Blog powered by Typepad
Member since 05/2005

November 2024

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
          1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Categories

What's Cooking?

« TJ Oyster Bar (revisits) | Main | Where in the world are we (part 2) »

Saturday, 17 May 2014

Comments

buddha

The issue I have with most Filipino restaurants and their food in general is that they tend to overcook things. But honestly that is true with a ton of restaurants. In the last few years I have had some poor meals in restaurants mostly due to their lack of timing and things get overcooked and tough or dry. You would think that since a restaurant is in business that they would do better but in my experience barely 10% or less get it right.

Cathy

Interesting, Buddha. My experience with Filipino sit down restaurants is that it isn't the trifecta of crowd pleasing food (lumpia, pancit and garlic rice) but instead the sourness (either from calamansi (in sisig) or the adobos (simmered in vinegar and spices)) and more stew-like dishes (pinkabet). Filipino food has such a diverse culinary influence and I enjoy trying new-to-me dishes and have rarely been disappointed. In any case, I think the fast foods available here are a good introduction.

caninecologne

Hi Cathy - Thank you for your kind words and for this great post highlighting one of my favorite ethnic markets. Filipino cuisine doesn't get as much "respect" as other cuisine, It's not just pancit and lumpia. I consider those "party" type foods and not something I would eat every day, like sinigang or tinola. Their food court has something for everyone. My faves are the chicken and beef empanadas at Valerio's and the pastillas at Filipino Desserts Plus. The multicolored desserts are usually seen at Filipino parties - my favorite is the purple rice.

p.s. the fritter with the shrimp is called 'ukoy'. my dad makes a mean one! :)

buddha

I hardly ever eat pancit or lumpia so that doesn't apply to me when I talked about filipino food being over cooked. Adobo to me can be decent if you can find a place that treats it right. Most of the time the grilling is overcooked and dry especially fish. Not my favorite ethnic cuisine.

nhbilly

What! No Halo Halo? ;-)
Any crisp fried tasty yummy skin, FTW.

Cathy

It's all so true, cc; you've taught me more and showed me places where I might have gone, but not known what to order, all while explaining ingredients and with a story. (I must say that The Mister and I would order chicken skins at Max's every single visit, knowing those were excellent; long before I met you). Your dad is a great cook!

Well, at least you are trying other cuisines, Buddha. I understand some flavor points may not appeal to you, but consistently getting poorly prepared food seems would make a restaurant go out of business. Sometimes I'm surprised at what I've ordered, because I ask for the same item I see on another table (an old New Year Resolution I made; to do once a month) that almost always guarantees it will be prepared properly.

Halo Halo is so sweet, Bill! I'm a Type 2 and have to watch carb intake. Chicken skins are going to be one of the 'new' foods at the San Diego County fair this year-yay!

nhbilly

Awww, well at least you can enjoy non-sweet unhealthy stuff like chicharone of piggy and chicky.

nhbilly

Awww, well at least you can enjoy non-sweet unhealthy stuff like chicharone of piggy and chicky.

buddha

Cathy: Having been a professional chef before I have tried a lot of cuisines thank you very much. You must be kidding. I know of many restaurants that serve poorly executed dishes and they are still in business. Very sad indeed. Honestly like I said before, in any city you are lucky to have 10-15% of the restaurants to have outstanding food. Most is just average at best.

nhbilly

So what do you prefer? ukoy or Vietnamese style sweet potatoes and shrimp? I might have to try ukoy.

Cathy

I do crave the occasional sweet items, Bill, know to limit myself...and a cup of halo halo is difficult, that's why we get the bibingka (in the photo, that's a dollop of cream cheese, which is interspersed in the cake). Yes, chicharone of all types have been a snack. Just yesterday, we shared a Japanese croquette of veggies and a shrimp...so I guess I need to find a Vietnamese one today, to compare. As long as it's fresh, I'm probably going to like it.

caninecologne

Cathy - we WILL try the vietnamese version of ukoy at Brodard's! :)

Cathy

Right, cc! Bill- I'll be here: http://www.brodard.net/Home/ in just a few weeks. Expect to see a 'Multiple ethnic, various potato/veggie/shrimp fritter/croquette throw down' post.

RightCowLeftCoast

FYI, the children of the original owners of Conchings have opened up a Filipino dessert place in Eastlake.

https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=halo+halo

I went yesterday, and they are still under their soft openings status. But something to check out.

Verify your Comment

Previewing your Comment

This is only a preview. Your comment has not yet been posted.

Working...
Your comment could not be posted. Error type:
Your comment has been posted. Post another comment

The letters and numbers you entered did not match the image. Please try again.

As a final step before posting your comment, enter the letters and numbers you see in the image below. This prevents automated programs from posting comments.

Having trouble reading this image? View an alternate.

Working...

Post a comment

Your Information

(Name and email address are required. Email address will not be displayed with the comment.)

LA/OC Based Food Blogs