Canoodling noodles with tom yum goong

Tom yum goong instant noodles!

MY INTRODUCTION to Thailand has been by way of Tom Yum Goong (Hot & Sour Shrimp Soup).  I’ve had this soup in its many possible incarnations – at the Batu Ferringhi in Malaysia, at the Changi International Airport in Singapore, at the Bangkok International Airport, at Thai Siam in Old Folsom, at Amarin Thai also in Folsom, and at many different restaurants here in Manila.  To name a few, Sukothai, Malai Thai, Dusit Thani, Oody’s, Oody’s Express, The Banana Leaf Curry House, and Penang Hill.  As I write, I still maintain that Thai at Silk at the Serendra Piazza, makes the best version locally!  I mean, save for my own – made from scratch using a recipe from a Thai-Am friend – that I made to a rousing reception by an international crowd in a party years ago.  Yes, I know what you may be thinking – conceited.

But I’ve never had them with noodles.

So imagine my delight to discover three packs of instant Tom Yum Goong noodles this morning.  They’re just your usual instant noodles.  But the difference is that these have the famous Thai tom yum goong to flavor their broth.  The package design has images of a kaffir lime leaf, lime, lemongrass, fresh coriander, bird’s eye chilies, and shrimps – so even if I didn’t understand a single word on it, it was not quite a stretch to deduce the kinship of these foil packs.

The powdered seasoning promises authentic hotness and spiciness in the broth. Look at all those crushed red pepper flakes!

I excitedly prepared one – not according to “package directions” as I am wont to describe instant noodle preparations – but according to how I know it should be.  Besides, as I have said, I couldn’t understand a word in the fine print.  Ripped open, each foil pack has a powdered seasoning packet and an oil sachet.  The powder was so sour and spicy – the finely crushed red pepper flakes were a dead giveaway – while the oil was actually a thick paste that oozed with the fragrance of kaffir lime leaves, lemongrass, and fresh coriander.  So I have to say, kinda authentic.  I put these in a fine china bowl, clearly not in the water I boil in a pot to cook the noodles.  Three minutes is not the magic number for me in cooking instant noodles.  It is always 30 seconds shy.  After two and a half minutes, I pour everything into the bowl with the flavorings.

The noodles took a reddish tint, thanks to all the chilies in the broth. In the traditional recipe, I achieve the reddish tint by adding a heaping tablespoon of the "roasted chilies in oil." This was the sinful addition that Bangkoknians added to the original recipe that came fromt he Southern region of Thailand.

I always add a lot of fresh vegetables to instant noodles to jazz it up, not to mention, for an added crunch.  For this one, I used lots of napa cabbage and scallions.  Slurp-worthy goodness!

Lots of fresh napa cabbage and scallions provided the crunch!

 

I have three more! I might end up going full-on tom yum goong with the others!

 

Copyright © 2009 by eNTeNG  c”,)™©’s  MuchTime™©.  All rights reserved.

Late lunch munch

My filling plate of "tosilog" – sweetened cured pork, a sunny side up, and lots of garlic fried rice!

I WOKE up really late today – shameless at 02:08 PM.  Getting up from bed, my first stop would always be the kitchen.  Today’s lunch fare was “nilagang spareribs” (a gingery soup of pork spareribs with lots of fresh vegetables).  But somehow it didn’t feel like one of those “nilaga” days for me.

This was one of those times when I would feel really thankful for being adept in the kitchen.  Why?  Because the fulfillment of my tummy would never have to be at the mercy of somebody else.  With a few very basic ingredients and the manual dexterity that allows me to mince garlic or chop onions like there’s no tomorrow, I can put together a plate that can satisfy me not only in terms of filling my tummy but also in feeding my soul.

So this was what I ended up putting together.  Not quite a culinary challenge but definitely something really tasty!  In the vernacular, this is called “tosilog,” a concatenation of a syllable each from the three main components of the dish – “tocino (sweetened cured pork),” “sinangag (garlic fried rice),” and “itlog (an egg, cooked sunny side up).”

The tocino was store-bought.  It usually doesn’t really matter to me where it comes from.  The technique to end up with really tender tocino is in the cooking.

I may have somehow snubbed the spareribs.  But I have a sneaking feeling that I’d end up having it for dinner later.  Hahaha!

The secret to really tender tocino is in the cooking!

 

I had seconds of this! And I always want my sunny side up to be just like that – with the yolk not done, but not too liquid.

 

Copyright © 2009 by eNTeNG  c”,)™©’s  MuchTime™©.  All rights reserved.

Turning Japanese for lunch

Katsudon for lunch!

MY FIRST ever international trip was to Japan.  It left an indelible imprint in my mind and started my love affair with nori, zaru soba, and enoki.  I loved it so much that I wrote about in in my school paper then.

And for today at lunch time, I turned Japanese – yet again – courtesy of the katsudon our cafeteria offered.  True to its Japanese name – a combination of tonkastu (pork cutlet) and donburi (rice bowl dish) – our cafeteria’s version had a deep-fried yet juicy pork cutlet served on top of plump steamed white rice with a beaten egg oozing with the special Japanese soy sauce.  The best part?  It was served steaming hot!

Perfect to break from the pressures of the day.  This dish has been one of Spider-man’s favorites too!  Too bad he’s away for meetings in Shanghai (which, I realize is a better thing!).

I loved the katsudon I had today so much that I had to tell Harry Stamper!  But I guess he had something better for lunch where he’s at.

 

Copyright © 2009 by eNTeNG  c”,)™©’s  MuchTime™©.  All rights reserved.

Dark white milk and a key ring

Sweetness!

MY GOOD good friend Rizzie seems to have been going on an Asian tour.  In the space of a couple of weeks, she has gone to Korea, Singapore, and China where she’s still at as I write.  It is a mix of business and pleasure.  Actually, more business than pleasure that when I finally broke my facebook hiatus, her status message was one of the first to really demand my attention.  She said something about being tired from Singapore and being not ready for China yet.

She has always been quite thoughtful.  When I came back to my desk after some meetings this morning, a pile of something “dark,” “white” and “milk” greeted me.  A key ring from Singapore with a note saying “From Rizzie” revealed the source.

I found out that it was delivered through the kindness of one of our Financial Analysts.

Thanks, Rizzie, for always remembering!  I hope you’re enjoying Shanghai.  I think they’re soon building a Disneyland there!

(And yes, thanks Alvin… I know!  Please bring more next time, ok?)

 

Copyright © 2009 by eNTeNG  c”,)™©’s  MuchTime™©.  All rights reserved.

What I’m reading

The 9/11 Commission Report

AIR TRAVEL has never been quite the same after 9/11.  Believe you me.  I’ve taken a cross-continental flight on a day when the “terror alert level” had been raised to orange (high risk) on a nationwide level.  Subjecting myself to the most stringent screening procedure at the gate was my smallest contribution to peace of mind at 30,000+ feet up in the air.

Every widescreen at the Chicago Midway International Airport that day was tuned in to national news discussing the heightened alert.  I needed to get distracted so I ended up buying practically every single title on the magazine rack.  On the flight back to California – with a layover in Las Vegas – I buried my face in between pages.

All these thoughts came coming back after my recent book purchase.  Lately, second-hand bookstores have been a favorite hangout of mine.  And the last time, I bought “House of Sand and Fog” and this one – “The 9/11 Commission Report:  Final Report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States (Authorized Edition).”  It’s a copy from the first printing.

This copy is from the first printing. I love the cover design! (or lack thereof)

I have just cracked it open.  The first section reads like a novel.  It actually brought to mind the opening lines of the second paragraph of my “Rickshaw Diaries,” an accounting of my travel to India in 2005: “As has always been the case with me, the night before any trip doesn’t see me sleeping for even a wink.  I really fuss about my stuff, lay them around for quite some time as I don’t put them in my luggage ‘til about the last hour before I leave.  And I don’t let anyone do my packing for me because I don’t want to lie to the customs officer at the airport once he asks me as to who did my packing.  It is one of my small contributions to tightened airport security post-9/11 – to be fully aware and accountable for whatever goes in my bags.”

This will be quite a challenging read. It's highly technical. And quite thick! Look at that spine.

 

Copyright © 2009 by eNTeNG  c”,)™©’s  MuchTime™©.  All rights reserved.

 

New kid in Town

Now this is really really good news!

I GOT this text message last week and have been meaning to make a post about it here.  I stumbled upon it once again as I clean up 3175 messages in my inbox – 700 in this phone and 2475 in the other.  Without a doubt, the sender knows just how much I love love L-O-V-E Cyma.  One of my most memorable nights out with Superheroes was a dinner at this restaurant’s Greenbelt 2 branch.

Memorable Cyma dinner at the Greenbelt 2 branch

Town is getting more and more exciting.  Pepper Lunch.  Cyma.  What’s not to love?

 

Copyright © 2009 by eNTeNG  c”,)™©’s  MuchTime™©.  All rights reserved.

 

Louis Vuitton and…

THIS POST is for Friendship.  Just a couple of shots from Singapore, courtesy of the Tycoon.

...and Prada at Ion Orchard.

 

...and Chanel at Takashimaya.

 

A Takashimaya shopping bag on top of a Superhero's desk.

 

Copyright © 2009 by eNTeNG  c”,)™©’s  MuchTime™©.  All rights reserved.

 

Where it all started for me

Royce' counter at Takashimaya in Singapore

MY LOVE affair with Royce’ started with pasalubong – the Nama Chocolate Champagne Pierre Mignon – a really good friend bought at one of the stores in Singapore.  Technically speaking, the love affair actually started with the first bite.

I totally did away with the cute miniature plastic fork that comes with each box, as the heavy dusting of cocoa powder on each little chocolate block was just so tempting.  It promised a mess on my fingers that could only mean finger-lickin’ goodness.

The first bite of these chocolates allowed me the taste of the most delicate confection there has ever been.  It was light and was delicate like finespun sugar threads used to decorate a croquembuche.  It almost instantly melted in my mouth, leaving only a faint – but lingering –  coating of what can only be perfect melding of cream and chocolate.

I can finish a box of these easily and have actually on occasion failed to survive bouts with momentary selfishness.  The worst that it has ever made me do is become demanding of friends who travel to either Singapore, Hong Kong, or Japan.  I “demand” that they bring back Royce’.

So when the Tycoon had to fulfill yet another schedule on his fully booked social calendar – this time in Singapore – I didn’t think twice about shamelessly asking not only to have some purchased but also to have photographs of the Royce’ stores taken.

The Tycoon didn’t disappoint.  It has actually been a couple of days already since I got my hands on the chocolates.  But waking up this morning to yet more Royce’ confections – this time from my brother – by the coffee table by my bed, I got reminded of making this post.

Royce' store at Ion on Orchard

 

This Royce' store at Ion on Orchard just has a futuristic appeal to me. I won't be surprised if Neo would ring up my purchases at the cash register!

 

This is a close-up of the display panel that you see on the right side of the picture above.

 

Royce' Pure Chocolate – Venezuela Bitter & Ghana Sweet.

 

Royce' Pure Chocolate – Mild Bitter (80%) & Extra Bitter (90%).

 

Gotta love two boxes of Royce' Pure Chocolate!

 

I woke up to one of these on the coffee table.

 

Here are my previous Royce’ chocolate posts – or Royce’-related posts – that you may also like:

[The joys of Royce’]   [What goes on inside a bag of Royce’?!]   [eNTeNG’s 25]   [Royce’ for a fave Superhero]   [And with Royce’ I said farewell]   [Four-letter word]

 

Copyright © 2009 by eNTeNG  c”,)™©’s  MuchTime™©.  All rights reserved.

 

Thankfully it’s just fish that exploded

THE WEEKEND before last was quite busy.  It involved visiting a patch of earth, taking measurements, looking at designs, and signing some papers.  It wasn’t as easy as it sounds.  By the time signatures needed to be affixed for the n^th time, I had practically tuned out, absent-mindedly measuring and realizing that the car in front of me was about 15 to 16 feet from the hood to the trunk.  Yeah, I measured with an actual steel measuring tape.

Naturally I was famished.  So off we went to one of our regular haunts – Max’s!

Ampalaya Con Carne

 

Kare-Kare

 

Half of a family-sized Fried Chicken

We asked for the usuals – Ampalaya Con Carne (bitter gourd with beef in a fermented soybean sauce), Kare-Kare (oxtail stew in a peanut sauce with fresh vegetables), and their house Fried Chicken.  But for the first time, I asked for their Pinaputok na Tiyan ng Bangus.  “Pinaputok” loosely translated, could mean popped or exploded (fish).  But actually, all it means is grilled.

Pinaputok na Tiyan ng Bangus (simply, grilled milkfish!)

Max’s version is one whole fatty belly of a milkfish.  It was so huge anyone would be so inclined to suspect that there was something in the water the fish grew in.  The dish had a deboned premium milkfish belly stuffed with chopped fresh tomatoes, onions, and garlic, wrapped inside a banana leaf then grilled.  A spicy fresh tomato salsa topped everything for a perfect piquant finishing touch.  I liked it!

A spicy fresh tomato salsa tops the grilled milkfish

 

Copyright © 2009 by eNTeNG  c”,)™©’s  MuchTime™©.  All rights reserved.

 

Happy birthday, Sagewin!

Found Nemo!... as a huge plush toy!

HE HAS always teased me about my penchant for hierarchy – among my friends.  While I have never worn any accusation of favoritism as a badge of honor, I have never revolted whenever he would level this charge against me.  Yes, he does it in jest.  But that is not the reason why I have never taken this assertion of unfairness seriously.  Through the years, I have come to realize that only my real friends can get away with teasing me about such a usually sensitive matter.

Sagewin is one of those.

He to me is all that Ateneo De Manila University is touted to be (with Friendship being all that rival De La Salle University is).  That is why the Ateneo t-shirt he gave me years ago still remains to be one of my most cherished possessions.  Nowadays, it claims its rightful place alongside a t-shirt from UC Davis – again from him – where he is currently taking a Ph.D. in some highly advanced branch of chemistry that my brain just can’t handle anymore.  (And I got 1.00s in three of four chemistry subjects I had in college, the fourth being a 1.25!)  I have a good feeling that he is a Dr. Sheldon Cooper in the making.  (Yes Batman I hear you!  Sagewin is not in CalTech!  Hahaha!)

UC Davis T-Shirt

He helped refine and broaden my appreciation of music by introducing me to the likes of Howie Day, Binocular, Joshua Payne, Damien Rice, Dave Matthews Band, and Jamie Cullum while not judging me for still putting on heavy rotation my beloved cheesy ballads.  After all, more than half of the “groundbreaking” music he burned on a CD he handed me at the Sacramento International Airport were – all together now – cheesy!  But seriously, because of his influence, I have never removed songs like “Collide,” “Deep,” “Brick,” and “Gray Sky Morning” in my playlist.  They’re always there.  Oh, there’s “Nanka Shiawase” too!

Damien Rice CD

 

All-American Rejects CD

 

Dave Matthews Band: The Central Park Concert DVD

He has a tremendous amount of patience for my awful lack of EQ.  There was a time when we went for a long drive to Old Faithful and Napa Valley.  I was throwing tantrums the whole day but he and James, Friendship and Rafela just let me be.  But this is not to say that he condones my occasional misbehavior.  Because after my craziness subsides, he talks to me like the adult that I should be.  He parcels out advice when he has to.

He brought me and Brother to some of my dream destinations – Old Sacramento (Hahaha!), Stanford University, UC Davis, Universal Studios, Disneyland, my favorite Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (Nicole Kidman’s!), the Golden Gate Bridge, Lombard, and even to my first ever MRT ride.

My favorite star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame – Nicole Kidman!

He is only one of a very few people who makes my generosity pale in comparison.  And he never misses out on greeting me on my birthday (and there have always been gifts!).

Birthday gift 2009

Most importantly, he always – ALWAYS – listens to me.  And that has remained constant regardless of the time zone he is in.

If only everybody else has a real friend like Sagewin.

Friday, November 6^th, marks his birthday.  Happy birthday, Sagewin!

Baseball in Chicago!

 

Michael Jordan – the statue – at United Center in Chicago, Illinois!

 

Spongebob!

 

Copyright © 2009 by eNTeNG  c”,)™©’s  MuchTime™©.  All rights reserved.