Have you seen these chocolates?

My fave is the Lindt Petits Desserts Macaron. It is just too good!

HK: Dessert Before Anything Else

Blame it on missing a favorite aunt, a want to go out of the country, and a craving for Chinese food --- I decided to go to one of the yummiest parts of Asia. In my next few entries, allow me to salivate and reminisce. : )

Most friends I've eaten with know that I always have my dessert before my meals (After eating something sweet, savory and salty just taste so much better then you crave for sweet again.). And so I bring this habit with me and eat my way, Hong Kong (HK style). : )

HK is my first exposure on how delicious fruits can be as desserts. 9 years ago (I was there when Princess Di met an accident and passed away.), HK wowed me with their fresh fruit drinks a la Zagu. Now, my newfound foodie pal, Janise, introduces me to the world of HUI LAU SHAN and, once more, HK reveals another delicious way to enjoy my fruits for dessert.

It's a tough choice when you only have one stomach. Thank goodness I had companions (Hi Sacs and Janise!) who were willing to try as much as we can. We went there for 2 nights in a row just to have our fill! Here are some of the delectable delights we tried. Note their love for our Philippine mango. It was on almost everything! Feels like I'm almost home!

Rice Balls with Mango Filling - Just take a look at it. Wouldn't you want one for yourself?!?! This is visual heaven! Unfortunately, I'm not that fond of rice cakes and I prefer our good old suman with mango anytime. Still, it was an experience to open this up and allow the mango filling to ooze out beautifully.

Mango Pudding with Fruits & Mango Sorbet - Such a simple name for a more than simple dessert! Their mango pudding is dense and not overcompensated with gelatin and yet!!! when you put it into your mouth the luscious combination of mango and cream just melts in your mouth! I almost forgot about the other fruits when I ate the pudding!

Mango Pomelo Sago w/ Mango Sorbet and Coconut Cream Combo - Yes, they call it "sago". Yes, our local version is Mango Sago w/ gata. The similarity ends there. I have a reason to believe that they make their own juice from the mango and sorbet (or the very least, make their own puree) because the taste of mango freshness here is bursting! The coconut milk adds a creamy layer to the mango and the fruits on the side are just begging to be dunked in this mango soup. Oh my mango talaga! Then I remember that the pomelo is there. "Oh hi there, pomelo! You seem out of place here. " Didn't do much for this dish or maybe because the pomelo wasn't as sweet as the ones we have back here. So I just gobble up the pomelo first then go back to the real bidas in this dessert. Oooh.

Hot Papaya with Bokni (If I'm not mistaken, this is known as White Fungus) - I still have yet to learn how to order hot stuff for dessert. Thank goodness, Sacs thought of this. This dessert is soothing and yummy! The papaya slices are firm to the bite and just hints at sweetness which encourages you to gulp down some hot sweet soup and finish it off with the crunchy bokni! Since this is so delicious and light, I must warn you that you will eat a lot without knowing it!

Mango and Coconut Sorbet - Ah don't be fooled. This is not ordinary. This is GOOD!!! I think I've raved about the mango and it is now time to pay credence to the coconut (Note that I am NOT crazy about coconuts!!!). The coconut sorbet is similar to our fresh buco (young coconut) sherbet, but has a creamier, creamier texture. What I like about their coconut sorbet (and the same goes for the mango) is that the buko taste lingers instead of the milk. As I relish every spoonful, my spoon accidentally mixes up the creamy coconut with the mango sorbet. I am now introduced to another flavor and I remember the mango sago with coconut cream. Then I chew on the nata de coco which makes me salivate and I hurriedly scoop up more coconut sorbet, then the mango sorbet, then I mix them up, then I eat the nata de coco. This is neverending bliss.

Go check out Hui Lau Shan if you're in Hong Kong. It's almost in every part of HK.

Average price range from HK$20-50. Hot dishes also available, but I didn't have space for them anymore! I got my fill in Sia Iygi Street, Mongkok. If you can read Chinese, check out their original website at: http://www.hkhls.com They've opened up a branch in California, too, so here's their English name and websit: http://www.creationsdessert.com

Look what I sneaked into the office...

I could no longer stand having to keep my goodies in the wrong temperature. Nor could the pantry ref be trusted. So I brought my own. Care for a cold drink? : )

My Happy Hips (and how they became that way)

While chatting with Lolit, Jai approaches me to tell me "Tumataba ka (You're gaining weight.).". Then leaves. I look at Lolit for validation and she promptly replies, "Oo nga. Lumalaki hips mo. (I agree. Your hips are getting bigger.)"

Uh oh.

I know why. It's this new addicting habit of mine. Watching "House" every spare moment I have at home (Watching House in my house. Hahaha!!) and gorging on these recent food finds. Not wanting to have all the calories to myself, let me share my recent food finds that you can bring home and enjoy!

Pokka Green Tea - I know everyone raves over C2 nowadays, but I've been a tea drinker my whole life. I don't appreciate drinking sweet liquid with a hint of tea flavor. When iced, I want my tea robust, hinted with sweetness. Pokka hits the spot as it refreshes my palate, removing any umay from my meal. Available in most supermarkets (I get mine from Pioneer Center at below php40). Also available in peach, blueberry, and chrysanthemum flavors.

Kadum Durian - Okay. Okay. Don't get too freaked out. I can't help it if I love the buttery taste and texture of durian! Recently, I discovered another source (I'm a die hard ECJ Durian eater!) and variety in Robinson's Galleria's Supermarket. The Kadum variety is not as creamy as ECJ's but has that bite and buttery sweetness that I look for in my durian. Oh yum!

Claude 9 Taba ng Talangka (Baby Crab Fat) - Now this is utmost sinfulness. I am so addicted to this that I have it for dinner and breakfast (and, just recently, for a 3 am snack!) w/ steamed brown rice daily! Unlike most commercially available products, Claude Tayag's masterpiece does not need to be sauteed with garlic and seasoned with calamansi (Philippine lemon). Neither does it have that floury texture that screams "EXTENDER!!!" Claude's version is very tasty and you eat it as if you were eating fresh talangka without the fishy taste and the crabshells. If I'm not mistaken, instead of using starch as extender, Claude used talangka meat. Even its oil is not to be discarded because it helps make the delicious taste linger in your mouth a little longer. Surprisingly, even if I eat a lot of this, I don't experience that cholesterol rush and nurse an aching batok. Very light on the tummy, too.

At Php385 per bottle, not light on the pocket, but very very much worth it. Available in Rustan's Supermarket.

Nana Meng's Leche Flan Cassava - A year ago, someone suggested in this blog to try Nana Meng's Tsokolate Eh! (Thank you for the suggestion!). Though their hot choco is good, I was more impressed with how they introduce native snacks in a new way. And one of these is their leche flan cassava. The cassava cake is just the way I like it - chewy and not too sweet. It is deliciously complemented by a layer of creamy addicting leche flan. The combination is similar to why I get addicted to Razon's halo-halo. I like it best eaten after it's been refrigerated for 30 minutes. Go grab a pack in Nana Meng's stall in front of the Glorietta Food Court (I think they also have branches in Alabang.). I can't remember the price if it's Php90 or Php110.

M&M's M-Azing Peanut Butter Chocolate Bar - I so regret not hoarding on this stuff! While shopping for chocolates in Rustan's supermarket (Makati), I saw this and was amused by this brand's latest innovation. Not much a fan of M&Ms, I decided to buy just one bar so I am in sync with the latest chocolate innovation.

I should've strangled myself instead. This stuff is good!!! The chocolate bar is close to the chocolate in Nestle Crunch and is dotted with mini-peanut butter M&Ms/. What makes this addicting is that every bite is satisfied with the crunchy mini M&Ms followed by the just right sweetness of the melting milk chocolate then, surprise!, the delicious slightly salty peanut butter comes out, makes you salivate, and completes the experience by the combined creamy sweetness of both the peanut butter and the milk chocolate.

In this country, it WAS only available in the Rustan's Supermarket Makati Branch. It's no longer there. Php30 per bar. If you see one, please let me know. Please. Boo. Hoo. Hoo.

Mang Joe's Adobong Tuyo - I have always been a fan of bottled gourmet seafood. I'd try almost any seafood in this format. When I saw this in Tiendesitas, I was slightly curious, but didn't expect it to be different from the usual bottled tuyo.

I was wrong.

Mang Joe's Adobong Tuyo just hints at saltiness. What's impressive is the oil that tastes more like a sauce than oil. It is sweet, slightly tart, salty, and just perfect with a bowl of steaming rice. This kept my appetite at bay during the Milenyo storm when I was stuck at home with no electricity. At Php110 a bottle, definitely worth it!

McRice Beef Burger (Picture shows the chicken. Wanted so badly to eat the beef that I forgot to take a picture!) - I'm no fan of fastfood chains nor of burgers, but the McRice Beef Burger turned me into a McDonald's suki for a week! This reminds me of the rice balls the Japanese bring for their lunch baon. Try closing your eyes when you take your first bite and you'd think you were eating tender beef teriyaki enveloped and delicious sticky rice (more like sushi than rice cakes), topped with toasted sesame seeds. My only complaint is you have to eat 2 of these to declare it a full meal. Go try it!

The next time you see me, try not to look at my hips. Instead, ask me what recent yummies I've tried. I'll get the hint. : )

Hospital-ity

I’ve been in and out of various doctors’ clinics for the past 2 months. For the Grand Finale (Hopefully, it is final!), I was confined for 3 days. I now open my luggage and share with you a couple of learnings I’ve learned there. Oh, and don’t worry. This ain’t one of those sentimental reflections just because I had time alone with myself (I really have that, as most of you know.). Take some of these along the next time you step into the hospital. You may actually have a good time!

1. Always have an overnight bag with you. – You never know when the doctor will diagnose you as sick enough and will bar the doors just to make sure you check in the hospital immediately, with or without your toothbrush and toothpaste.
2. 
   Memorize 2 important phone numbers. – Or always ensure that you have a charged cellphone with you. I was lucky that day. Doc wouldn’t allow me to go home and pack my stuff. I left my phone at home and memorized only 2 mobile numbers. Doc nor her assistant wouldn’t lend me their cellphones to make the call. Payphone lines were long. You get the picture.
3. Know your territory. – This includes shortcuts (As big and as well-equipped as the major hospitals may be, there will always be too many people; hence the long wait at the elevators --- unless you know where the hidden ones are. : )), the bathrooms, the foodcourt, the information center, billings, etc.
   
4. It pays to know people. – Call them connections if you want, but people are generally nicer to you when you have a common friend. And they don’t have to be in high places.
5. 
   Always bring along a book with you (or any material that will keep you from just showing the whites in your eyes). – One of the most popular complaints in a hospital is the long wait in the doctor’s clinic. Doctors rarely come on time and lines will always be long.
6. 
   Be good at scheduling. – Goes without saying that you know the doctors’ schedules. Comes in handy when you have to go to a number of doctors and you have limited time. You can sign up with the different doctors so you’re just in time to see the doctor when you just finished seeing the previous one.
7. 
   Choose a sickness that is not popular. – EENTs will always have long lines. So do IMs (Internal Medicine). Opthalmologists and Internists rarely do.
8. 
   Enjoy solitude. – Unless you have your personal maid, you’ll be alone most of the time. If you can’t enjoy the company of your own self, you’re in trouble.
9. 
   TV ain’t always a bad thing. – I rediscovered the joy of couchpotatoeing. Watched an episode of “House” and went to buy the DVD as soon as I got out! One thing just boggles me – Why do hospitals have to place their TVs way up near the roof in hospital rooms? It takes out a bit of the pleasure in watching that box and rewards you with a strained neck and a dizzy spell.
10. 
    Choose your visitors well (Alright, I meant be picky!). – Not everyone you’ve met should know you’ve been confined. A handful of friends whose company you truly enjoy is enough to keep you out of the doldrums. How do you know you enjoy their company? You don’t want them to leave even if your eyes have become heavier than your hips.
11. 
    Know what your doctor is talking about. – This doesn’t mean not to trust your doctors. It’s just that most doctors are faced with the same sicknesses over and over again that they take for granted the fact that most patients don’t share their detailed medical knowledge and need their detailed explanation. Hell, after the long wait in clinics, patients deserve more than just a name for their sickness and a prescription, right? Oh and this helps because you know what questions to ask.
12. 
    Know how to describe your pain. - Your doctor’s diagnosis is only as good as your explanation. Know which part of your body hurts. If possible, describe the kind of pain (dull, sharp, spasmic, lingering, etc.). I like my hospital’s Pain Campaign (CamPAIN. Hehehe. Sorry couldn’t help it.). They tell you that pain is critical and must be called out when it happens. They even have a pain scale in every hospital room so you help your doctors know the intensity of your pain (On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the highest, what is the score your pain prior to and during confinement?).
13. 
    Be nice to hospital people. – Even if they’re not nice to you. Most doctors and hospital staff hardly get enough sleep. This lacking corrodes their happy disposition. Doesn’t mean you tolerate rude behavior and bad service. Just make an effort to be nicer to show them their work is appreciated. They just might do their jobs better. It can be a winning proposition.
14. 
    Hospital food ain’t that bad. – Maybe it’s the influence of TV and movies, but just like cafeteria food, some hospitals actually serve a good homecooked meal. I’ve been one of the few lucky people who has never experienced a bad meal in a hospital. I always look forward to the steaming meal set on a tray with its tasty aroma filling the bland smell of the hospital room. For this stay, I can still taste the savory sourness of the Sinampalukang Manok and the delicious blend of sourness and patis (fish sauce) of the Sinigang na Baboy. Yum yum! (Okay. Okay. Their sandwiches are bad. Bread was too dry. Filling was stingy.).
15. 
    Getting sick comes with a hefty price tag. – You better be employed or have someone generously pay for your hospital bill. Heavens, one of my doctors (I had 3 for this stay.) charged Php4,000 and I just saw her for a total of 10 minutes during my 3-day confinement! Dolphy was right: “Bawal magkasakit (Don’t get sick.)” Just like crime, it never pays. You do the paying both for your health and your bills.
16. 
    Get well as soon as you can! – No matter how much fun you have there (My hospital even has a salon where they offer room service for patients who are very particular of their grooming!), the best way to live remains to be the healthy way.

Thank you to all who went out of their way to visit, kept me company with phone calls, and included me in their prayers. Knowing how precious time is to all of you, please know that your thoughtful gestures are much, much appreciated. : )