Crepe de Chine

After gorging ourselves over at one of Chinatown’s finest resto’s El Presidente. We decided to go look for some dessert but since we were quite tired I wanted to go somewhere a bit cozy and relaxing. While going back to our car I noticed this tarp at the place where we parked our car…and it had a picture of a crepe…a pizza crepe at that advertising Crepe de Chine! Finally!!! A decent dessert place in Binondo!

Crepe de Chine is a small restaurant located on the Lower Ground of the World Trade Exchange Building in Binondo that serves wonderful crepes at affordable prices. The first thing that I noticed upon entering the place is how CLEAN it was. It was spanking clean and the servers were very courteous and even gave suggestions on what we should order. The menu is quite extensive: they have savory crepes, pasta, sandwiches and of course the dessert crepes.

 

President’s Tea House, Binondo

One of the most famous chinese restaurants in Manila is the President’s Restaurant in Ongpin. The much famed President’s restaurant in Ongpin has a somehow cheaper alternative in the form of the President’s Tea House on Salazar St. (which is actually a stone’s throw away from the President Restaurant itself). The tea house is a smaller version and a more affordable version because of the ambiance and the menu that’s being offered. Right beside one of my favourite chinese snack stores (Shin Tai-Shang Store) on Salazar, BF and I decided to have a quick “snack” in the tea house.

For our “snack” we decided to try some of their dimsum and of course some prawns for me. The dimsum offerings in President Tea House is one of the most delicious and affordable dimsum that I’ve had. It really is a sweet deal. i wish they had a branch in powerplant although it wouldn’t be as authentic naman.

 

From Chinatown to Quiapo [part 3 of 3]

6. “AVENIDA RIZAL”

My grandparents have always told me that Avenida Rizal was the premier shopping district during “their” time. How it came to this deplorable state I don’t know but I think that Avenida still has its charm, its local flavour. Tons of people come and go. I thought it was paved already for pedestrians but apparently Mayor Lim had to give the road back to the damn jeepneys. Sayang, ang gulo na naman.

This picture was taken by senor enrique.

Believe it or not there are a lot of things you can buy down there and at very cheap and affordable prices too!

7. VOODOO MARKETS OF QUIAPO

One of my favourite things to do in quiapo is look at the herbal medicines and voodoo stuff being sold around the Church Plaza. I love how everything is so colorful and so mysterious. I don’t know if these things work though. I’ve always wanted to learn what all these things were for and carlos “demystified” them for me. Tawas for your “putok” or your “whispering winds” hyesss….Some Pampa-regla. (yikes..poison pala talaga)

 

From Chinatown to Quiapo [part 2 of 3]

3. CHINESE TRINKETS & READINGS FOR THE NEW YEAR

Walking further and further deep into Chinatown we stopped by this wonderful Chinese Shop that sells Chinese trinkets, buddha’s, and other baubles. Everyone in Chinatown it seems is preparing for the Chinese New Year (feb. 7). It was wonderful!

A highlight of this stop was the free “readings” that the owner –who is fondly called TITA MAXIE — have to each of us in the group. According to “tita maxie” I am a water pig who should wear green and white (la salle ba?) haha. Wonderful old lady. I will visit her shop again sometime in the future. I love her collection of Chinese buddha’s and hanging trinkets it reminds me of all the things I saw in China when I went there as a Child.

 

From Chinatown to Quiapo [part 1 of 3]

Another day spent well was spending the day walking with Carlos Celdran. I was so stressed out about EVIDENCE and SPECPRO that I decided to spend this Thursday walking around Chinatown and Quiapo. I know its not the relaxing activity most people would think of doing but I love to just go around Manila and discover new and old places.

BF and I started the day waking up late and had to brave the traffic going to Chinatown. After arriving in Chinatown we finally found this small parking place near Eng Bee Tin where we had a quick lunch at CHUANKEE Cafe. We had some kiampong (fried rice), asado, and siomai. YUM! Nothing to satisfy a hungry stomach than a cheap lunch.

We waited for Carlos and the rest of the troop in Binondo Church. We started by singing the national anthem over at the plaza in front of the church. Carlos briefly gave us a history of the surrounding buildings as well as the old fountain in the plaza. Amazing how that fountain still stands today.

This photo was taken by maryan54 @ webshots.

Yes folks! that’s the same fountain!! (Plaza Carlos III, early 1900’s) from skyscrapercity

This photo of the Binondo Church with the fountain was taken by mayniladailyphoto.

I will just post some highlights of the tour which I found very enjoyable and culturally enriching. Descriptions of Carlos and his tours are not enough, you have to experience it first hand. Bring friends and family to make the trip more fun and memorable.

please walk this way — “the pied piper of manila”

 

sincerely “sincerity”

After going to PLM to drop off my thesis for Atty. Tamano to review, BF and I decided to have lunch in Binondo. Inspired by our recent Binondo Food wok, we decided to try some of the more interesting restaurants in chinatown…one such restaurant is SINCERITY. Why is it called sincerity?

Sincerity restaurant is a hole-in-the wall restaurant famed for its sincerity fried chicken. They have other specialties aside from the fried chicken such as the oyster cake, and a saucy liver dish. I wasn’t up to liver..so I had to pass on that.

Some YUMMY oyster cake. Put lots of ketchup on it and then…

 

The Big Binondo Food Wok [part 3 of 3]

11. HAW FLAKES MEMORIES

Stopping at the corner of Salazar and Ongpin (in front of the old Anson’s Building and of course near El Presidente) Ivan made us try some sweetened fruit which is supposed to evoke some childhool memory? Ano yun?

HAW FLAKES!!! Well…it really depends on what generation your coming from but haw flakes are also called as titina or ostia. I remember that I called it titina not really haw flakes. So What are haw flakes? Haw flakes are Chinese sweets made from the fruit of the Chinese hawthorn (Crataegus pinnatifida, genus Crataegus). They are dark pink candy that are shaped like the ostia given out during communion.

 

The Big Binondo Food Wok [part 2 of 3]

6. DUMPLINGSHaving sampled traditional hokkien food, seen lizards on a stick…Ivan finally led us to another hole-in-the-wall food stop. A humble dumpling place. Do not underestimate their dumplings. This is my favourite stop.

One traditional Chinese fare is the DUMPLING (jiaozi). Dumplings are often crescent shaped and filled with savory meat & vegetables. They are either boiled or fried and served with a special dipping sauce. For the Chinese, dumplings are an important food for the new year Since the shape of Chinese dumplings is similar to ancient Chinese gold or silver ingots, they symbolize wealth.

One of our favourite stops on our tour is this dumpling place! You know the ingredients are fresh because you see them made. I actually ate on the table where the manangs were making them. The place was packed! I especially loved the fried Chinese pancake dumpling…which was firm and very flavourful [hands down -- WINNER]l. Another hole-in-the-wall place that everyone must try (food great, service was nice and efficient, never mind the ambience…but I think that just gives the place the “authentic feel”) I am definitely going back to this place.

 

The Big Binondo Food Wok [part 1 of 3]

Binondo is an area in Manila that is primarily populated by Chinese immigrants who chose to live in the Philippines The word “Binondo” Ivan tells us came from the word “Binundok” which literally means mountains. Founded in 1594, Binondo was created by Spanish Governor Luis Pérez Dasmariñas as a permanent settlement for Chinese immigrants across the river from the walled city of Intramuros where the Spaniards resided. It was originally intended to replace the Parian near Intramuros where the Chinese were confined. The Spanish Dominican fathers made Binondo their parish and succeeded in converting a great many of the Chinese residents to Catholicism.

1. BINONDO CHURCH

(This photo of the Binondo Church was taken by mayniladailyphoto.blogspot.com)

The Minor Basilica of San Lorenzo Ruiz otherwise known as BINONDO CHURCH was erected in 1596 and was the work of the architect Domingo de la Cruz Gonzalez. It is one of the oldest places of worship in the Philippines and is truly an architectural heritage. Over the centuries it has been witness to earthquakes, natural disasters, and of course the ravages of World War II. Today the octagonal bell tower and the lobby are all that remains of the original church.