Another interesting discovery in this mall is a mysterious shop called “Our Big Little Store“.  Actually, it was really so unnoticeable that I only found out the name of the store after I went out and already bought stuff from it.  Going inside, reminded me of small Oriental or even Filipino stores abroad, stores we call “Tokos” back in the Netherlands.  It was also a surprise to see that they were also serving food deli-style and that there are dining tables hidden to the right of the store.    Their menu includes some of the most interesting I’ve found in a while:  they have Balut Soup, Pigeon Soup, soups with Chinese-sounding names I don’t recognize, Adobo Egg, huge siomais, huge fresh Lumpias, wrapped takeouts of barbecue, sushi, siopao A (Asado) and siopao B (Bola Bola) funny I was even that stupid to ask what A and B where. hehe.  Let’s just say, they will see the likes of me again  sooner than later.  At first, it was kind of chaotic for there were too many people ordering but I was patient enough to wait and I took the chance to observe a bit.  Next thing I knew,  a lady already approached me to take my order (somehow reminded me of the Apple store in New York haha) ! Wow! I’m impressed

A few blocks away was my next stop.  It was the JT’s Manukan Grill I have long been hearing about.  I’ve heard and read good reviews of their Chicken Inasal.  By the way this store is owned by renowned Filipino actor Joel Torre.  When I got there,  I saw that the store was in a corner and lit up well.  It was open air — beer garden style.  Anyways, I looked at the menu and was pleasantly surprised how affordable it was: 88 Pesos for a Pecho! That’s the size of half a chicken.  It did not include rice but still, it still is a bargain.  I ended up ordering  Pecho and Chicken Wings to go.  The wait took longer than expected (about 15 minutes?).   While waiting I noticed that there were several interesting stores next to it.  Next door is Ferino’s Bibingka — a favorite of me and MrC and the one next to that is a mom and pop cake shop and another one in front was a Pancit Malabon.  It is also interesting to know then that it was the same area where I bought our Christmas Lantern (Parol) last year.  What an interesting place!

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Post tags: Gilmore, New Manila

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One time, MrC went to the local small grocery.  Before he left he asked me if I wanted anything.  I asked for any kind of Filipino ice cream: any ice cream which he finds exotic-sounding.   While in there he called up my mobile and told me he only found one flavor: the Selecta Quezo Real.  I said, “sure please get it!”

Up to now, I still find it surprising that Cheese Ice Cream is classified among the weirdest and more alternative type of ice cream flavors.  To us Filipinos, it is just a regular ice cream because we grew up eating this flavor.  When I lived in the US I was kind of disappointed to only find ice cream flavors that are mostly in variants of chocolate, vanilla, coffee, and strawberry!

Here in the Philippines, one can find the following ice cream flavors:

Halo-halo: based on the local favorite cold dessert which means Mixed up.  It includes fruit bits such as langka, bananas, and coconut meat products, mixed with yam, flan, beans, topped with crushed ice and milk.

Ube: This is a purple colored ice cream which is based from sweetened purple yams which is called halaya in Tagalog.

Sweet Corn: This yummy flavored ice cream tastes like, you guessed it, corn, with real corn bits.  It is also based probably on the local cold dessert called mais con yelo (corn on ice) which is a mixture of corn, milk, sugar and crushed ice.

Macapuno: I have always remembered this as my grandmother’s favorite.  I think this flavor has a long history indeed. Macapuno is simply sweetened shredded coconut meat.  The ice cream is plain white like vanilla but has that creamy coconut taste and bits of the sweetened shredded coconut meat.  Simply unforgettable!

Nangkasoy: jackfruit and cashew ice cream.  I haven’t really tasted this for years but I remember this was also one of my childhood favorites.

Durian:  I believe this is a new flavor which I have yet to try.  This is based on a fruit that is abundant in the city of Davao.

Tsokonut (or Chocnut): this is based on a unique Filipino candy that is like coconut and chocolate flavored and a bit powdery but for some reason stays solid.. anyway, you can compare it to an American candy called Reese’s.

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Post tags: ice cream

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