Lafang / bogchi (v) – gay lingo for eat
Shei (n) – my nickname
Shei Lafang (n) – what I love to do – eat :)
Vedi. Vini. bogchi.
I came. I saw. I ate.
If I were to choose the best relationship I’ve had, it would be with two things: clothes and food. Both comfort me whether I’m sad or happy. Both mark the memorable phases in my life. And both have changed, as I have undergone ‘metamorphosis’ through the years. This blog will attempt to showcase my love for food, and life in general.
Food has been my best friend. My mom never had a difficult time preparing meals for me, because I JUST love eating. I remember I would not leave a single grain of rice on my plate. And my Ate would joke about it, saying she has the easiest time washing my plate because “tubig na lang ang kulang, malinis na.”
For those who have known me way back, my love for food and eating is very obvious because I am not skinny. People remember me as that fair-skinned, curly, healthy, CHUBBY girl. And as I’ve earned my own money, lived independently and decided how to spend it, I realized I spend it a lot on food. And that the pics I took most were about three things: myself, my travels and FOOD.
That's me! @ 3 years old, joining my Ate's Christmas party (and enjoying the food!)
Instead of flooding facebook with pictures and food reviews, a better way of letting my ideas out and sharing it to more food lovers like me is through this blog. So here goes my first entry – my favorite Asian restaurants and their signature dishes.
BANANA LEAF
Branches: Trinoma, Greenhills, Greenbelt
I've had countless celebrations spent here, with friends and family and former love interests. And I never get tired of dining here, alone or with company. Their menu offers a variety of Asian cuisines -- from Singaporean, Indonesian, Malaysian, Vietnamese, Thai, etc. For a foodie enthusiast like me, this is heaven!
For appetizers, highly recommended is the roti canai (pronounced as sha-nai). It is a type of Indian-influenced flatbread found in Malaysia and Indonesia. You can choose to serve it plain or with kaya spread (sweet coconut spread), and pair it with curry sauce (highly recommended!)
Served with curry sauce
Another fave appetizer would be the Vietnamese spring rolls that usually come with a spicy, sweet & sour sauce.
Vietnamese spring rolls
For main course:
Tilapia in assam sambal sauce
Best paired with Nasi Goreng (Indonesian fried rice)
Shrimps with curry sauce
For refreshments:
HK milk tea, Thai iced tea, Lemongrass iced tea with honey
HK milk tea (L), lemongrass iced tea with honey (R)
MY THAI
Branches: Il terrazzo near ABS-CBN, Eastwood
Their Tom yum serving has 3-4 shrimps). For those who prefer the spicy version, this lacks the ‘oomph’. Their Thai milk tea, however, is a must-try!
SOM'S NOODLE HOUSE
Branch: Rockwell, Makati
One of the more authentic Thai restos I've tried. Their milk tea is cheap, which costs around P40 per bottle. Their Tom yum has its expected "kick" from the spiciness. Chicken wrapped in pandan leaves is flavorful. Location however is not convenient for those commuting. You need to ride a cab to get here, located behind Ateneo Rockwell.
PENANG HILL
(Shangri-La Mall)
This boasts of modern Asian cuisine. The interior may be intimidating at first but surprisingly the prices are very reasonable.
Malaysian beef wraps
stuffed squid with sambal sauce
HAPPY TUMMY (Wright Park, Baguio)
My great discovery. I stumbled upon this this while walking down from Good Shepherd Convent back to the town. You might miss the restaurant because it doesn't have the flashy signage and is located right at the corner, across Wright Park. And when I went back with some office friends during the Panagbenga Festival this year, we surely did almost miss this! We were going around the area for almost half an hour. But the hunt was worth it! This place is not for those in a hurry. Service takes time, as it is always packed with customers. We patiently waited for our food (which took another half an hour).
refreshing Thai iced tea
lechon kawali
steamed fish fillet
chicken curry
HAPPY EATING!!!
