food porn @ nobu

My father said to me, "I don't understand you. You come to Hong Kong to eat Japanese food?"

OK, let me explain. Nobu is one of The Miele Guide's Asia's Top 20 Restaurants. I kind of trust this guide because I have already tried and enjoyed two in the Top 20-- Antonio's and Tippling Point. (Previously in The Miele Guide, Aubergine, though excellent, doesn't count because it's not on the 2010/2011 list.) Hong Kong has six restaurants on the list, while Singapore and Japan have only six COMBINED.

I felt like I was being challenged to go to as many Top 20 restaurants as I could... although I'm not exactly sure who was challenging me, or why. I just knew that this trip with the parents provided an opportunity to tick some/a few/several off the list, and I had to grab it.

Nobu was our first meal upon landing on 14 August 2011. I reserved the table a week before we arrived. I wanted someplace not too far from our hotel, Gateway Marco Polo at Harbour City. The InterContinental Hong Kong, which incidentally houses not just Nobu, but also Spoon by Alain Ducasse, was pretty close. And it was a Sunday, and they had a cheap reasonably-priced Sunday lunch set.

Ma and I ordered two sets, which our waiter said was enough food for three people, and he was right. He's a pretty bad salesman, but at least he was honest.

Each of us could choose four appetizers, but since there were only eight choices, we got to try them all. Yay!

Scallop Jalapeño Salsa

Botan Ebi & Uni Sashimi "New Style"

you can't miss it

I accompanied my progenitors to Hong Kong to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary a couple of weeks ago. As I'm going through my photos, I noticed something. Do you notice it, too?

While having lunch at Nobu, InterContinental Hong Kong on Salisbury Road, 14 August 2011, 2:36PM.

welcome to hong kong

Dontcha just love China?

my happy place

In 2001, when Nail Spa opened at the Shangri-la Plaza Mall in Mandaluyong City, I didn't quite get it. Why would my nails need to go to the spa?

That was then. My hands and feet, after experiencing bliss, have since developed a mind of their own. Hands dial Nail Spa's number to set an appointment. Feet take me straight to the fifth floor of The Block at SM City North EDSA.

13 August 2011, 10AM. Enter Happy Place.

assorted edibles

Here are some of the things that I've put in my mouth this year:

1. Pancake House's Sunrise Orange Pancake Tower. The best pancakes ever! Pillowy soft baby pancakes with whipped butter, cream cheese, lemon-orange syrup and orange zest. If I lived next door to a Pancake House, I would eat this everyday. I would gain a kilo a week, and then keel over and fall into a diabetic coma. But I would be happy.

Sunrise orange pancake tower by Pancake House, multiple branches. 5/5

2. Asia's Biggest Loser first runner-up Chef Carlos Miguel's beef pot pie. The pastry crust is love. The beef is fork-tender and robustly flavored. Perfect for rainy days. I wonder if he has ever thought of selling this as a frozen dinner?

US beef and dark ale pot pie with potato wedges at Opus, Resorts World Manila. 4.5/5

3. Will the real Razon's please stand up? The ubiquitous "Razon's" fast food outlets have become the default palabok and halo-halo stations in Manila, but I had never heard of Teresita R. Razon. I figured we were in Pampanga, so how bad could it be? Not bad at all, it turned out. The place was packed with locals who seemed to think that this was the real thing.

Pancit palabok at Teresita R. Razon Halo-halo & Palabok in San Fernando, Pampanga. 4.25/5