Ramen in Taipei

Everyone has certain dishes that always bring them immediate comfort and satisfaction. For me, that's in a great bowl of ramen. But, when the bowl is below average or even average, I don't get those same feelings. I need that ramen to be above average - creamy tonkotsu broth or a rich miso broth with noodles that are cooked to the perfect chew. Instant comfort and happiness with every bite, drink, or slurp.

Taipei is a city filled with Japanese influence, especially in the restaurant scene. So when I walked by a ramen restaurant with pictures of tempting chasu shoyu tonkotsu ramen (soy sauce-pork bone broth ramen with pork belly), I had to try this place out.

Ramen Sanji at the new ATT4Fun mall in Taipei's Xin Yi district attracts long lines of hungry ramen fans. So this had to be a good place, right?

It was just slightly above average for me. Better than places I've so far tried here in Manila, but not as good as my favorite ramen joints in the states.

The broth was on the oily side and didn't pack the creaminess I was expecting from a tonkotsu broth. The chasu was decent but not as melt in your mouth. The noodles, however, were a standout. They had that nice chewy, al dente bite.

Place your cursor above "Notes" below to read the captions for each photo.

If you can't see the slide show here, check out my Flickr album: Ramen ATT4fun

Local Taiwanese in Taipei

Travel global, eat local. Aside from traveling to see architecture, history, and culture, I travel to eat. Wherever you go, the best food you can taste is the local food. Authenticity at its core.

It wasn't until the past 2 years of Asian traveling that I really discovered the true tastes of these Asian cuisines. There are numerous restaurants and talents around the world that make these cuisines authentic. But, to savor the dishes in its homeland is the true experience.

Taipei quickly became and remains one of my favorite food cities. Local eats, Japanese, bakeries... it's too easy to gain weight in a single day.

Whenever you visit Taipei, you must fulfill 2 requirements: local food and Din Tai Fung.

Place your cursor above "Notes" below to read the captions for each photo.

If you can't see the slide show here, check out my Flickr album: Local Taiwanese

Delayed in Hong Kong. Thank goodness for Cathay Pacific's lounge!

Flight delays are a real pain. I just want to get to my destination city or settle in at home.

But, if I had to be delayed anywhere, Hong Kong International Airport is not at all a bad place to spend idle time waiting, and waiting.

And, it helps (a lot) that I chill out at the Cathay Pacific Lounges. All are renovated - meaning, clean bathrooms and showers.

The food and drinks (yes, even alcohol) are free flowing. So getting delayed during dinner time was not a bad thing at all, especially since Cathay airplane food isn't as good as it used to be..

Of all the lounges, I love The Wing because of its many area. The Bar, The Coffee Bar, and my favorite, The Noodle Bar.

Champagne, a couple of local Tsing Taos, a couple of comforting noodle soups, and a fresh sweet custard bun. All that with free Wi-Fi and charging stations - I'm happy to be delayed a little while.

If you can't see the slide show, check out my Flickr album: CX Lounge

Brunch at Stormies in Hong Kong

Planning for a weekend lunch in Hong Kong almost naturally implies dim sum or brunch. When I'm meeting up with my best friend who is native to Hong Kong, that always means brunch.

Because my flight back home to Manila was in a few hours, I opted not to go to SoHo and stay closer to my hotel. 100+ floors below the Ritz is Elements Mall with many excellent restaurant choices.

Since the rains had yet to descend, we preferred to dine al fresco at Stormies. Of the 8 restaurants on that outdoor section, they had the most appealing brunch/lunch special - 2 courses & coffee/tea for 98 HKD (just over 12 USD).

Along with a couple of spicy Bloody Marys, this was a most delightful setting and meal for a quiet brunch with a longtime friend.

Place your cursor above "Notes" below to read the captions for each photo.

If you can't see the slide show, check out my Flickr album: Stormies HK

My Top 10 Caesar Salads in Manila, as featured on Spot.ph

The day has arrived - I've been published!

Over the course of 2-3 weeks I ate my way around Manila searching for the Top 10 Caesar Salads this city has to offer. And here it is published on spot.ph.

Thank you, spot.ph for this opportunity!