The call of the good (Sabong News)

Whenever I’m asked what my favorite food is, my immediate response would be, “depends on my mood or what’s calling me at the moment.” This week was a mix of many. My Foodprints/Casa Daza team and I went to Marudori Rockwell at 8 Rockwell Center, where we feasted on the chicken ramen. I had practically tried everything on the menu so I ordered a chilled noodle dish. Good but not great. I had fun though seeing my friends enjoy the chicken ramen, the grilled ground chicken, and the soupy gyoza. The sight gives me great joy! One Saturday, I picked up my daughter Danielle at ISCAHM (International School for Culinary Arts and Hotel Management) in Quezon City, where she is taking baking classes. She loves her classes but she always comes out hungry. To tide her over, I parked to try a new place I was told about along Katipunan called Papel na Liempo. Gen Maramba, our writer, swears by it. I waited a bit while Danielle went to the soy store right beside it. This liempo place has various flavors but I decided to try the most basic. Crispy, tasty, and extremely addicting! My daughter and I ransacked the bag even before we got home. Another day, I had a craving for simple yang chow fried rice, French beans with ground pork, and good old sweet and sour pork. My cravings for that moment fit like a glove. Shiok Shiok on Roxas Street in Banawe makes delicious yang chow fried rice and authentic inexpensive sweet and sour pork. There are many other dishes I crave at this place. I was looking to bring home some jumbo siopao I saw on display in their freezer. The tofu fish squares are quite good. I decided to have it the next time I go back. The following week, my friends and I went to Morong, Bataan to stay overnight at Coral View Resort. We went out intending to get a breather, relax, and get some sun. How wonderful it was to finally feel like pre-pandemic levels! Laughter is certainly a temporary cure for everything. Authentic tasting, the ribs remind me of the ones I had on Beale Street in Memphis. I revel in its three sauces. I usually get the one with the yellow cover. On the way back, I told my friends about this place I regularly visit in Subic. It was a choice between Texas Joe’s House of Ribs and Gourmet Garage. Texas Joe’s it was. We started with the bestseller sweet onion loaf. Sarap! We then ordered the ribs, which will forever be my favorite. A friend had the salmon and a New York cut steak. Authentic tasting, the ribs remind me of the ones I had on Beale Street in Memphis. I revel in its three sauces. I usually get the one with the yellow cover. The steak was okay, while the salmon was perfectly cooked. I am fond of the side dishes like mashed potatoes, dirty rice, and coleslaw. We all ended with a most delicious carrot cake and a brownie sundae. Texas Joe’s has the best carrot cake and I love the contrast between the semi-sweet warm brownie and the ice cream. I take delight in watching my friends enjoy this discovery. I believe I’d make a great salesman. Because, driving back, I told them about my latest food find in Angeles City, Perfect Loaf. This is a bakery in the Nepo Mart area that also serves delicious merienda fare. Of course, I was able to convince them. We had the most delicious sotanghon I have tried. Plus I learned that the combination is to have it with newly toasted pan de sal. Yum! We also had the Kapampangan dinuguan, called Tidtad, and rellenong alimasag. We all left with a smile. It was a mix of dishes all week last week. I wonder what I’ll come across this week? Waiting for my food craving to kick in. Happy eating!