a hungry boy's lunch

So if you were a hungry boy, with a bit of financial freedom on a Saturday afternoon, where in SM Mall of Asia would you have lunch and what would you eat?

I'll tell you exactly where: Kalye Juan

In fact,I'll do you one better than that. I'll tell you what to eat. (And no, the resto's not paying me for this.)

The food the resto offers is not exactly new. The menu reads as regular as classified ads on a Sunday paper. What they have been able to do is find some neat twists and tricks to the regular Filipino heartburn fare, and make everybody happy with it.

My recommendation for your lunch, as me and the bebe just had it yesterday:

1. Kare-Kareng Tiyan ng Bangus- I can't even begin to explain what "kare-kare" is to my foreign readers, but it's an experience, really. Normally, you would have pork with the kare-kare, and some... errr, more "exotic" parts of the pig in the mix. They hit the jackpot by using bangus belly. You have your extra creamy sauce, string beans, pechay stalks, eggplant, plus 3 pieces of wonderful boneless bangus belly. Yum.


2. Bagoong Lechon Kawali- Again, I know bagoong is not the most popular fare among people from other countries visiting here, but I personally love it. Let's not talk about what it is though, only what it adds to the recipe. Lechon kawali is regular heart-attack food, a slab of marinated pork deep fried in oil until it is crunchy and crispy. Then they had the idea of putting sweet-salty bagoong as a topping. Not a bad idea, but this links in wonderfully with the kare-kare, as bagoong is the traditional siding for it. As an aside, their choice for the bagoong -- whether it be branded or self-produced -- was perfect. It's no secret that you can get a jar of pre-cooked, pre-seasoned bagoong at any decent supermarket. If this was bought, then kudos on choosing the perfect one to go with the recipe (they used the same type as siding to the bangus kare-kare as well). If this was one that the kitchen staff produced, I take my hat off to them -- it was exquisite.


3. Fried Tainga- we added this as something of an appetizer, but ended up mixing in well with the whole course. It's basically crispy fried pig's ear. Doesn't sound too inviting, does it? But if you want a lighter alternative (less cholesterol) to the traditional Crispy Pata (deep fried pig's leg), this is it. It's even served with the traditional sweet crispy pata dip we all have come to love. Goes well with anything, very good as starting munchers.

Sometimes, you just get that craving for Filipino soul food -- home-made flavors, recipes you have come to love. Kalye Juan gives you that, plus the small surprises that end up putting a contented smile on your face after your meal (the bebe and I were actually grimacing, mejo mabigat talaga sa tiyan eh).

The place -- the original branch is in T. Morato -- is actually very famous for their sisig. Again, for my foreign friends, don't ask what it is. Put it in your mouth and enjoy. They do sell beer and alcohol in the evening, so this is a favorite watering hole (well, the Morato branch, that is) for yuppies in the evening. If you don't want to join the audibly noisier crown in the evening, you should have lunch, which is just as enjoyable as dinner.

The menu is worth the gander -- lots of cool things in there. There's the aforementioned sisig. Then there's the dinamita, breaded chili peppers filled with cheese with mayo dip, which you get 5 to 6 pieces for Php85. The cost is a little bit mid range, maybe a bit lower than Max's, somewhere in the area of Kenny Roger's. Our meal, with refillable iced teas (plus the 1 extra rice - hehe), cost a little over Php500 (less VAT). So if that amount does not bother you, go ahead and make it a point to try out the place in the near future.

*images from bryantonpost.blogspot.com

one more soul touched

I've had this habit for the past 2 weeks of buying a dozen munchkins (Dunkin' Donuts donut hole product, for you who just woke up from a thousand-year sleep) from the TAFT MRT station for the beginning of my shift. I was in an emotional roller-coaster the past few weeks, so I was trying to keep other things steady and constant, even if they were just munchkins.

Things are better this week, and since it was payday, I wanted to do something nice for my team, so I decided to buy a dozen Dunkin Donuts for them. Right when I was buying at the busy kiosk from my suki (Filipino consumer-vendor relationship, I think Kevin posted about this term here) , a little street boy, not even 4 years old in my opinion, tugged at my pants and with the best smile in the world at that time gleefully said "Penge!" (Can I have one?)

At any other time, I would've just turned the other way. At this particular time though, even when I thought I was surely running late, I was forced to think about the situation. I was going to spend Php120 for my teammates, all of whom got paid today and would surely be able to buy themselves P10 donuts if they wanted to. Here was a boy who was asking for a donut, maybe not even hoping for a whole donut, but just with the hope of tasting what he normally wouldn't be able to have on any other day. It's kinda hard to realize that the amount needed for his happiness at that point was merely an afterthought for me -- what's P10 pesos nowadays, anyways? That's how much a donut cost, and that's how much it would cost me to bring at least, a happiness that is so hard to come by for this kid.

I wasn't going to think about it more, but neither was I willing to let the opportunity pass me by. I looked at the choices, gestured to the kid and pointed at the candy-sprinkled one. He nodded vigorously. "Ate, padagdag naman ng isa nun." (Could you please add one of those?) My suki smiled, nodded, got one of the donuts and put it in one of their gaudy single-donut plastics.

I handed it over to him, his eyes showing the "wow! one whole donut?!? for me?!?" in his mind. No other words were said. He didn't even notice me go. I watched him as I boarded the jeepney to MOA -- he was licking the chocolate that stuck on the plastic first, before going on to the main treat. Nothing else mattered to him. Wow. Choco-Candy Sprinkle -- stuff of hope and dreams.

It's shameful to think now, keeping in mind how little I spent for the impression left with this kid (good things -- very out-of-the-ordinary for this world we live in -- still happen), that at any other day, I wouldn't have given him a second thought, much less give. What was this one about? The sincerity in the boy's eyes? The cute-and-cuddly Christmas feeling that's creeping up on me these days?

No, I think this is evidence enough that with the promised Counsellor in me, I have that distinct power to do something different for this world. Call it extraordinary, call it radical, call it against-the-flow -- but this is what we have - the Power living in us to be different.

I don't have any guilty feelings about feeling good. I know that was not about me helping the child. It was one more soul touched by my Savior's Spirit - mine.

the best. abso-freaking-lutely.

--this post has nothing to do with my emotional, spiritual, or mental state right now. this is purely physical.

ok. you're in the city. you're stomach is looking for something that not only would fill it up, but would appeal to your taste buds as well. if your looking for a hunger-buster, look no further.

[DISCLAIMER: The company who makes these did not, in cash or in kind, pay me for this here blog exposure they have. In fact, I really prefer Jollibee over McDonald's any other day. This is the exception.]


The Double Cheeseburger. (ta-dah!)









If you're talking about filling your stomach brute force with a "no frills" kinda burger that at least tastes decent, the McDonald's Double Cheeseburger is by far, in my opinion (agree with me, Leah), the best option for you.

Heck, "tastes decent"? It tastes freaking good. Whoever thought up this product should be given some sort of award for the sheer audacity of the idea -- two cholesterol-ridden, chunky-juicy-oily all-beef (or at least they claim so) patties, on a regular McDonald's burger bun, and with two slices of cheese to boot -- else it wouldn't be a cheeseburger, eh?

And the simplicity is just as inviting. I mean, I choose to eat this without the onions and the pickles -- just the patties, the cheese, the ketchup and the bun. I mean you can eat it as is, but imagine -- no lettuce, no tomatoes, not even sesame seeds on the bun. Just plain beefy-juicy-cheesy goodness. And have you noticed how absolutely perfect this goes with the salty-soggy fries and a large glass of Coke? Yeah, you have. Hungry yet?

I mean, I've never been like an "I-go-crazy" fan of McDonald's. I'm your regular Jollibee kinda guy. But there are some products that this US franchise has gotten absolutely perfect (just like the way how Chickenjoy is purrrrfect). I know, I know, you may disagree on the Chickenjoy, but bear with me. McDonald's hit the nail right on the head for me with a number of things -- McNuggets, Twister Fries, and of course, the aforementioned burger.

For a special burger day or meal, my first choice would be Jollibee's Amazing Aloha (always my choice on special occasions if asked). Then there are those expensive Wendy's burgers. But on a regular day, you just can't beat the way a Double Cheeseburger brute forces it's way down to your tummy.

Ideally, I'd have that seasonal Twister Fries with it, but well, you can''t have everything.