Nasi Lemak for My Chinese New Year Celebration

Sorry I haven't been blogging as much. I had a friend who came to Manila so I helped him go around the city. Anyway, I was supposed to blog about Nasi Lemak as my Chinese New Year post but I guess now I'm late. Still, here goes..

I first heard of Nasi Lemak in Facebook. Since I was a fan of trying out new things, I made sure I'd get to eat in this restaurant the next time I was in Galleria. True enough, my dad went there for a meeting and I tagged along. After his meeting, I was very pleased that Nasi Lemak was just beside Krispy Kreme (where I stayed) so I got to invite him to eat there.

The good thing about Nasi Lemak was that it was healthy, delicious, and Singaporean! Although the dishes we ordered were more Thai than Singaporean, it was still worth a shot.

Tom Yum Seafood Soup
The first dish we ordered was the Tom Yum Seafood Soup. I found it very refreshing, considering the fact that it had a spicy kick to it. I liked how the squid was cooked because it was not too hard and elastic. I think it was the perfect first course dish!

Tom Yum Seafood, Nasi Lemak
P 268

Hainanese Chicken
The Hainanese Chicken was okay. I didn't really like it that much because it did not have a lot of flavor to it. But since it was served with three different types of sauces, I guess that's where the flavor needs to come from. I think it was good for my dad though because it was healthy.

Hainanese Chicken, Nasi Lemak
P 200 (medium)

Stir Fried Kangkong with Baichan
The dish that blew me away! I really like eating Kangkong and it was refreshing to find that Nasi Lemak had a kangkong dish that was very good. I really liked the sauce that it came with-- Baichan. I used to eat Kangkong with Oyster Sauce but now that I've discovered Baichan, I might have to reconsider this. I finished this dish by myself! Good, healthy, and filling!

Stir Fried Kangkong with Baichan, Nasi Lemak
P 200 (medium)

 So there you go. Healthy, good and guilt-free Singaporean food. Perfect for anyone on a diet! As for the price, it wasn't cheap but they weren't expensive either. I think they were just right. ^,^

Nasi Lemak Authentic Singaporean Restaurant is located at the 2 Level East Lane, Robinsons Galleria, EDSA cor. Ortigas Avenue, Quezon City. For inquiry or reservations, call 02-571 8988.

A Taste of Thai at Silk

The other night, my dad and I were invited my an aunt to have dinner with them. We were supposed to eat at Dampa sa Libis, but since we got stuck in traffic, we settled with Serendra. Having too many restrictions on his diet, my dad decided we should eat at Thai at Silk.

The Menu

We got there early since my aunt and uncle were still en route from C5. Because my dad got hungry, we decided to order an appetizer dish while waiting for our dinner companions. We got the Paw Pla Thawt (Spring Rolls) because we wanted to make sure he would not eat any dish that consisted of sugar. A single order of this consisted of 8 pieces of Spring Rolls. True enough, it was not sweet but it did contain small bits of shrimp. So I decided to take my allergy meds after a few minutes because I started to itch. I found it a bit too oily so I settled with just one roll. Diebetics should be careful though as the sauce is sweet chili.

Paw Pla Thawt (P310)
Deep Fried Spring Rolls

Considering it was a Thursday, my aunt and uncle were stuck in traffic and had a difficult time waiting for parking. For this, they told us to order food already.

We got the Yam Plaa Dook Foo (Crispy Catfish Salad) because it was one of my dad's favorite Thai dishes.  Again, I tested the sauce. This was my big mistake. I dipped my spoon into it and when I tasted it, I immediately hated it (the sauce)! It was horrible, spicy and annoying! The salad would have been better with a sauce but the taste of its accompanying sauce stuck to my tongue and my spoon that my dad told me to swap with him.

Yam Plaa Dook Foo (P345)
Crispy Catfish with Mango Julienne Salad

The next order that arrived was very disappointing. 

I am a huge fan of Tom Kha Kai (Chicken Galangal in Coconut Creme Soup) so much that I make it a point to order the dish whenever I'm in a Thai restaurant. I even found a recipe for this and tried it one time. I really love this dish because I enjoy eating it spicy. In Thai at Silk, we asked it to be spicy. But when I tasted the dish, I did not savor any spice! It was just soup. Nothing special about it. To add to that, there were only a few pieces of chicken and no mushrooms!

Tom Kha Kai (P290)
Chicken Galangal in Coconut Creme Soup

We also ordered the Kai Phat Met Mamuang Himmapaan (Stir Fried Chicken with Cashew Nuts). I only got to taste a few servings of this dish because I did not like it also. It did not have a particular flavor that played with my taste buds. 

Kai Phat Met Mamuang Himmapaan (P345)Stir Fried Chicken with Cashew Nuts

To be fair, I did like their Khao Khluk Kapi (Fried Rice with Shrimp Paste served with Sweet Pork and Mango Julienne). Out of the dishes I tried in this restaurant, this was the only one I enjoyed. However, I still did not eat a lot because I was afraid I would have an allergy due to the bagoong (shrimp paste). I liked this dish because it was a symphony of flavors: sweet, sour and a little spicy.

Khao Khluk Kapi (P380) Fried Rice with Shrimp Paste served with Sweet Pork and Mango Julienne

Overall, I don't think Thai at Silk was worth the hype and the overpriced dishes. If it were any other Thai restaurant, I would have gladly paid that much for the dishes we ordered. Needless to say, this is the first Thai restaurant that I was disappointed with the food. I do like their interiors and their wait staff though.

the wall behind me was covered with this

I liked the dim light of the restaurant

Reading Anton's blog, I think the restaurant has not been able to improve their dishes. And considering that Anton ate there in 2006, they should have improved already! But well, we can't all be happy. I would return for the service and the ambiance. As for the food, I'll head over to Oody's, Banana Leaf and Jatujak any day!

Remembering My 2009 Bangkok Trip (Part 1)

A few years ago, my friends and I planned to go out of town for a weekend; but since we didn’t want to end up having a long road trip we opted to go out of the country. Since my other two companions have been in and out the country for more than three times, I suggested we go somewhere we all have never been in. Thus—Bangkok was our chosen destination.

Our original flight date was supposed to be on the last weekend of May 2009 since the two girls had to take exams—Foreign Civil Service and Engineering Board. But because of the bad news about the cancellation of flights in Thailand (November 2008), our parents were hesitant to let us go. My dad, for instance, wanted me to go to Vietnam instead. After that incident, we decided to let it rest for a bit and wait till it was alright to go.

By the start of 2009, my friends asked me again regarding new updates of our flight plans. I checked with PAL and found cheap flights for May. But since I was thinking of going to Culinary school, I looked for a different date. Luckily, I found $142/pax roundtrip tickets for Feb. 13- Feb. 16, 2009. After checking with my friends, we immediately booked the flight online and paid with my card.

At first, my dad did not have any idea that I was set for to go to Bangkok. Instead, I told him I was going to Vietnam—just as he suggested. I bought a travel book to study where to go and what to avoid—it was very helpful considering it was our first time in Bangkok and on our own (we didn’t get a travel package since it was more expensive that way).

Every weekend since January 16 (the date when we booked our tickets), my friends and I would get together and plan what to bring, where to go and how much money to bring. In the end, we decided to bring $ 150.00 each (excluding airport fees and our plane ticket). In the end, my dad finally agreed to me going to Bangkok.

February 13 came and we met at the airport at 7 am. Our flight was scheduled to depart 10:30 am and we would arrive around 12:30 but we boarded 30 minutes late and arrived in Bangkok around 2 pm Manila time (Bangkok is one hour late).

waiting for our plane

breakfast: Cupcakes via Mom & Tina

Econolight = no meals

Suvarnabhumi International Airport

Upon arrival, we headed to the money exchange and had our money converted to Baht. The rate was $1.00- THB 35.70. My dad gave me extra money (to buy shirts for my siblings) and I ended up with THB 8,440.00. After converting our money, we headed to the immigration line. It took us a while because all the lines were very long but we made it through without any hassle. We then got our bags and headed straight to the Departure area (to get a taxi) as suggested by the Hostel we had a reservation with. We avoided the “nice” people who offered us a ride to Sukhumvit Soi 1 (the street of our hostel) for 500 THB and proceeded to a cab which was a passenger was getting off from. We told him to turn on the meter and showed him a copy of the Thai script directions to our hostel. He said yes and we got in the car. The hostel, Soi 1 Guesthouse, advised that we would pay around 300-350 THB for the taxi but luck was on our side—we only paid 260 THB for the ride to our hostel.


At our hostel, we checked in and paid 1,050 THB each for 3 nights stay in a triple bed private ensuite plus a deposit of 200 THB for the room key. 

Soi 1 Guesthouse, our accommodation

When we got inside the room, I was a bit shocked since it looked like an ordinary dorm room with a double deck bed and a shower and only a curtain as a door. But considering we only paid 350 THB each per night, I’d say it was an okay rate. 

Sam & I, deciding who gets to sleep where

Our very own shower

After settling in, we got out of the room and faced the hostel owner, David and asked directions to Cabbages and Condoms.It’s a condom decorated restaurant that has movements to stop sexually transmitted diseases and population control in Thailand. 

A major part of our trip involved walking to our next destination

at Cabbages & Condoms

My next superhero costume?

We ordered the Moo Dad Diew, Kratung Thong and fruit shakes. 

Moo Dad Diew

Kratong Thong

Try their Banana shake! The banana alone is a real treat! 

after our late lunch

what? no mints???

After our late lunch, we rode the skytrain (Asok to Chit Lom) to go to Erawan Shrine. We saw some dancers doing a ritual prayer dance but were too shy to take their picture since the dance was paid by a local offering a prayer. 

the view of Siam from Erawan Shrine

Erawan Shrine

After Erawan, we walked to Siam Paragon and took a stroll, took pictures before calling it a day and headed to our hostel via the skytrain (Siam to Phloen Chit). We didn’t have any trouble looking for the hostel at all.

Siam Paragon Mall

are we lost??

the outside part of Siam Paragon Mall

Ocean World (just below Siam Paragon Mall)

that's Sawatdee-ka! the end of our day one in Bangkok

Recipe #5: Kratong Thong

For Christmas 2009, I was originally planning to make Black Sambo since my relatives were not aware what it was. But since I was unsuccessful in making the gelatin the right texture for three attempts, I ended up making Kratong Thong (Thai dish) instead.

It's a dish made with chicken mixed with corn and some carrots and placed on fried cups. I never actually got the recipe for this dish but I made up my own recipe.

Ingredients:

1 Kilo Ground Chicken, seasoned with Salt & Pepper

1 Can Corn

1/2 Carrot, Diced

20 Lumpia Wrapper, Fried

Directions:

1. Mix in the carrots with the raw chicken. When it has thoroughly been mixed, saute it with a little oil.

2. When chicken is almost cooked, add in the whole kernel corn.

3. Once chicken is thoroughly cooked, place it on fried lumpia wrapper cups.

Recipe #3: Khaaw Neow Ma-Muang

After arriving from Bangkok, I still had a hangover of my trip.  From the MRT, the Skytrain to walking the whole city, Suan Lum Night Bazaar to the lockers of the small hostel we stayed in.  As much as the whole experience I had, I also miss the food that we got to taste.  So this past few days, I've been searching non-stop and trying different recipes I found on AllRecipes.com, ehowto.com and from yahoo! answers as well.  Just about everywhere!  I tried cooking Mango with Sticky Rice and Tom Kha Gai-- the food we were able to eat.  As much as I love to cook, I'm sharing my discovered recipe with you all out there:

1 kilo Thai Malagkit Rice
1 can (13 lq. oz.) Coconut Milk
1/2 tsp. Salt
1 cup White Sugar
1/2 kilo Mango
3 tsp. Sesame Seeds

Wash malagkit rice four times. Drain water each time. (Of course). After the fourth wash, drain water and soak in cool water, 2-3 inches above rice for about 6-8 hours. After 8 hours (I did it overnight), drain water again and place rinsed rice inside cheesecloth.  Tie cheesecloth and steam in bamboo steamer (I used the ones you can buy from the grocery/department store) for about one hour or until the rice is tender.

While steaming the rice, heat the coconut milk and add the salt and sugar until it boils.  Remove from heat and put 3/4 of the milk with the steamed rice (this is when you've already removed it from the cheesecloth) and let it cool.  Separate the remaining part of the milk because this will be used later.

Once the rice mik mixture has cooled down, put it on a plate and place mango slices on the other side of the rice.  Drizzle the plated rice and mango with the warm milk and sprinkle with sesame seeds.

You can get 3 plated servings of this.

The real Khaaw Neow Ma-Muang looked like this