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Food / Philippines / Singapore

Cereal Prawn at Wee Nam Kee

I had my first taste of cereal prawn when Angela brought me to Glutton’s Bay in Singapore. It was such a revelation; I didn’t realise that prawns can ever be cooked and eaten this way, coated with a delicious sweet-spicy mix of oats and eaten with the shell.

Glutton’s Bay Hawker’s cereal prawns (SG)
cereal prawns

Didn’t miss the chance to try it when the Singaporean franchise, Wee Nam Kee opened near my workplace. The cereal “formula” tasted great, however I thought the prawns were too large for my liking. Consequently, the shell is thicker and harder to eat. It probably is just me, as I generally do not like struggling with my food. I would still go back and order the same thing.

Wee Nam Kee’s cereal prawns
cereal prawns

Wee Nam Kee
Ayala Triangle Gardens
Makati Avenu
Makati, Philippines
Tel: (632)846-8924

Food / Philippines

Mr. Jones food porn

Pictures taken on a few trips to Mr. Jones. Love the comfort food and generous servings. And they have the best chocolate malt milkshakes!

Fish and Chips

Buttermilk fried chicken with biscuits and potato puree

Double Eggs Benny. I love Eggs Benedict and sadly this is a bit disappointing, because it seems like the sauce is not freshly prepared hollandaise

Steak and eggs and rosemary potatoes

Tapa and Garlic overload. Tapsilog is my ultimate comfort food, and these tender strips of sirloin are the best I’ve ever had.

Challah french toast with Nutella and raspberry preserves, caramelised bananas, crispy bacon, whipped cream, and maple syrup.

Wicked Truffled Mac n Cheese. Four kinds of macaroni, canadian bacon, portobello mushroom, drizzled with truffle oil. The truffle oil made this dish taste so earthy.

Mr. Jones
Greenbelt 5, Ayala Center
Makati, Philippines
Phone 501 3111

Food / Philippines

Dinner at Cyma

Cyma is easily becoming one of my favourite restaurants, mostly because of the Roka Salata. I would come more often if I weren’t scrimping on food expenses as of late.

Service is great on a Saturday, I suppose it was not such a busy night. I had unpleasant experiences in the past with slow orders and inattentive waitstaff.

Saganaki (P200), served in a sizzling plate with herbed bread. Behold the waitstaff shouting OPA! as they serve this dish.

Roka Salata, family size (P680, more than enough for 4 people). Arugula, lettuce, sun-dried tomatoes, candied walnuts, and generous shavings of parmesan. It’s such well-balanced salad with the right amount of sweetness and tang. I cannot believe I didn’t discover this any sooner. I can eat it every day!

Moussaka (P250). Ground meat, eggplant, and Greek bechamel sauce.

Hirine Brizola (P450). 3/4 inch thick grilled pork chops with roasted potatoes. Juicy and cooked just right.

Chicken Souvlaki (P340). Grilled chicken skewers with spinach rice and pita.

Cyma Estiatorio
G/F Greenbelt 2
Ayala Center, Makati
Philippines
(02)729.4837
http://cymarestaurants.com

Food / Philippines

Escolta at Manila Peninsula

My mom got us a Peninsula membership card and one of the benefits of being an early member is a free lunch/dinner for two at one of the hotel’s restaurants.

Lovely Old Manila interiors

different breads with tuna and liver pate. I wasn’t able to try the fruit spread.

Amuse bouche, two of each. Stuffed grapes and salmon rolls.

There’s a raw seafood bar where you can have as much oysters, lobster, mussels, and prawns as you want. We had these oysters steamed. I’ll dare to have it raw with lemon juice the next time. As an aside, Anthony Bourdain realised his love of food at 10 years old when he had his first taste of raw oysters in Arcachon, France.

generous servings of salmon sashimi and maki

From the salad bar: lettuce and arugula with pine nuts and parmesan cheese.

Heart attack on a plate. Pork belly.

At this point my belly is close to exploding. Lobster, pork humba, mussels, roast beef with red wine jus, potato gratin. The beef and gratin are delicious.

Final plate, desserts. Cheesecake, fruit, fondue, biko, purple yam, chocolate panna cotta. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to try the selection of artisanal ice cream because I was too full– I was particularly interested in the pink guava ice cream.

The food selection is not as large but it is still more than enough. There’s a cheese station, pasta, free coffee and tea. The chefs also can make risotto and noodles to order. I’ll go back again if budget allows it.

Escolta
Manila Peninsula
Makati City, Philippines
(632) 887 2888 Ext. 6694

Music / Philippines

Oh Jens


Jens Lekman is my favourite musician ever. He calms me like no other, takes me to a better place. He writes and plays with no pretenses. Just heartfelt music. About slicing avocadoes and spilling beer all over the atmosphere and dancing the funky chicken. And sweet sweet love.

The genre is described as Swedish Indie Pop (but he sings mostly in English); it may not be for everyone, as I don’t even know a soul who likes him as much as I do. For the longest time I had to content myself with downloads and bootlegs, but a couple of years later, Jens FINALLY finds himself in Manila. How incredibly special it is to be in a room full of people who seem to know and love his work as much as I do.

What a lovely lovely show.

30.Mar.2010 SaGuijo Jens Lekman setlist:

  1. Sipping On The Sweet Nectar
  2. Sweet Summer’s Night on Hammer Hill
  3. An Argument With Myself
  4. Put Your Arms Around Me
  5. It Was A Strange Time In My Life
  6. Black Cab
  7. Sylvia (with Erlend Øye)
  8. The End Of The World Is Bigger Than Love
  9. Postcard to Nina
  10. Golden Key
  11. The Opposite of Hallelujah
  12. Into Eternity
  13. Sipping on the Sweet Nectar (repeat)
  14. Maple Leaves
  15. You Are The Light
  16. I Remember Every Kiss
  17. Pocketful of Money (encore)

31.Mar.2010 NBC Tent Jens Lekman setlist:

  1. Sipping On The Sweet Nectar
  2. Postcard To Nina
  3. Sweet Summer’s Night On Hammer Hill
  4. Argument With Myself
  5. (new song about Erica)
  6. It Was A Strange Time In My Life
  7. Black Cab
  8. The End Of The World Is Bigger Than Love
  9. Golden Key
  10. The Opposite of Hallelujah
  11. Into Eternity
  12. Sipping On The Sweet Nectar (Repeat)


The Kings of Convenience show was also great. No pictures from the unfortunately, even if we were near the stage, how stupid of me. Erlend Øye is such a strange, adorable, talented creature.

31.Mar.2010 NBC Tent Kings of Convenience Setlist:

  1. Until You Understand
  2. Cayman Islands
  3. Love Is No Big Truth
  4. Don’t Know Where I Can Save You From
  5. (?)
  6. Me Inside You
  7. Sing Softly To Me
  8. Rule My World
  9. Mrs. Cold
  10. Peacetime Resistance
  11. Boat Behind
  12. Renegade
  13. Misread
  14. I’d Rather Dance With You (With Jens Lekman and Raquel on tambourines)
  15. Justin Timberlake Song (encore)
  16. It’s My Party – Lesley Gore Cover (encore)
  17. Homesick (encore)


These two evenings with my favorite musicians ever. Really one for the books.