New at Far East Plaza: Pearl River Deli and Lasita

I haven’t been to the Far East Plaza since 2019. Whenever I go, there’s something new. I don’t see some of the spots I used to frequent. And I also missed the opening of Pearl River Deli by the same chef of the famous Hainan chicken rice place in Arcadia, Side Chick. So Chef Johnny Lee is now closer with PRD, but his Hainan chicken is available only on certain days. I got lucky that one of his weekend offerings was something perfect for my special diet. Dieting was never in my vocabulary before. Now, it’s my number one concern. I literally want to live longer as in longevity is something I’m working on currently. It has turned into a full-time career, taking care of my health. Back to what I ordered, I was so happy with my lamb neck pancake wrap — well-seasoned, tender lamb bits with a nice, chewy, flaky pancake underneath.

Alex and my mom enjoyed char siu on rice and silky shrimp scramble. Amazing that they have vegan options, so I tried the healthier mushroom chow fun which turned out to be a great alternative for beef chow fun.

The cooking was distinctively Chinese, but you’ll know it comes from a different level, like it’s not your typical grandma’s style. It has that modern flair and youngish vibe to it that someone like my mom could still appreciate. Happy she was happy.

For dessert, we went to Lasita, the space that Filipino restaurant Lasa used to occupy. One of the chefs is still the same one running Lasita. I will need to go back for the chicken inasal which is a family fave.

I was drooling while looking at my mom’s white halo-halo with a modern mix of melon, sago, honey brittle, melon horchata (instead of milk), chia seeds and pinipig. It sounded definitely more interesting than the classic halo-halo with ube ice cream. She said it was good. Again happy that she was delighted with my pick. We were lucky to have chanced upon Tito Rudy’s halo -halo pop-up.

Until our next food adventure. I wish to blog more often now that I have more time doing nothing.

Oh, thanking you for dropping by BlauEarth after all these years. I hope you are all healthy, safe and vaccinated. Keep your masks on peeps!

Burgers 99 in a pandemic era

My foodie Brandon just knows where to bring his fellow foodie and self-proclaimed burger connoisseur mom.

When most mom and pop shops went shaky due to uncertainty, here came another burger shop. Last year, on the brink of a pandemic, the guys of Badmaash plus chef Geovanny Delgado introduced classic burgers (at least in looks), but full of surprises, like the Hickory bacon burger has that pleasant tangy flavor all too different from the cultish Apple Pan’s, and the simplest burger on the menu, hamburger, appears as neat as In-N-Out’s, but is strikingly seasoned with kicking flavors uniquely theirs. Cumin and coriander in an American burger? It’s that Indian representation that makes it not just another burger. Multicultural Los Angeles just got another bead in its string of arguably the world’s best burgers.

My latest burger experience was well worth the trip to LA’s District La Brea.

Food at Cafe Bonita

Northwestern University President Ferdinand Nicolas, wife Mich and Isaiah.

As guaranteed, I reached the occasion to remark about the food at Parklane’s Cafe Bonita. Firstly, the morph-ication of that tired length along Bacarra Rd. (now Gen Segundo Ave.) is the real deal. The food should match, and indeed Chef Alvin Lao, who I heard is leaving town soon to broaden his horizon in America, is doing a great job of sharing his culinary skills and knowledge. I was a fan of his carbonara with white truffle oil, his Caesar’s salad and steaks, and so on.

The dinner last night was thought-provoking. It’s a recurrent, hahah, spasmodic blogger or foodie thing. Studying oeuvres like crispy succulent bagnet on a bed of peeled pomelo speckled with recognizable Asian flavors or the Ilocanonized version of the Peking duck skin wrap, which was clever with chilied hoisin sauce, was like being absorbed in an art museum. A food experience can range from hostile to orgasmic. I like eating more than looking, but sorry to take your time if you are eating with me. Hah, the hyperphotoactivity disorder of the new millennium.

I give this a very high rating.

One of my closest friends, the beautiful Marla Luis. I mean close as in we tell each other what’s wrong with us and kiss.

Bagnet (Ilocano crispy pork belly) wraps could have been perfect if the wraps had more body like less tightness in texture. The siling labuyo lent more oomph.

The prawns and mussels with lavish herbed curry sauce was provocative. I took out rice from my diet, nonetheless the potential perfect ulam was not overwhelming.