flip'n travels

Being that we are backpackers, it always follows that we travel on a budget. Our plane tickets carefully booked, our hostels painfully scrutinized, and our daily allowance tightly budgeted. It is also an art of backpacking to find the most affordable places to eat in. We also consider the cultural requisites like flavor, tradition and the old school way of cooking it.

In most cases, we end up being seen in the streets and hawker stalls getting down and dirty. Hawker stalls can be found all over Asia, and the Philippines got a good version of it too. Although Filipino street food are irreplaceable, its nearest and most accessible incarnation would be the food court of SM Malls.

SM Sta. Mesa got a pocket full of stores with treats from different regions of the country. It is indeed a one stop traditional Filipino food expo. We were invited to try out what the food center has to offer.

Lugaw – know generally all over the Philippines as the local version of Chinese congee. It is so easy to make, just by combining the broth, rice, ginger, scallions, some other spices and chicken or beef then VOILA! You have the staple snack of the social class A to E. Lugaw ni Juan is the newest member of the chain of food stalls in SM. Sta. Mesa, their version got strips of ox tripe that made it really unique and special.

Lechon de Cebu – Lechon or roasted suckling pig is a popular star of Filipino celebrations like Fiesta, birthday, wedding, baptismal and the list goes on. As a celebratory dish in the southern city Cebu, it is luciously cooked with juicy meat and crispy thin outer skin. Just make sure it is served hot and crunchy.

Empanada - unlike the mexican empanada, Ilocanos’ version is fried, not baked. The northern colonial towns of the Ilocos region boasts a menu of treats that are uniquely Ilocano. Empanada is one of the most popular among them. Balay Ilocos (Ilocano House) serves those traditional cuisine showcasing the flavors of the north.

Sisig - this is one kapampangan’s pride, known as the kitchen of central Luzon, the Province of Pampanga started a pulutan culture. This dish is made from parts of pig’s head and liver, usually seasoned with kalamansi and chili peppers. It is indeed and undoubtedly the most popular beer match across the country. Where else to try it? But from the kitchen who invented it…

FACT: Lucia Cunanan of Angeles City has been credited with inventing sisig. The Philippine Department of Tourism has acknowledged that her “Aling Lucing’s” restaurant had established Angeles City as the “Sisig Capital of the Philippines” in 1974.

The dish is said to have originated from locals residents who bought unused pig heads from the commissaries of Clark Air Base in Angeles City, Pampanga. Pig heads were purchased cheap since they were not used in preparing meals for the U.S.Air Force personnel stationed there.

Pancit Malabon -The ingredients clearly represent the origin of the dish. Situated with the northern fishing ports of Manila, Malabon is the drop-off point of fresh bounties from the South China Sea. Pancit Malabon is a type of pancit, or stir-fried noodle dish. It has a yellow-orange color due to a sauce that includes patis (fish sauce) and crab fat. Its toppings draw heavily from the fresh seafood that is available in the area and may include fresh shrimp, squid, oysters, and hard-boiled duck or hen eggs, as well as pork.

Kakanin (Rice cakes) – There’s a myriad of documented preparation of this traditional snack/desert. Philippines being covered with vast rice paddies, the crop comes really handy to our pre-colonial ancestors. And with recipes passed from generation to generation we are still enjoying the old original and traditional taste and texture.

Who would’ve thought we can experience a good historical and cultural culinary tour inside the Philippines most popular shopping center? Our visit with SM City Sta. Mesa became a sampler of what Filipino kitchen has to offer.

The relaunching of SM City Sta. Mesa Food Court showed an impressive recovery from the wrath of typhoon Ondoy last year. The new festive look and Wifi enabled food park is cheerfully serving the universities and communities of Sta. Mesa in Manila.

We would also like to thank Jolibee SM Sta. Mesa, Pizza Hut SM Sta. Mesa, Island Gas, ASC Marketing, Inihaw Express, Kusina ni Gracia, Baliwag Express and Mr. Maynard Bulosan for showing us what they have for the budget conscious foodies like us.

We are creatures of the night. Aside from the fact that Ron and I work in the medical management/contact center business, our age group is known to survive 48 hours without a shut-eye. It is but natural for us to find refuge during wee hours. Tired with the usual noisy and rowdy scene, we convoyed along the streets of Makati together with a couple of friends to a place called “Driveway.”

Owned by Grace Domingo, Alice Galang, Buboy Arriola, Alden Torres and Ron Coronel, the concept of the bar and restaurant is fit for yuppies seeking recluse. Being yuppies themselves, they surely know what the greater urban population want, a place with a doormat with COOL written on it. Driveway sits on top of a third floor ramp overlooking Makati skyline. With a steady cool breeze wafting inside the bar, it is a perfect place to enjoy a couple of beers with the company of friends at any time of the day, especially at night. Part owner Grace even graced us with her presence, recommending the best of the best in their menu. Speaking of hitting two birds with one stone, bring your car and while you chill out, have it detailed, repaired or cleaned as the ground floor houses a car shop.

The menu does not contain your usual bar chows. Their chef slash DJ Gerard whips up the ordinary into a sumptuous meal. My personal favorite, and as what Grace said the most popular among their guests, Liver Pate in Filo Flowerettes (140php). Chicken liver in wanton wrapper fried to crisp was enough to make me go back to this place.

Among other interesting food on their menu are the Tenderloin Tips in Mushroom Sauce (190php) and Tofu in Asian Barbecue Sauce (120php). The food are especially prepared that you won’t think you are in an ordinary bar. Even the plating of these entrees has an attitude.

And perhaps the most interesting, or better yet, the most exotic among their line-up of food is the Fried Chicken Ass (160php). With the way they prepared it, you will forget that ultimately, “you are what you eat.” And Filipinos definitely love their chicken asses.

Their concoction of bar drinks awed me. I was staring at the pitcher of Carafe (PhP 250) for a good 10 minutes. It was almost fluorescent. And here, Ron and I learned a very important lesson on cigarette smoking. To reduce the nicotine intake, we were told to dip the cigarette butt in liquid, in our case, the Carafe. The nicotine gets stuck in the butts creating a lot of dark spots. Voila! A healthier cigarette smoking life!

And the Driveway experience doesn’t end there. The host asked us to sign on their fancy notebook, telling us we’d get our nameplates when we go back. I think it’s high time for a second visit.

The town of Siem Reap is a provincial capital, a concrete oasis sprouted out of the vast land of scattered temples, rice fields and jungle. It has its own international airport and a fair share of first class accommodations. No building is higher than three floors and most of the establishments are converted or made to cater tourists from all over the world, that is in a form of hotels, restaurants, massage parlors, bars and the list goes on. Pub street (where our hostel is located) is the heart of the town. Beer is flowing 24/7 and looking around, majority of the populace walking were tourists from US and Europe, there’s not a lot of Asian travelers (Other than those groups of Koreans wearing a field trip uniform shirt and hat).

Food is one of the many things I love about this place, it’s inexpensive and the flavors charmed our  palates. The taste of dishes in Indochina has a unified theme: the presence of coconut milk, noodles, rice, chili peppers, myriads of spices and (of course) hints of lime. But Cambodian cuisine maintained an identity and character unique from the neighboring countries.

A vendor selling Le’s Hal. Dried river shells with salt and chili.

It’s always a warning for tourists to be careful of what to eat in this side of the continent, but HECK! We want it down and dirty! I’m a nurse and part of my pre-trip preparation is to make sure I can perform first aid in cases of ailments (from diarrhea to mild myocardial infarct).

Upon arrival, I was half expecting that a vendor would approach us to sell some sort of sautéed tarantula or a jungle bug hors d’oeuvre, but it didn’t happen. So we just made-use of the menus in Pub street restaurants flooded with American/European retirees for our pseudo–Cambodian food trip.

Yes, in Cambodia they have a sweet and spicy delicacy called A-ping (Fried Skuon Tarantula), don’t fret, it’s just like eating crablets!

After feasting on our late breakfast at Common Grounds, we walked across the town center. Upon passing along Pub street we noticed that there’s one common poster outside the resto’s—BEER 25c/bottle. And ANGKOR BEER is the best I tasted to date. Too bad, I can’t bring some bottles back home. Bought a souvenir shirt though.

Due to our limited budget, we cannot try all the dishes in the menu, we chose those dishes that were recommended by our friend Meang.

Amok is the most popular Cambodian dish among tourists. If you can’t brave eating sautéed tarantula (Skuon a-ping), then this one could be for you. It’s a cod fish fillet bathe and stewed in a concoction of coconut milk, turmeric, paprika, curry powder, ginger, garlic, chili pepper, kaffir lime and fish sauce (aka. kroeung). We tried out several varieties served in different restaurants, but my favorite is the one served at Kkmer Family Restaurant in Pub street.

Loc Lac is Stir fried cubed beef served with fresh red onions, served on a bed of lettuce, cucumbers, and tomatoes and dipped in a sauce consisting of lime juice and/or black pepper. This is derived from the Vietnamese dish known as Bò lúc lac. It’s not Vietnamese, but khmer krom cuisine. Khmer krom are indigenous khmers in southern Vietnam.

Kuyteav, a rice stick noodle soup which is one local specialty that we tried. We bought it from the carinderia-style or street vendor make-shift restaurant. This is the tuktuk drivers’ favorite hang-out place while waiting for the tourists. It’s around 5,000 riels (about US$1) per serving. The lady kept on refilling my bowl before I even actually consume half of it.

One interesting place where you can dine, talk and hang-out is Temple Bar along Pub street. They got an al fresco cafe right outside, a Club on the first floor and a balcony restaurant upstairs.

They have an Apsara performance every night, showcasing the traditional dance and music of Cambodia. Meang, reserved a table for us on our last night in Siem Reap, it is usually fully booked so make sure to reserve in the morning before hitting the road to Angkor.

We didn’t really get the right opportunity to give the Cambodian Cuisine a fair chance due to our limited budget. There’s a lot gastronomic kitchens to explore, from the familiar treats like the counterpart of the Filipino Balut to the exotic and unique arachnoid-fear factor-ish cuisine adventure. And maybe next time we will get a shot to try their famous ‘Happy’ Pizza (wink!). So we promised to go back… SOON!

Ah the single life! I leave whenever I want, go home anytime I want and most importantly, travel anywhere I want. I value my alone time so much that when Ron and I and some friends from the office went to Ilocos, I stayed one more day while everybody went home. As was expected, I had a blast.

The morning of my alone day was spent in coffee and cigarettes while playing with our dog Coco in our house in Vintar. It was a was a Sunday and the flee market was alive at 5am. I decided to walk around before heading out to the Campo Santo to visit my lolo and lola’s grave.

tobacco leaves for sale at the Sunday baratillo in Vintar

After the brief reunion, I took my bag and headed out to Laoag to get a jeep back to Paoay to meet my cousin who’s managing a film supposedly commissioned by the president. While he ran around the set like a headless chicken, I decided to get comfortable inside Henrencia, the famous restaurant in front of Paoay church and ordered myself a Pinakbet pizza. I thought those two words cannot be joined together but there I was eating with gusto. The crust was crispy thin with no hint of oil. The toppings: eggplant, string beans, okra and longganisa bits. On the side, bagoong isda. It was weird, but a good kind of weird.

Pinakbet Pizza at Herencia Cafe

After the short stay in Paoay, I took a bus going back to Vigan. I got there with no idea what to do. Luckily, I saw one of the calesas we rode when we first got there. I went to the burnayan (pottery shop) where I met Fidel Go, third generation of one of the few potters left in the province. He let me try to make them pots that turned out to be a disaster.

no, that wasn’t the vase I made…

After visiting the ginormous brick oven where they bake the pots, the calesa driver took me to Chavit Singson’s Baluarte where anyone can go in for free. It was already late in the afternoon and I wasn’t able to take pictures with the tigers. Boohoo…

Rudolph, the red-lipped raindeer

After the mini-zoo tour, I asked the driver to take me to a hotel where I can stay for just a few hours. I wanted to take a bath and fix my bag before I go home. He took me back to Grandpa’s Inn and I was able to get a room for 300Php for 3 hours. Yes, yes… I know what those rooms are for.

Conversation between me and the receptionist:

Me:Meron po bakayong kwarto na pwedeng pag stayan? 3 hours lang po.
Receptionist:Meron ma’am. Ilan po sila? (Take note, I was alone when I entered the hotel)
Me:Isa lang. Maliligo lang ako chaka mag-aayos ng bag bago umuwi. Galing pa kasi ako ng Laoag at Paoay tapos umikot ikot pa dito.
Receptionist:Sige po, meron kami. Mag-isa lang po ba talaga kayo?
Me:Ako nga lang mag-isa.
Receptionist:Ay, wala pong susunod?
Me:Wala.
Receptionist:Ahhh… Weird naman…

After dodging glances from the staff at the hotel, I went inside my room and enjoyed a hot bath, changed my clothes and fixed my backpack. I decided to eat at Max’s where I had to endure being asked why I was alone.  Personally, I don’t know either…

Finally posting the best breakfast I had, ever…

Ever woke up to the smell of coffee being brewed, bacon slowly being crisped, eggs sunny-side-upped, and fresh croissant bread being baked? You can almost taste the air. That must be what Sundays taste like. We literally woke up with smiles on our faces knowing a heavenly breakfast awaited us at Common Grounds Coffee and Cyber Cafe. They have the most amazing menu ranging from American breakfast to grilled cheese sandwiches to salads to smoothies that are to die for. Ron and I however, gorged on their bacon and egg sandwich and drowned in their iced coffees for three straight days. They even included a fruit bowl of tropical fruits including my favorite, pitaya!

The interior of the place is very relaxing with comfortable chairs and soft lighting. They also have free wi-fi! And the people were more than amiable. They were cheerful and very hospitable. One of them even remembered my name when I went back the second day. I was so ashamed, and still am now, as I am a goldfish and tend to forget a lot of things. I love how they made our simple breakfast seem like a 5-star hotel entrée. Served in lovely ceramic plates, they even included cold towels with mint scent to freshen tired guests before they eat their meals.

Ran by the non-profit organization People for Care and Learning, this place not only serves great meals but also helps the community in setting up micro-enterprise development and training. During the time we were there, the band “The Saturn Project” from America had a benefit concert to support the Relocation of the Poor Project. We were scheduled to visit the spa that last night but when I learned of a rock concert, I had to ditch the aromatherapy session and leave Ron to the mercy of fish doctors and decided to cap my Cambodian vacation with great music.

Make sure you visit this place when you go to Siem Reap. You will definitely forget Starbucks…

Common Grounds Coffee and Cyber Cafe
Address : 719 – 721, Street 19 Siem Reap
Behind the Old Market near ANZ
Phone : 063 965 687
Store Hours: 7:00am to 10:00pm

This entry makes me frustrated. Yeah, frustrated. First, Ron and I returned to Bukit Bintang from Batu Caves and the blasted heat of the sun-baked my skin five pigmentations higher than my normal. Thana led us into this side street where we had the most amazing lunch. Amazing because it was a south Indian Meal and was NOT all spicy, and I like the fact that it is authentic (we were the only tourists inside. I am at times blind, but I noticed everyone, and I mean everyone, was Indian). But we were so dead tired and burned that we did not remember to take pictures! We didn’t remember the name of the wonderful restaurant! We didn’t even know what the Indians call the banana leaf rice in their language! There is just this… (and two videos sitting in the pc waiting to be edited…)

We are terribly sorry that we cannot share where we had this… But I guess the preparation for the Banana Leaf Rice is ultimately the same everywhere they serve this. Everything starts with the positioning of the banana leaf. The tail end should be at the left end of the person then you wait for the assorted viands and rice to be served. Sautéd, curried and pickled vegetables and papadum (thin crispy Indian wafers) are lined on top to make room for the rice topped with gravy. I especially liked the deep fried-to-crisp sweet potato and left out the curried string beans because it was a bit too spicy for my taste buds. Of course there’s no other way to enjoy the meal but to eat with our bare hands.

After finishing the meal, we folded the banana leaf halfway towards us as we enjoyed the meal so much. Folding it the other way around means otherwise. I’d say it was the most interesting meal I’ve ever had to date since I travelled and would have another one when I get the chance to go back to Malaysia.

And because we needed coffee to replenish our dehydrated caffeinated veins, we were on a roll to find a Starbucks. Unfortunately, there was none in a strategically positioned area where we can watch the Petronas Tower explode its night lights. We had to go to Coffeebean and Tea Leaf to get our fix. I bought the ever coveted Sampoerna for RM5.00 (10 sticks). Yes, it is the best cretek cigarette in the world. The last time I had it before the trip was 3 years ago when it was introduced to me by my friend Paolo who used to work in Malaysia. He aptly described it as cigarettes for kids. Gudang Garam and Black Bat taste like blah! compared to Sampoerna. Oh, and this was when I got Ron back to smoking. So sue me…

The wind howls its hardest and somewhere in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, fishermen and their families gather together to seek refuge in the womb of the typhoon shelter. Here, the famous Typhoon Shelter Crab was born, a cuisine raved about by many including “No Reservations” host Anthony Bourdain. Of course you need not book a flight to China to get hold of those amazing crabs. Drop by Crustasia at Tri Noma and they make sure you get the same gastronomic experience had you been eating the dish while floating on one of the boats nestled in the stormy cove.

Fried to perfection in olive oil and tons of garlic with a dash of chili, the 1 kilo crab sat majestically on top of yellow noodles. Ah, such a metaphor for the unruly ocean being subdued by the warmth of good food. Ron and I couldn’t help but ignore the storm that was raging outside the mall while we enjoy the feast. We were literally reminiscing our trip to Boracay when we were dining seafood as the windbreaker tried hard to shield us from the Habagat (west wind).

To top the experience, we also had Crustasia’s Vietnamese Spring Roll and Thai Shrimp Pancakes for appetizers. The spring roll is unlike any we’ve seen prepared in our homes. It is hand made by the restaurant’s Vietnamese cook who’s taken and honed her craft in the Philippines for 38 years. Lined with pork and shrimp with vermicelli noodles in the middle, the spring roll is added flavor by its hoisin sauce with peanut dip. The shrimp pancakes were my favorite especially when dipped with the restaurant-made plum sauce. I wish they made those in regular pancake sizes! I promised to be back for more.

And what better way to end the meal than eating panna cotta shots topped with apple campote. The soft cloudy texture is just what Ron looks for right after every visit.

Hey you reader! Yes you! Do you want to add a free dish to your great Crustasia dining experience? Email us at fliptravels@yahoo.com and we’ll give you a coupon of your choice for a free Thai Catfish Salad, Pad Thai Noodles or Thai Bagoong Rice for a minimum purchase of 700Php to 750Php. Visit their restaurant in Tri Noma and get 5% discount on your total bill when you order ala carte dishes. They’ll even throw in bottomless iced tea when you visit between 3-to 5pm. You can also avail of their 10+1 free buffet. Too lazy to go out of the house? Give them a call at (02) 901 – 3607 and get a free 1.5 liter of Pepsi product for minimum delivery of 1500Php within the vicinity of  Quezon City.

So what are you still doing reading this? The CrewStasia is waiting for you…

wala pa tayong titirahan sa bora, sa tuesday na tayo aalis

so ano walk-in na ulit ito?

what time ka ba nasa airport?

mga 1 pm

para ma adjust ko yung sched ko

panget daw sa *tooot*

ay, ayaw mo talaga sa *tooot*?

mas madami daw maganda na beach front. hanap tayo pag dating. di ko gusto mga reviews sa *tooot*. off peak naman so why not beach front na fabulous, daba?

haha! sabagay… sige, adventure na rin lang ang hanap natin e, sagad sagarin na natin… sana lang umaraw

di pala ako tuloy sa laiya bukas

ngek!

so pwede na ko dumerecho sa balur bukas ng morning

keri

may bagyo naman kasi

sabi ko nga!

so here’s the plan. gabi na tayo makakarating sa bora so pwede tayo pa drop off muna sa isang area. then mag hati hati tayo, si raph sa station 1 ako sa 2 ikaw sa 3… we’ll take the backpacker risk, hanap tayo ng magandang place.

keri…

fun isn’t it?… sana lang wag umulan

i know! na eexcite na nga ako with the mere thought….eto ang bonggang bonggang idea… pag wala na tayong makita, matulog tayo ng first night sa buhangin… FUN ISN’T IT?

???

It isn’t my hobby to eat, especially when I’m at the beach. The act essentially ruins the my outfit. Not that I care a lot about bikinis and the likes, I don’t know how to swim. I just get uncomfortable. Besides, there should be more room for booze in my tummy than lots of deliciously loathsome oysters.

Boracay demanded not to be taken for granted. The island boasts hundreds of restaurants, food chains and bars that serve wide array of food choices ranging from Mongolian buffet to Greek desserts to Spanish paella. Good thing people don’t really mind you looking like a beach volleyball in a swimsuit waltzing around the pristine white sand.

We were welcomed by Gasthof’s pork ribs (Php375 half order), Breaded Calamares (Php120)  and my ever favorite beach food, Liempo (Php150). There were so many options on the menu but we were saving our appetites for the rest of our vacation, not to mention that we were tired from the long, arduous trip. We just wanted to drink the first booze of the first night and hit the sack.

Breakfast, unfortunately, was free with our accommodation so we had bacon, scrambled eggs and toast for three days. But that didn’t stop us from dropping by Real Coffee and Tea Cafe to taste their famous Calamansi Muffin (Php45) and Brewed Coffee (Php90). The place is tucked in a small alley so make sure you keep an eye for its landmark. Even with its bamboo seats, I find the place comfortable. It’s like having breakfast inside a bahay-kubo.

Ron’s craving for paella was satisfied by Red Coconut Beach Resort. At Php495 per plate, the meal was good enough for two. Had I not ordered another Liempo meal (Php250), I would’ve cleaned the plate. Note: the fabulously carved egg on top of the paella is probably worth 95 pesos and there was more than one garnish, so go figure. Oh, and that goes the same for my meal.

Dinner buffets are also popular ranging from Php230 to Php250. We found Mongolian buffet a little disturbing for a beach setting and the seafood buffet very very appealing. I never stood but once in a buffet; but the chefs at Eclipse Room and Bistro made me proud I had to get a second helping of crabs, shrimps and oysters. Thus the tummy ache that ensued an hour of puking while I was enjoying my jagerbomb at Pat’s, but that’s a different story…

We also can’t help but try out the more popular must-eats in the island raved about by everyone who went to Boracay. As my craving for street food is unbearable, I had hotdog-on-stick (Php30) and my ever favorite isaw (chicken intestines) for Php10 per stick a few hours after lunch. Ron and I were wondering what the hell Chori Burgers were and apparently, you can buy them at ihaw-ihaw stands that line the beach. It was grilled chorizo placed in buns. What a revelation… Another specialty we had to taste was Banana Choco Peanut Shake (Php99) at Jonah’s Fruitshakes. Unlike most reviews, Ron and I decided that it is, at some level, overrated. Sure it was good but only after five to eight sips. The flavor is too overwhelming that at some point, you’ll experience suya. Or maybe it’s just us. The serving is huge and I wasn’t able to finish mine even after chugging it while walking on the beach for an hour. Now I’m regretting not ordering mango shake instead.

For dessert, we had to try Zuzuni’s famous Mati Chocolate Sin (Php250). Ron said it was lust and gluttony served in one plate. I had to agree, but the flour-less cake also made me less guilty finishing one serving. The chocolate is not too sweet nor bitter and is complimented by some sort of Greek vanilla ice cream that balances off and neutralizes the taste. I had to find a confession box after stepping out of the restaurant. Well, because I felt like it was too much for me to spend the same amount for dessert for the price I paid for my seafood buffet. The piece of Greece is worth it but the price really hit a nerve in my pocket…

And what is travel without our fix? Of course we had to get coffee at Starbucks. Too bad because they’ve got an area outside with powdery sand cushioning your feet and a nice view of the beach, except that we did not see the beach because they’ve put up windbreakers in front of just about every establishment in Boracay because of the dang wind.

I’d say I was able to taste what Boracay has best, and that is the seafood. The Greek food, I can have here in Manila. The paella, I can probably ask my grandma to cook one. The Mongolian buffet, why would I want a Mongolian buffet? I was telling Ron of how people rave about the posh restaurants in Bora, and I’m not being bitter because of lack of budget. I just find it a bit off the equilibrium. Everyone should be enjoying what the ocean yields and should be eating those the way they’re meant to be eaten, fresh from the grill. I’s probably just us, but pizza and beach do not quite mix.

I live near Tri Noma and Ron and I have been rounding the restaurants in the mall since last year. Somewhere in our carnivorous selves hides the craving for seafood. That day, we were just in the mood. And where else can we get it but from Crustasia, Asian Crab and Seafood House. Don’t be intimidated by its façade. Walking inside would make you feel warm and fuzzy all over brought about by the native interiors and country side cottage ambiance.

Because Crustasia’s crabs are the main drag of the restaurant, they make sure that they get the best lot. Their supplies come from the provinces of Davao and Roxas; and being a graduate of study in fisheries, Jude Fuentes, the manager of the branch; can prolong the lives of the crabs just before time for cooking. This way, the customers only get the freshest of serving with the crew even showing you the crabs before preparing them. And just like in Dampa, they will cook it according to your liking. With personalized dishes, nothing can ever go wrong.

One of their best sellers is Crab Maritess which was initially requested by and was named after Maritess  Araneta. Sautéed in olive oil, lots of garlic and a dash of chili, this dish is as good as it can get. Its simplicity makes the flavor of the crabs stand out. You can pry the flesh from the shell with just a gentle pull, an indication that the crab was alive and fresh when it was cooked. We were literally hailing Poseidon!

Not only does Crustasia offer you the best crab dishes in town, they also serve Thai, Singaporean, Vietnamese and Chinese cuisines. They even have a Thai and Vietnamese cooks working their magic inside the kitchen! Ron and I tried the best form of sampling dishes. The restaurant offers a buffet meal for only Php395. With soups and salads for appetizers, Asian cuisines (including Pad Thai and Vietnamese Fresh Rolls) for the main course and heavenly puddings and pana cotta’s for dessert, we had to sit down for a couple of minutes after the meal to savor the overwhelming gastronomic experience.

You will also never tire of going back to Crustasia as they change their menus every six months. The owner of the chain, Raymond Magdaluyo, would also hold cooking contests among the chefs of different branches to be able to get new ideas in preparing what we love dearly in their already mouth-watering parade of food.

Check out these other dishes on the menu!

Thai Roast Chicken*

Shark’s fin Dumplings*

Sate Babi Ribs*

Happy Birthday Noodles*

Cantonese Ribs*

*Pictures courtesy of Jude Fuentes

Check out Crustasia’s menu: Menu A, Menu B, Menu C.

3rd Floor, Space 2087, Trinoma Mall, North Triangle EDSA
Quezon City, Metro Manila
Business hours: 10:00 am to 9:00 pm, Mondays to Sundays
For reservation, catering and deliveries, call (02) 901 – 3607