Pinoy Life At Large

True to form, passion does feed passion. Unilever Food Solutions, the people behind Lipton Tea, Knorr, and Ladies’ Choice, has launched their website http://www.theculinarians.com/ at the El Cirkulo Restaurant last April 1, 2008.

The restaurant had wonderful interiors and the food was just divine. Aside from great food there were also great people. I spotted F&B titan Ms. Christine Nunag at the table near the stage area so I figured this was not something I could pass up. I was glad to be there.

The event was also graced by some of the country’s top chefs especially those who will compete in the 2008 Food Hotel Asia (FHA) culinary challenge to be held in Singapore from April 22 to 25. It was a dream team of chefs, mostly graduates of the Center for Culinary Arts of Manila. According to the event host, the Philippines is currently the defending champion. All the best to Team Philippines! I hope they bag top prize again this year.

Before program started, guests were treated to a truly sumptuous lunch prepared by El Cirkulo’s executive chef Jay Gamboa. Also the executive chef of my favorite restaurant “Milky Way”, El Cirkulo’s food is sure to please even the most discriminating diner. The interior is opulent and parking is free (if you arrive earlier than the usual lunch crowd).

A quick glance at the menu and you will see that the prices are not as steep as that of other restaurants in the Makati area. El Cirkulo’s specialty is modern Spanish cuisine, thus you can find only the familiar and nothing too exotic. A lot of their dishes is within the P300 (US$ 7.30) to P500 (12.20) range. There are larger portioned orders that sell for P2,000 plus per order (US$48.50) but expect that these dishes are meant for sharing with more than two persons.

Of all the dishes I have tasted, I must say I went loco over the cochinillo asado, or roasted suckling pig.

Balaw-balaw is Angono’s answer to Nueva Ecija’s Halubaybay and Iloilo’s Ginamos. It is just as fermented as goes well with just about anything. Balaw Balaw is also a restaurant of good repute in the town of Angono, a restaurant frequented more by Manilenos than by the locals. Aside from the food, people troop to Balaw Balaw for the art works of Mr. Perdigon, an Angono son who’s art works grace the walls of the restaurant giving the customer the “flavor of the arts” as well as “the art of flavor”. I believe the paying customer should be able to get the full experience.

Unfortunately for the members of the Havila AAR Tour, there was a mix up with the food and there wasn’t enough for the guests. Noreen and I ended up buying Adobong Itik (duck meat cooked in soy sauce and vinegar) just to ease the hunger. For P205.00 (US$ 5.00) a plate, it seemed a little too steep a price for the size of the serving, which did not seem to be enough for two. Since food is expected to be cheaper outside Manila, I found their prices a little too high. However, upon tasting the dish I’d say that the flavor paid for the dish. It was worth it.

This wonderful little food find should have been featured in my blog two weeks ago. Sadly, things got a little too busy and this post was inadvertently shelved for more than a week. However, I managed to wise up and finish my office chores (finally!) leaving me my precious 2 am mornings to blog about this noodle shop.

No, it’s not just another noodle shop. Though it may look that way on the outside.

My friends, this noodle shop is one of the very few (in its price range) to serve fresh hand-pulled noodles at astoundingly affordable prices.