China in Manila: Golden Fortune

Binondo is a haven for those who want to grab a bite of authentic Chinese dishes. With a bunch of old time favorites still busy as ever in the bustling Chinatown, many opened branches just a few miles away from where it all started. Such was the case for Golden Fortune which opened back in the 70's. And throughout the years, this place has not lost its touch as it continues to delight every guest's taste buds with its delectable dishes. 

Hello, Golden Fortune. 

Golden Fortune has been one of the household names when it comes to great Chinese restaurants. It being around for three decades is enough proof that it stood the test of time and remains relevant to the discerning market today. 

Celebrating Mooncake Festival the Traditional Way with Eng Bee Tin

Mooncake season is here! With beautifully designed Chinese baked treats in countless shelves in the market, the only other thing that excites me is the annual dice game. Known in Manila as Mooncake Festival and more aptly called Mid-Autumn Festival in China, this tradition can be traced all the way back during the Qing Dynasty in 1600. It has been said that this celebration is to give good luck to scholars for their exams hence the game being known as zhuang yuan bo bing. It eventually evolved throughout the years and we now veer away from mooncakes as prizes and give out snacks or money instead. But Eng Bee Tin had the wonderful idea to bring back tradition. 

Hello, Eng Bee Tin and The Great Buddha Cafe. 

Eng Bee Tin has been around for over a decade now having started in 1912. Its name has been closely related to hopia and tikoy that others actually use the brand name when referring to these Chinese favorites.

My First Bite: Lord Stow's Bakery

I think I have already shared several times how much I love Binondo. No, it’s not because I’m Chinese (as I “was” a frustrated Japanese wannabe loving everything Japanese!). It was because I get to discover and experience a lot of things here that I normally wouldn’t if I roam around my “territory” (as some of my friends call it). Kalesa rides, haggling for fruit prices, seeing chicken feet and head vacuum sealed, and more—I don’t think I’ll ever experience that in my territory.

During my fourth trip to Binondo last year, a CS friend of mine got so excited to see a bakeshop. I was… confused. Apparently, it is known for its egg tarts and it is actually an international bakeshop. *Ooh*

Hello, Lord Stow’s Bakery!

It was rather odd though that her excitement never pushed me to buy a box of my own. I guess I was too lazy to carry a box knowing that we were going to Intramuros (my favorite place ever… here in Manila).

The 2012 List

Pessimists say that 2012 is the end of the world but optimists like me think that this is the year full of food, laughter, and just about anything that would make you think of double rainbow (remember that YouTube video?).

Every year, I plan my New Year’s Goals similar to a bucket list but with a shorter time frame. It thrills me every time I get to cross out some of the goals. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to accomplish a lot last 2011. I only managed to get rid of about 5 or 6 only from my list of 25. But this year, I am more determined to cross out at least half of what I will be mentioning below. 

MORE KALESA RIDES

Ever since my first ever ride last November, I can’t help but gush for more! This means more Binondo and Intramuros trips too. I hope to get to ride it 20 times this year!

EAT AT LEAST THREE DIFFERENT EXOTIC DISHES

I failed to eat lamb parts last time I went on an exotic food trip. I will not give up and visit Manila again for exotic dishes. I have already crossed out uok (larva of beetles), frogs, crickets, turtle and crocodile.

WATCH THE DISNEYLAND FIREWORKS 

I think this is the most magical moment… ever.

2011: A Gluttonous Year

Disclaimer: Yet another random blog but is surely something from the bottom of my heart (and tummy).

I can’t believe that today is the end of 2011 and awesome 2012 will begin. So many things happened to me this year and I do not regret any of it. I have experienced a lot and visited so many different places this year and met awesome people who are as passionate as I am when it comes to food and exploring Manila.

To end the year, I’d like to highlight some things that made this year extra special.

Intramuros

Oh how I love this place! The Old Manila feel plus the numerous kalesa makes this place an ideal dating and hangout place for me. I remember touring a not-so tourist here and I was the one who ended up enjoying it more. It was like a blast from the past. Educational, fun and truly memorable.

Binondo

I have mentioned before that I have never been to Binondo till June 19, 2011. It was a rainy, rather, stormy day when we decided to explore Binondo in search for some warm soup. We went to Ying-Ying, a popular Chinese (well, almost every food establishment there is Chinese) restaurant in Chinatown. The congee was bland but the experience was… delicious. (Okay, perhaps that sounded a bit wrong.) Now I always find myself in Binondo searching for food; may it be exotic dishes like Soup #5 or ice cream from the Chinese supermarket or the got-almost-everything Korean mart. Plus, this was the place where I got my first kalesa ride!!!

Exotic Food Trip Stop: Café Mezzanine

Exotic! That’s the first thing that comes to mind whenever I hear the word Binondo. Yes, not Chinese nor hopia… EXOTIC. I find it funny that it was just this year when I first visited this place, and now, I just can’t get over it. Soup #5, Turtle Soup, Frogs, Eels… these things charm me in a very odd manner.  

November 26, 2011. Fear Factor: Exotic Food Trip Edition. 

 

I invited several friends from Couchsurfing to a different kind Binondo Food Trip. Unfortunately, I was not aware that the word “exotic” could turn them off like The Grinch seducing the mommy who kissed Santa Claus. Alas, I was able to gather 7 people with the help of a fellow CSer. 

 

Our first stop was Café Mezzanine known as the Volunteer Fireman’s Coffee Shop. There we ordered Soup #5 (PHP250) and Special Kiampong (PHP50 per serving). I also ordered Coffee Float (PHP90). 

I was so excited to try Soup #5 because it was quite exotic. Bull’s balls? How can that not be exotic? 

Hand-pulled noodles anyone?

As part of our Rizal Rediscovery tour, we walked around Binondo for some authentic Chinese food. (Now that I typed it in, it doesn’t make sense.)

Anyway, we went to this small noodle shop called Lan Zhou La Mien (no, I wasn’t able to read the signage… I relied on what our “tour guide” told me).

We ordered Beef Lamien (PHP120), Beef Kan Pan Lamien (PHP130), Ba Bao Sha Guo Lamien (PHP140) and pork dumplings (PHP100). Our other friend ordered Seafood Lamien as she’s vegetarian.

While waiting for our food... we watched how the noodles were made.

First dishes to arrive were the Beef Lamien and the Beef Kan Pan Lamien. Well, the two are pretty much the same only the latter does not have soup. I prefer the Beef Lamien because I can’t help associate noodles with soup. Also, I find the Kan Pan Lamien a bit hard to swallow. A bit thick for me.

Beef Lamien

Beef Kan Pan Lamien

The beef however was very tender and flavorful. It was not salty at all and I’d say that it was seasoned well. Also, the noodles played a major part in the dish. You’d know that the noodles were cooked well. Chewy but not hard or of the texture of overly cooked rice.

Ba Bao Sha Guo Lamien

I wasn’t able to try the Ba Bao Sha Guo Lamien but I was told that some ingredients added were quite bland. I just took one quail egg so I can’t really comment about it.

Pork dumplings... not really photogenic. :(

The pork dumplings on the other hand were just right. Not really outstanding. I had better pork dumplings. I also prefer dipping it in soy sauce but the only one available there was black vinegar. I’m not very sure if that’s the proper way to eat dumplings as I am not really fond of Chinese food (though I’m Chinese).

We “stared” at the restaurant that served vegetarian dumplings. I’ll try that one next time.