Recommended Restaurants in South Triangle (A Series): Thaipan

Meet my favorite Thai restaurant in the ‘hood, Thaipan. Also above are the two items on the menu you should definitely come to Quezon City for -- the cinnamon pork ribs and the soft-shell crabs.

I've been enjoying these cinnamon pork ribs even before Thaipan was put up. They were an item on the menu of Thai at Silk in Serendra, which had the same owners as Thaipan. Soused with a soy-based sauce, the ribs have an aromatic sweetness that is irresistible, and are as juicy and tender as you want them to be.

The deep-fried soft-shell crab is simply sensational, with pepper-zapped tamarind sauce that will make you say romantic things to a crustacean.

You won't be dining in drab surroundings as well. Almost everything is done in white, save for accents of browns and greens. The decor ia exquisite. The tall ceiling and open layout gives the sense of lounging in a garden, with the comfort of being under the shade.

Thaipan
Address: Sct. Dr. Lazcano St, Diliman, Quezon City, 1103 Metro Manila, Philippines
Phone: +632 3524926

Hong Kong Spring Deer Restaurant: Recommended, Value-For-Money Roast Duck

Hong Kong Spring Deer on Timog Avenue is one of those places that refuse to die simply because its loyal following will not allow it. It looks like it deserves some inspection from the health department but it does roast duck well and its other offerings are equally tasty.

We had the duck three ways–with the skin wrapped in Chinese mushu pancakes with scallions and hoisin, as minced duck meat wrapped in lettuce leaves, and in a soup. "Thou shall not be afraid of MSG and fat" is a good advice to follow when dining at a Chinese restaurant and, with that in mind, I thoroughly enjoyed the crispy duck skin, which contrasted beautifully with the spring onions and velvety sauce.

The salt and pepper spareribs, steamed swahe (small shrimps), and whole steamed fish deserve special mention.

And with a tab of nearly PHP7,000 for a party of 10, the price wasn’t bad at all.

Lola Illang's Sikulati de Cacao: The Recipe

Ingredients

1-cup water
2 100%-pure cacao balls
1/2-cup sugar
1 cup full cream milk
1/3 to ½ cup condensed milk (to taste)

How to prepare this recipe

So much depends on the quality of the tableas or cacao balls so we often make our own.

Pick ripe cacao pods and slice them open to get the seeds. Soak the seeds in a basin full of water and rub them until most of the pulp is removed. Don’t worry about getting the pulp off completely. Spread the seeds onto a tray and leave them under the sun to dry.

In a clay pot under low to medium fire, roast the seeds for 20 to 30 minutes until the shell starts to become brittle. Control the fire to make sure the seeds don't burn. Allow them to cool then peel off the thick shell to gather the cocoa beans. Store in an a container.

To make cacao balls, crush the seeds into a fine powder using a mortar and pestle. To make it finer and draw out the oil, we further press the powder using our flat stone mill. A modern cacao bean grinder will work as well. Just make sure to use repeatedly until the oil comes out and powder turns to paste. When done, grab a palmful of the cacao paste, press until sufficiently compact, and roll between your palms until the ball is smooth and starts to glisten with oil. Store in a cool dry place until ready to use.

The tableas, ready to be melted in the claypot using a lomonilla

To prepare a pot of sikulati: Heat 1 cup of water in a clay pot over low to medium fire.

The thick mixture of tablea and water

Add 2 chocolate balls and stir using a lomonilla until completely melted. Add sugar and whisk until the mixture thickens. Pour in evaporated or full milk and whisk until silky.

The mixture becomes silky with the addition of condensed milk

Add condensed milk to taste. Makes 8 servings in an escudilla.

Best paired with sticky rice.

Must-Try Filipino Food: Teresita Razon's Halo Halo and Pancit Palabok

This is the refined (and arguably the best) version of what is typically an over-the-top Filipino dessert, the halo-halo. Teresita Razon’s take stays true to the original recipe of Lola Viring, one of three sisters who put up the original Razon’s in Guagua, Pampanga. Unlike common variants that are piled with beans, gelatin, jackfruit, banana, rice crisps, purple yam ice cream and other treats, Razon’s shaved ice dessert keeps it simple. Just macapuno, sweetened bananas, milk and two generous slices of homemade leche flan on top. Rich, refreshing, delicious. To get the real deal, make sure to visit

Another Teresita Razon specialty you must try is the pancit palabok (technically, pancit luglug because it uses the thicker round rice noodles instead of bihon or beehun). The vivid annatto-colored sauce is so thick it coats every string. The blizzard of ground chicharrón (deep-fried pork rinds) on top makes its way through every bite.

My AirBNB Picks in France and Italy

PARIS: Carlo Ninchi’s Apartment



The 1950s building had no lift so I had to drag my luggage three floors up. My reward was a view of Karl Lagerfeld’s bookstore just down the street. At 20 sqm., the flat was tiny but well-planned, with storage discreetly tucked into the walls, and a sofa bed that can be turned into a double bed. A modern Boffi fan provided sufficient ventilation, assisted by tall windows on warm nights. The kitchenette had two induction hobs, which I never used; a toaster, where I warmed slices of baguette for breakfast; a coffee pod machine for my espresso (a box of Nespresso capsules was provided); and a personal refrigerator for my stash of cheeses and a small complimentary bottle of Champagne. There were heavy drapes to ensure a good night's rest.

The best thing about this place is its location. Turn a corner and you'll find the Louvre just across. You could get to and from the St. Germain de Pres metro in 10 minutes. This place is ideal for 2 people with medium luggage. There is no closet space so you'll have to keep your clothes in your luggage, which will eat up significant floor space. The condition of the place is not as pristine as shown in its AirBNB photos, but well-maintained overall.

AIX-EN-PROVENCE: Eric Perraud’s Flat



I could have stayed forever in Aix and part of the lure was staying at this apartment. Sure, I had things to complain about, such as the tiny toilet, the low showerhead in the bath and the low headroom in the mezzanine. But the place had a lived-in look that gave it character. The tall windows let in the sound of the church bell tolling the hour and a soft breeze that allowed my laundry to dry. It also offered a view of Aix’s red-tiled rooftops. The apartment was quiet but the minute I stepped out of the building, I was in one of the narrow, cobblestoned pedestrian lanes of Aix with charming restaurants and cafes in every cozy corner. With a quick right and left turns, I was in Aix’s grand central street, the Cours Mirabeau and the rotonde.



Mahe, the property manager, was very warm and welcoming. She gave me a tour of the place and gave me recommendations on where to eat. She made it a point to mention that there was a daily open-air market by the town hall, something I was very keen on checking out.

VENICE: Paolo Brunetti’s Casa Sofia



Paolo gave me very clear instructions on how to get to his apartment and, when I arrived, he was personally there to hand over the keys, show me his place and give me advice on interesting places to visit during my stay (all of which I was able to do, including visiting the Jewish ghetto!). He even helped me with my luggage, which I badly needed because his place was on the top floor (4th floor) with narrow stairs.



And his place? Wow. Plenty of space (80 sqm.) and character, with hardbound art books and a tasteful CD collection. The bed was very comfortable, the bathroom seemed new and the entire place was spotless. The apartment is equipped with air-conditioning, heating, TV and a washing machine. The double-paned windows completely shut off the noise from the busy street. I enjoyed opening them in the morning for some people-watching. The apartment overlooks Strada Nuova, which has plenty of shops, bars and restaurants. The location was perfect for me because I liked being in the middle of the action without getting caught up in the rumpus in Piazza San Marco and the Rialto. A 10-minute walk will get you to the Rialto Bridge. Just a few meters away, you can catch a vaporetto at the Ca’ d’Oro stop to take you to Piazza San Marco.

FLORENCE: Martina and Paola’s River-view Apartment



I wasn't able to meet Martina personally because she was in London but weeks prior to my trip, she sent me her mom Paola's number so that I could make arrangements regarding my arrival. I had a hard time reaching Paola through SMS but when I was finally able to talk to her on the phone, I liked her immediately. All the more so when I met her. She was very warm and welcoming.



My heart melted the minute I saw the apartment. It was the loveliest AirBNB I had ever stayed in. The interiors were so tastefully done. It was spacious, very clean, and well equipped, as if the owners had anticipated all I'll need during my vacation. And when I stepped onto the balcony, I had a view of the bridge over Arno River. I took a cab from Santa Maria Novella train station because it was drizzling when I arrived. It was so near that I only had to pay 8.50 euros.



I loved the location. There was a fantastic gelateria called Carraia in one corner and a great trattoria called Dante in another. The Duomo and main shopping areas in Via de Tournabouni and Via Calzaiuoli are just a 10-minute walk away. Paola saw me off on my last day and we had a nice chat. I'll definitely stay here again if I ever get a chance.

Also see: How to choose an AirBNB Rental

I discovered CO/OP by chance one evening while Waze led me through the innards of Mandaluyong and San Juan in order to sidestep a gridlock in EDSA. It was the impossibly cool aesthetic that drew me in, something I had come to expect in well-scrubbed BGC or Makati but not in a secluded residential area in San Juan. Inside, it’s all warehouse-style industrial chic with exposed beams, studio track lights and brick walls. The space is shared by a cafe and a gift shop selling gnome sculptures, mushroom lamps, animal head wall decors and other curios that my hipster friends will surely love. And the food? In the next post. #cntraveler #itsmorefuninthephilippines #manila #igers #foodandwine #food52

Kafe Batwan's Madrid Fusion Super Batchoy

There has been a buzz around @kafebatwan’s Madrid Fusion super batchoy so I had to go and try it. I must say it is deserving of all the hype. It has the flavors that sate and soothe, starting with the stock that has been burbling for 12 hours. Its beautifully rendered umami-ness came with a thick slice of grilled kurobuta charsiu, a bed of nicely chewy egg noodles, a lovely soft-boiled egg sliced in half showing a slightly runny yolk, and generous helpings of toasted garlic, scallions and tuna skin. I love @chefjayps’s take on Negrense cooking. It is an enticing invitation to really experience Philippine cuisine one island at a time. #food52 #foodandwine #itsmorefuninthephilippines #cntraveler #igers

Address Joya Lofts, Rockwell, Makati
Phone 632-6255166

Domicillo in Tagaytay: A Room With A Perfect View

It was a five-day weekend, thanks to the visit of Pope Francis, my most favorite Pope of all time. I didn’t have any travel plans and was content to spend all those days getting my fitness regimen back on track and watching the Papal coverage on TV. But Anton of OurAwesomePlanet posted an entry on a new Budji-Layug-designed boutique hotel in Tagaytay called Domicillo. I am a fan of Budji, there were rooms available, Tagaytay was a quick drive, my friends were game to go, and the photos were beckoning me to come, and for all those reasons I went packing as expected.

Traffic flow was a breeze until we got to Nuvali where a fourth lane was starting to build in the two-lane road. We decided to make a U-turn before it was too late. For a moment I thought we would end up back in the metro but Mon suggested we try a different route recommended by Waze. The route got us to Domicillo in an hour or just a little over. Not bad!

We booked the Premier Lower Lake View room with a regular rate of P13,000+++ per night but currently at a discount to just a little over P9,000+++ while the hotel in on soft opening.

We were greeted by this view.



This bed spells vacation.



Other than the view and the bed and the cool concrete-and-wood interiors, this hotel rules in terms of location. It is a short walk to your sisigs and frapuccinos but is tucked further down from the road so that you can gaze at Taal from your balcony in utter peace and quiet.

For lunch, we walked to nearby Villa Ibarra, which offered its own enviable view of Taal – framed by white lace curtains and yellow blooms. It was lovely.

Villa Ibarra

Also near Domicillo is Qi Wellness where we booked massages upon sight of this. Imagine sliding into that Jacuzzi during magic hour. Unfortunately, we didn’t pack our swimsuits because it had been drizzling when we left Manila and our massages were scheduled at night. But we got the repose that we needed, and enough energy to drive to Army Navy for dinner and haul a few bottles of beer and vodka tonic from 7-11 for our nightcap.

The view from Qi Wellness

We were greeted by a downpour the next day, which made it difficult to get out of bed. I managed to drag myself to the deck for breakfast where the  staff prepared our food from a makeshift kitchen (the restaurant was still under construction). The bangus was worth getting up for. It also drove me straight back to bed for a nap before checkout time.

We thoroughly enjoyed our overnight stay at Domicillo. There were some hiccups as should be expected but nothing that cannot be addressed with proper training and some attention to detail. Here’s to name a few:

1. Make practical information available in the room. This includes how to adjust the shower temperature, what time breakfast is served, how to make local and international calls, a map of nearby establishments, etc.

2. At least for the most expensive rooms, supply robes, hangers, hairdryer, extra glasses and cups, and, if possible, a coffee maker. I loved that there were plenty of fluffy towels in the bathroom.

3. Provide turn down service with some niceties.

4. Make space for a cozy nook inside the room where guests can enjoy their breakfast and read a good book.

That said, Domicillo has the makings of a place I would love to visit again.

Domicillo Boutique Hotel, Km 58 General Emilio Aguinaldo Highway, Tagaytay City Telephone: +6346 413-3552, Mobile: +63922 884-1532