One weekend in Makati/Manila

Actually, the best way to truly experience and enjoy Filipino cuisine is by invading the locals' homes and sharing a meal with them. Hands down, the food is much more delicious and, of course, cheaper. I rarely go out to eat when I crave for Filipino food. I just ask our cook who has been with my family for almost half a century now to whip me up some adobo, kare-kare and sinigang, and I'm sold. But in your case, we have to make allowances.

Manila does have a lot of restaurants offering excellent international cuisine, but you may head over to The Fort, Taguig for some Filipino fusion food, which I've heard are some of the best, prepared by Filipino chef, Chef Laudico. Appetizers are about $4-5 while main dishes go for around $7-25. A bit expensive for Filipino food, but then again, I've heard it's worth it. Just ask for their house specialties as service in the Phils is quite friendly. Taxis may take you there as Taguig is near Makati.

I'm not sure about dining in Intramuros but a place several kilometers away offers authentic Filipino cuisine. Visit this website www.lacocinadetitamoning.com and see for yourself what I'm talking about. You need to book in advance and choose your set menu about several days in advance, I think. But it's a must-try! The ambiance alone is worth every penny. Oh, and you have to bring someone along. A minimum of 2 persons per reservation is required.

For Kapampangan dishes (dishes from Pampanga, a city in the Phils), which are some of the most popular of Filipino dishes, try Mangan. It's name means "Eat" in Kapampangan. They have good dishes and offers generous servings at very reasonable prices. Must-tries are kare-kare and umba. They have a branch in Glorietta 2, which is just a short walk from your conference venue. Just ask around for directions.

In Greenbelt 3, try Sentro 1771. They also serve good Filipino food. Meals may cost around $5-10. Some specialties are Corned Beef in Tamarind Soup, Grilled Tilapia, and Garlicky Adobo. This is also in Makati.

I also agree with Salcedo Market. You'll grow confused over which dishes to try first. They open at 7am and close at 2pm. I tell you, I've been there a lot of times and I still can't say I've tried everything.

Oh yeah, in Intramuros there is ILUSTRADO. It's a mix of Spanish and Filipino cuisine. It's sometimes hard to separate the two due to the long period of Spanish colonization of the Phils. Perfect if you hate crowded places. Try any of their house specialties which may cost around $5-12. It's located along Juan Luna Street (near San Agustin Church) inside the walled city of Intramuros. It's beside the Silahis Arts and Artifacts.

Also, try BINALOT in Intramuros. As their ad states, "Coined from the Filipino term that means “wrapped”, Binalot is just that: classic Filipino fare wrapped in banana leaves in traditional local fashion. The Binalot menu reads like a list of favorite Pinoy meals: delicious Adobo, Tapa, Bistek, Tocino, Longganisa, all atop steaming rice and garnished with appetizing sidings of either atchara or itlog na maalat and kamatis, all affordably priced. Think fiesta with an urban twist!". It says it all. Binalot is the place to go to if you want cheap food with big servings. Enjoy their unique utensils. You might have a difficult time finding them in Intramuros so I suggest you head over to Greenbelt or Glorietta as they also have branches there.

Oh...and Filipinos have an obsession with food so snacks, or "merienda" as these are called, are a must. Try the famous Filipino dessert "halo-halo" and "Pancit Malabon" at Razon's. They have a branch in Greenbelt 1.

If you have time, I suggest you head over to UP Diliman in Quezon City to sample street food and hidden restaurants scattered around the campus. They have carts selling "isaw" which is barbequed intestine, your choice of pork or chicken. Yum, yum! There is this restaurant, Chocolate Kiss, which is a mixture of American, Filipino, and Italian cuisine. Try their cakes...they're quite well known for this. Ask where the Bahay ng Alumni is and the restaurant is located on the 2nd floor.

There are still a lot I haven't included. I think these may be enough for now. The next time you visit, you should stay for at least a week just trying to get to restaurants alone. A lot in Tagaytay and other Central Luzon provinces are well-worth the trip.

Hope you enjoy your visit to Manila!

kmaye in China & Southeast Asia

unusual delicacies in bangkok

haha yeah...i guess I wasn't clear with that one. GeneraLLy, bugs and creepy crawlies. I don't know...I'm just curious and have always wanted to give it a go. Heard a lot about it in Bangkok and have been curious ever since.

thanks for the suggestion!

kmaye in China & Southeast Asia