Sunday, September 09, 2007 The lure of food By Stella Estremera Goin' places
I USED to be satisfied with just stuffing myself with durian and then dozing off, satisfied, not thinking of any other food. I don't even usually take it with soft drinks as others are wont to do. Until this darn buddy of mine introduced the idea of gorging on cheap barbecue afterwards. It was like my taste buds shouting, "Voila!"
The taste of sinful ulam after durian got the taste buds' approval... and the rest is history -- including the flabs that are rushing toward my thighs as the durian season rages on, seemingly not wanting to stop yet (the flabs and the durian harvest).
Wednesday afternoon the craving for durian became unbearable, beamed at Nelson as I passed his cubicle and urged him to accompany me. I managed to grab Dengdeng as well promising her a durian feast and coffee afterwards. We met up at Durian Paradise along Torres Street at some time past 5 p.m. and feasted on two huge and one small native durian. Burp!
But that's durian. The taste buds were already shouting for "ulam." Deng suggested just going over across the street and eat barbecue. I said I can't waste time eating at a place I already tried and that we needed to seek out a new place (and you think this job of finding a place to eat every week is easy, right?).
We agreed on this new place just behind Gaisano Mall (I think that's supposed to be called de Guzman Street although that's really the tail-end of Guerrero Street except for this habit of Davao officials to put different names to continuous road stretches (like Lapu-Lapu Street becoming R. Castillo Street at the portion where it's at its straightest and Bolton Street suddenly becoming Rep. Chavez as it passes through the SP Building, to the consternation of Dabawenyos who know Chavez Street as that street with the lechon out there near Uyanguren and the street now called Rep. Chavez as simply Bolton Extension, which makes more sense really).
We're digressing...
The new place is called Metro Avenue. It's an interior lot spruced up to hold many small spaces (3m x 3m in size), more than 30 of them, but now has only four occupants at present. Being an interior lot with no parking, it's best for people like us... car-less people that is.
We walked in to see businessman Ruben Bangayan driving out.
"Bangayan pa rin ito?" We asked each other.
Right at the entrance portion is a coffee shop that marine environment concerns buddy Arcel once mentioned as a place that's nice to hold quiet meetings in. It's all alone at present. Further in are the three other occupied stalls -- all serving food.
Dengdeng pointed to the one with a big group of students offering regular student food -- popular Pinoy pasta, chips, sandwiches, whatever...
The other looks like it serves sizzling stuff.
My durian bingeing tastebuds that have just recently been introduced to eating ulam" after gorging on durian wanted "ulam."
The third stall seems to offer it -- "Grub". Grub as in food. And the place has a long list of ulam too, plus some with rice combinations (toppings and katsudon stuff).
No rice, I just want ulam.
I picked out their Hot Chix described as Hong Kong style fried chicken wings with hot chili sauce dip and added Kangkong with Chinese Bagoong. Deng got the beef tapa, while Nelson got the Sizzling Bangus with Indian mayonnaise.
We were served by this lady who appears to be the owner as well who had this group of ladies -- apparently her barkada -- munching on ripe sampaloc.
Now the food...
When Grub said their Hot Chix is Hongkong style fried chicken, they meant it.
Don't expect the likes of McDo, KFC, Jollibee, even Davao's favorite greaseless chicken style. This one is definitely Chinese, with that distinct taste of Chinese spice -- must be star anise. Meaning, if you are looking for a taste of Binondo, then go try this. But if you are craving for those crispy outside and juicy inside Pinoy favorite fried chicken, then this is not for you.
The tapa is also more Chinese than Pinoy. The chili hot suka tuba that goes with it emphasizing the different taste once you dip the meat slice in. The kangkong... it was okay sana, except that it wasn't done over easy and was on the soggy side. (I like my kangkong still bright green with a crunch left, but maybe that's a personal preference). I didn't get a real good taste of Nelson's bangus though. The mayonnaise toppings were a bit on the sweet side.
Halfway through our meal, Deng and I realized our craving was just "takaw-tingin." We were so full, our eyes were drooping.
We tried to eat up the rest of the food, but our tummies have already given up. Add to the fact that it was threatening to rain, we decided to go home.
We left the place at 7:30 p.m., stuffed, groaning to the very limits of our already corpulent tummies, and sleepy.
"Sabi mo kasi kape lang," Dengdeng reminded me. Haaay!
By the way, the Grub owner confirmed. The property is owned by Ruben Bangayan.
Another by the way... if you find time to drop by, please help us solve this puzzle.
Across the street from Metro Avenue is a parking area of tricycles of sorts where an electric post has this sign tacked on it. Just your regular "Wanted Boarders" sign that you see all over the city.
But this one says:
Accept Lady Boarders
w/ room P650
clean P450
Interpreters needed, please…
