The Binge - Part 1

2 of the more fantastic weekends of my year just passed.

A couple of besties and I made a visit to Manila for a friend's wedding and on the following weekend, my colleague and I made a road trip up to Penang.

What's so fantastic? Well... Put it this way, it was like an orgy in my mouth for those 2 weekends. :D

So, who were the orgy players? In the Philippines, I never, ever pass up the chance to eat sisig. You don't want to know what's in sisig. You just want to eat the fatty goodness that's in it. It's that awesome.

Next on the list is a certain specialty belonging to only one geek bar called the Last Home. They humbly call it Seafood Rice, but really, it should be called Atlantic White Gold. In a state of drunken stupor after only one beer and a Long Island (yes, I'm that weak), the rice was shimmering in the dim light of this cozy little bar. I figured they had to have some form of cream in it because the rice felt like it was melting in my mouth. Ooooh....

What's more? Chicharons. Deep fried, mass produced, crunchy pork rinds. An American heritage, I would say. It's like prawn crackers in Malaysia but you get the distinct pork taste instead, and a lot less salt, but a lot more animal fat. It's normally dipped in white vinegar. Great bar snack. Heck, great snack.

Bagoong rice should be right up there with the rest, but this one's the town whore to me, because she just needs to partner up with anyone else. Be it Mr Sisig, Crispy Pata, Lechon, Panga, Bangus, Liempo, Adobo chicken, or any other sensational main man of the dinner table, Bagoong rice goes perfect with it. It's rice fried with shrimp paste, if I recall correctly.

The rest of the list sits right next to the yummy bagoong rice mentioned above. Some I've savoured during the trip, and others were sorely missed. But all just as good and memorable of this hustle and bustle of Metro Manila.

Before I finish up this post and reminisce about Penang for the next post, let's have a few special mentions.

The sweet, sweet desserts must never be left out, and should always be provided a space in my seemingly infinite bowels. Firstly, Turon. Boy did I miss this one, and I did :( because the store wasn't open in toy centre Greenhills. In Malaysia, we have bananas. We have banana pancake with maple syrup - sweeter. Then we have banana fritters - fatter. Then there's turon. It's banana fritters. CARAMALISED. I don't suppose people say the words Sweet Heaven for nothing. This would probably be it. Another good mention would be Halo-halo, although I would contest that this is our Ice Kacang equivalent. Further down this sweet roster would be Polvoron, dried mangoes of Cebu, and a special place for my dear friend KC's wife's cupcakes.

On a separate note, I wish Malaysia brought in Sisig Hooray!, Jolibees and Gerry's Grill. Super non-halal but excellent food. Sure make money.

Dedicated to food, as always,
D