Maha Food Hub: A taste of Pakistani-Indian food in Better Living, Paraňaque

 

I like to try different food but this pandemic have hindered me from visiting restaurants and discovering new food places. But I’m glad that I still discovered small food establishments like Maha Food Hub that’s noteworthy to write about especially when you want a taste of authentic Pakistani and Indian cuisine.

I have ordered here a few times now. It's a treat especially on a weekend when I like to relax and not cook but still enjoy a filling and flavorful meal. And one of my favorite dishes to order is Beef Biryani.

I like the multi-hued color of the biryani rice for this dish, a combination of white, yellow and red rice grains. I find the sprinkling of the red rice grains unique because most of the biryani rice I’ve tried are mostly on the yellow and orange hues. But aside from these colorful bits, it is the flavor of this Beef Biryani with distinct Indian spices and heat that is something to look forward to. The beef itself is tender, well-seasoned and had spices too like the rice. And to counteract the heat and bold spices, they had this cool, tasty yogurt sauce that complemented the warm, red-streaked rice and tender, spicy beef.

Another one of my favorites is their Butter Chicken Masala. In contrast to the spice and heat of the Biryani this one had milder flavors but still as sumptuous. I guess there’s a fair amount of butter here to bring down the strong spices but how they were able to combine the symphony of flavors to form a unique and tasty viand is quite good. That’s why we often order extra biryani rice when we order this dish too. You can't help but reach out for that extra rice.

They also have their kebabs but it is formed like hamburger patties which is a different take on the kebabs which is often elongated or tube-like in shape. The spices here were milder  but still as flavorful. But one thing unique about these kebabs aside from the shape was that it came with this jelly-like sauce like sort of strawberry jam in syrupy flavor in addition to their yogurt sauce. Its sweeter tone goes well with the peppery flavor of their yogurt sauce and the meaty flavor of the kebab.

Discovering new food places even during this pandemic is still possible especially if one is willing to get out of their comfort zone of flavors. I'm glad I discovered one that offered authentic Pakistani-Indian food like Maha Food Hub. With our access to the web, it's easy to discover places that can offer a variety of food choices and flavor profiles. One should just be willing to make the first step and order.

Reminiscing my summer of 2021

 

Rainy days and thunderstorms are here again. Restrictions which were a little looser in the early months this year were tightened again. Meanwhile, new variants have triggered new lockdowns. Frustrating as it may, I just want to look back on the places I was able to be allowed in last summer. So this is an early throwback or a super late post..better late than never. These are some of the places I would like to visit again if given the chance. Please note that my descriptions are more of the places than the food.

 

Klub Keluarga Resort (San Juan, Batangas)

 

Tucked away near a mountain within a residential development, I was lucky to have a daytrip there before the March lockdown and no medical certificate was required then. This was the only beach I was able to go since last year. Maybe until this year too, sad. So this beach trip have been quite memorable especially during this pandemic. 

Looking back, how can I forget the luscious halo halo and filling choriburger amidst that relaxing seascape that day. That halo halo and burger will be seared into my memory as one of the happier times during this pandemic. Remembering it now, I just miss the beach. I miss swimming in the warm ocean water floating on my back while looking up the azure skies. I also miss eating near the ocean with a light ocean breeze. 

We also went to a cove near the beach that day. I remember it was quite hot so we placed our towels on our head while we walked on the hot sand. It was hard walking on the sand as our sandals keep getting filled with it. But that short trek was worth it because of the refreshing sight of the ocean and the lapping sound of the waves on that cove. Exhausted, I even laid down in the sand happy to feel the rush of cold water on my back. How I missed that feeling of lying in the sand again. Seeing the ocean after a year of lockdown made me feel quite happy and emotional. Sometimes, you appreciate the freedom to travel when it is taken away from you especially now that we are on lockdown again. Given the chance, I hope to visit here again and I hope soon.

Bukid Amara (Lucban, Quezon)

How can one not appreciate a beautiful place filled with rows of flowers and a glimpse of Mt. Banahaw. It was my second time there because on the first time, it was after a typhoon so the flowers were not that many. But this time around, the blooms were substantial. Varied types of flowers of different colors abound. 

Dining outside with a view of the flower fields and the majestic mountain was a memorable sight because it was not everyday where you can dine like that. And like my time at the beach, halo halo was my go to food that summer, trying to capture it in different backdrops. It was a humid day that day too so the ube topped ice cold halo halo was a great treat. 

After dining and before heading back to our hometown, I bought a variety of petunias in assorted colors for our garden. They have quite a selection of plants and flowers there like the celosias and the petite sunflowers. But if there's one thing I wish I could have done that day, it was to go fishing in their tilapia pond. I have not tried fishing in a while so that would be another activity I could try there and look forward too. Maybe next time.

 

Girasoles Farm (Candelaria, Quezon)

Nature always had a relaxing effect on me and being surrounded by rows of flowers is always an incredible sight. Beside the colorful flora, what I like about this farm were the quirky elements to it like its painted water containers and shaded and decorated pathways. Their souvenirs like the sunflower magnets were also a joy to bring home to as well as their masks with sunflower designs. 

Of course, I also had halo halo here. Having halo halo in different places last summer was something I wanted to do maybe because it was a semblance of normal life during pre-pandemic times, of happier summer days. I especially liked roaming around their radiant sunflowers too. It was a welcome sight during these times. Before we left, I bought different shades of vinca flowers among their wide collection of flowers and plants. Definitely, one of the places I want to visit again.

With the lockdowns restricting our movements again, looking back at these summer photos made me surprisingly hopeful. It reminded me that there are scenic places like these waiting for me to be discovered or be visited again. Venturing outside and watching the beauty of nature unfold somehow restores my mental health after days of anxiousness in the city. I can't wait to travel and maybe sample halo halo in different settings once again.

Lobster King Coron, Palawan- Reliving a childhood food memory

I love lobsters. When I was a young girl, I remember being served one cooked in butter in one of our vacations in Ilocos. Its meat had this fresh, sweet taste that complemented the creaminess of the butter well. That was my first memory of eating lobster since then I have tried to re-capture the same gustatory experience in every lobster I tried.

Many years have passed but I still have yet to re-capture that lobster experience until I went to Lobster King in Coron, Palawan. I have eaten lobsters in the past but some had a bland taste while some had a not so pleasant aftertaste whichever way it was cooked. So it was a delight that I had tried some good lobsters in Coron.

Lobster King is a non-aircon shack on the side of a busy street in Coron. The tricycle driver brought us there after we picked up some souvenirs. Inside Lobster King, there were some foreign tourists as well as local ones with their kids feasting on lobsters.

The waitress led us to an aquarium to let us choose what lobster we wanted to have and how many. I initially picked two small ones then changed my mind. I thought that with small ones, you can hardly get anything from the shell so I chose two medium sized ones around 300 grams each instead.

I told her to steam it in butter, garlic and some lemon. When it arrived, it looked appetizing. Sliced in half you can see it had enough meat on them with some orange lobster egg bits on the side. It tasted fresh and had that sweet taste too, almost the same flavor I remembered when I was a kid. To enhance the flavor, I dipped it in some melted butter. Of course, I used my fingers to extract off the meat out its orange shell. And together with some warm rice, this chunk of lobster meat dipped in butter was a delight. This really was the lobster king.

Another delight for me too was the lato, the seaweed with small grapelike fruits hanging on it. It tasted like part of the ocean. I can imagine eating this with my sweet lobster in an oceanfront hut. That would have been heaven. But eating these in a stall near a busy street with tourists and meandering waitresses around will do besides I’m with family so it was still a treat.

So there it is, my other favorite lobster experience after the first time I’ve tried it. It was one of my favorite parts of my Coron trip even if it rained. Speaking of rain, I think I would like to visit this town again in good weather. I want to do more snorkeling in the summer when the waters are clearer. But more than that of course, I would like to visit their Lobster King again and sample their fresh and sweet lobster 😊

My New York food trip

I have always been fascinated by New York, the diversity of the people there, the number of sights you can see in a small amount of time and of course, the glimmering lights you can marvel at when the plane is approaching for landing at night. I have been there before 15 years ago, single and was toured around by a cousin. I remember being a little intimidated inside the subway then because the people inside looked so tall and huge I mean compared to us, Filipinos. It was also freezing because we came in January. I was not able to explore much that time and try some of their food like burgers or pizza due to limited time. But last May, I was given another chance again to explore the city but this time with my family and try some of their eating options particularly in the Upper West Side.

We chose to stay on this side of New York because it was near the American Museum of Natural History and one bus away from the Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET). We also chose this medium-sized hotel, Hotel Beacon on this side of the city because it was in front of two groceries, Fairway and Citarella and their rooms had a kitchenette so we were able to cook rice Yey!

Below are some places I had good food while we stayed there:

Café Lalo

My cousin from Canada told me about it because it was featured in the movie “You’ve Got Mail” and though it was several blocks from our hotel, we made the short trek. And I’m glad we made that long walk in the cold breeze because the luscious pastries were a sight to behold. Inside the glass case was a variety of different tarts, cheesecakes and other specialty pastries. I ordered this tart with different fruits on top and I liked it. The fruits were sweet and in season and the crust was soft and flaky. It went well with my Chamomile tea. I also tried one of their Italian pastry, the cannoli which I always see in Cake Boss. It was an elongated pastry that was soft with a vanilla filling that is not so sweet. Looking back, I wish I ordered more from that glass case and could have gone back again but we had no time. Maybe next time 😊

Freddie and Peppers

We tried another pizza place before this but this one made a good impression. It was a hole in the wall restaurant with only several tables inside. I ordered the Chicken Ranch and it didn’t disappoint. The Ranch flavor was infused mildly and but still quite tasty. Unlike the other pizza place we tried, this one had more flavor and the crust was well-made. The chicken chunks on top were substantial like the size of its pizza. My husband loved the Pepperoni and also the Buffalo chicken flavor which had a little spice. If this was the standard for New York pizza then I was glad to have tried it and would want to sample it again one day.

Shake Shack

You could not go to New York without having tried this place. This place was always packed so we often go early as in we were always the first customer. We went to the Shake Shack near the American Museum of National History because it was near our hotel. We tried their Shack burger and now I know the hype was real. The patty was tender and had a nice flavor. Their hamburger bun was also soft and the oozing cheese was not overwhelming. But I liked their Shhrom burger a lot. It had a certain texture to it aside from its good flavor. All of the burgers were well-cooked and worth lining up for. Meanwhile, I also liked their crisscut fries because it was crunchy and not oily and my son loved their version of chicken nuggets too.

Citarella

This grocery had a good selection of food-to-go products and was really a godsend to us while we were staying at Hotel Beacon. I usually order the salmon, sometimes grilled and at times steamed. It was always fresh tasting and what a huge slab. They also had different types of salad and I often order their roasted vegetables which was a filling side dish. The various types of food they offer from refreshing salads to delectable dishes and pastas were incredible. It's like a healthy version of a fastfood.

Overall, my New York food experience was good. Yes, I have tried their food trucks too but I’m not keen on writing about it as one of these guys gave me re-heated, hard and oily fries which I demanded to exchange but was given only a slightly improved version of it instead. Anyway, these four places I mentioned were a stand-out for me while I was there and if I was to return again, I hope I can also try one of their Michelin starred restaurants like the ones I see in the Chef’s Table series in Netflix. That would be quite an experience I’m sure 😊

Bohol Bee Farm Ice Cream - A must try in Bohol

I have always heard of Bohol as a tourist destination but I didn’t expect much of it because Boracay had always been on the forefront of the tourist spots. But I think I like the more laid back vibe of Bohol. Though it is teeming with tourists, there are still gems here that I discovered, places that would make me want to return here again.

One of these is the Bohol Bee Farm where we had one of the best ice cream I ever had. Located in Barangay Dauis in Bohol, it is at the heart of a big property where there is a small lodging house and restaurant. The big attraction here is the small ice cream stall with different flavors to choose from.

They have a myriad of flavors but I chose my favorite ube and melon in a cone. It tastes different from the store bought ice cream.  It had a creamy texture to it and not so sweet. It captured an authentic flavor that may be wanting in the commercial ones. The ube ice cream had a lighter color to it unlike the deep purple that we are used to in store bought ice cream while the melon flavor fully tasted like melon not just a tinge of it. It was like melted ice cold melon in a cone. 

Not content with producing quality ice cream, they also have a unique cone made of cassava that is crunchy and tasty and was a good complement to its ice cream. You just appreciate the effort and creativity they have put into their ice cream and ice cream cone. It was something special.

But other than this major branch in Barangay Dauis, I also liked their Buzz Cafe in Alona Beach. It had an overlooking view of the busy beach below, a respite from walking in the hot sun. We also had cassava chips with dips and of course, ice cream for snacks.

I also tasted their mango flavor which was also good but I just like the other flavors better. I forgot their avocado flavor was also as good, creamy and authentic.

I never thought that I would like Bohol this much but after witnessing the  aquamarine waters of Balicasag island and the calming seascape of Bohol Beach Club (BBC), I would want to come back here again but this time maybe longer than three days. By the way, I also loved BBC's Calamansi/Citrus Basil drink. The combination of calamansi with a hint of basil was refreshing, I ordered it all the time we were there. I would also definitely visit the Bohol Bee Farm again to relish their delightful creamy ice cream flavors. But in the meantime, onto other Philippine island adventures 😊 

Kuya J's Pochero Bulalo Tagalog - A sumptuous food discovery

I love Bulalo ever since my bout with pneumonia years ago. My husband brought some of this steaming broth when I was recovering at home. It made me feel stronger and recover faster or maybe it’s just on my mind. Anyway, that time I was glad I was eating something tasty and healthy and not hospital food besides who doesn’t love a good beef bone marrow with all its glutinous goodness. On the other hand, totally opposite from the clear broth of the Bulalo is my other favorite, the rich Pochero. I like it due to sentimental reasons. It was my favorite dish among the other dishes my Lola cooked. I can still remember its simmering thick red orange soup filled with tender meat and sweet saba and beans on top of warm rice. Having Pochero is a taste of my past and of good memories of childhood.

So when I saw a fusion of Bulalo and Pochero in Kuya J’s, it really caught my attention. But I didn’t order it right away because I was little hesitant. I can’t imagine what that would taste like since I have tried a lot of fusion cuisine fails already. But I was curious so I ordered it the next time I went there and I’m glad I did because it did not disappoint. It was a hearty beef stew that contained camote and saba slices, corn and some greens and of course, the awaited bone marrow. It was sumptuous and filling and you can’t seem to just order one cup of rice.

I have ordered this dish twice already. The second time I ordered it, the soup seemed thinner than the first time but still the flavors are the same. But I’d like the thicker version more because the flavors seemed more suffused and decadent. But though the second one was less concentrated, I still enjoyed it with me ordering another cup of rice.

If there was one thing that stood out for me on this dish, it was the depth of its flavors. Maybe because it was slow cooked and the flavors of the saba and the flavors of the meat were steeped well into the soup. It had a hint of tanginess maybe from a little tomato sauce and a hint of sweetness from the saba that added more flavor to it. But aside from its complex flavor profile, the dish also offered a variety of vegetables like fried camote slices, pechay and some corn that gave balance to the hearty flavors. It really was an integration of the Bulalo and Pochero. Their beef was also tender which I liked but the one thing that I looked forward to was the smooth and delicate bone marrow bits lifted inside the bone which has its own flavor that is subtle and almost indescribable. I can’t find an apt description for it other than it tasted like bliss in your tongue and you just want to hoard it all for yourself. You try to eat it sparingly so it can last through the meal. But alas, everything has an ending and the last bite is something you savor and you just tell yourself I will try this dish again.

It's been awhile since I found a dish I enjoyed and this is one of them. But more than the Pocherong Bulalo, I also enjoyed Kuya J’s regular Bulalo, Tortang talong and Fresh lumpia. My son meanwhile likes their roasted chicken.  When I come back, I think I will order this dish again to reminisce the memory of my Lola’s Pochero and at the same time savor the decadence of a good bone marrow to enjoy with friends and family.

A relaxing dining experience in Stilts Calatagan, Batangas

This resort is almost always fully booked that I was so happy when I got a slot even if it was on a Friday in one of their floating cottages. It was named Dreams and it really was dreamy because you can look at the horizon above the water which was a different experience.

We got to Stilts in the afternoon and the sun was almost setting. It was relaxing to see the sunset on a hammock. It made our drive worth it because it took us almost four hours to get there with the traffic in Tagaytay. Anyway, we were famished and so we ordered from their in-room dining menu.

I ordered their binalot, rice meal wrapped in banana leaves, the one with the ginataang gulay and it was good. The vegetables were bathed in light coconut cream and not overcooked. I like that they did not flood the vegetables with coconut milk and restrained its flavor a bit because here you can still taste the flavor of the veggies. With warm rice, it was quite a treat. We also ordered pizza and it was fun eating it near the beach not in front of a TV. The slices were big and the toppings were generous.

Overall, the meal satiated our hunger and relaxed our weary selves from the long trip. Eating on that balcony overlooking the bay was one of my most unique and relaxing dining experience. All you can see is an expanse of water and solitary cottages while the wind touches your face and the sun sets on the horizon.With a view like this and good food, what more can you ask for?