematurely, and Ryan of Kain Pinoy was kind enough to give me the details: 63 St. Peter St. Oranbo, Pasig, Philippines. Telephone 6314221.

Flowers and chocolates completed my birthday, never mind if they were sent from afar. He’s sweeeet that way! <3 Ask me about my new favorite desserts and I’d have to say they’re the Belgian Chocolates of good ol’ Leonidas and Benoit Nicolay (the latter is actually a Philippine company owned by a Belgian)

Some things I’ve lost, but there’s still so much to be thankful for and am happy! Thank you for your greetings, my loved ones and friends.