Lardo-wrapped smoked prawns, remoulade and cucumber. $16
Park Tavern, San Francisco CA
It’d be really easy for me to complain that these cost sixteen bucks, but then it was pretty darn tasty! They had me at lard-wrapped smoked prawns. There was SO much flavor in every bite (even though there were very few bites). 🙂
Alpine Lake, Mt. Tamalpais Watershed.
Served with bread and Vietnamese coffee with milk. 35,000 VND
Pink Tulip Hotel, Ho Chi Minh City VIETNAM
The sweet hotel server asked if I wanted one side or two sides which I figured was regarding how I wanted my eggs fried. I said two sides. What I didn’t know was that the cook literally just flips the egg before plating so it was WAY over easy (too over easy for my taste). I quickly learned for the next time, hehe!
Party boat on the Saigon River.
Deep fried breaded squid rings served with aioli. 198 PHP
Chelu Bar and Grill, Manila PHILIPPINES
Meh, these were ok. At least they weren’t overdone, hard or chewy.
Fountain at the Plaza Nuestra Senora de Guia, Ermita, Manila.
Tiger beer and Saigon beer. I liked all the beers I tried in Vietnam. They were all the on the light side and super easy to drink.
Cafe Thi, Ho Chi Minh City VIETNAM
This bar had some great cover bands play beginning at 10pm! They sang a nice variety of songs that the entire crowd could get into. The acoustics in the place was pretty bad though.
Margarita and gin and tonic. The cocktails in Ho Chi Minh as a whole weren’t very good, but Cafe Thi did make a pretty good margarita. It was weird that they served it in a small martini glass though. I need my booze! 🙂
Bonsai planters along the Saigon River.
Sweet and sour meatballs, fried rice, ham, kielbasa sausage, scrambled eggs, raspberry cream cheese pastry. Complimentary
Best Western Hotel La Corona, Manila PHILIPPINES
For a complimentary breakfast buffet at a Best Western, I was impressed that they tried to have variety every morning. The food was ok, but they didn’t keep any of it very warm. The bacon was the best part because it’s cooked to order upon request to a waiter.
Bacon.
Crab and corn soup.
Mango juice and orange juice.
Coffee.
National Shrine of Saint Michael and the Archangels, Malacanan, Manila.
With preserved elderberries.
Incanto, San Francisco CA
Meh, I wasn’t too impressed by this dessert. I appreciated the delicate bay leaf flavor of the panna cotta, but I felt that the texture was way too soft like it’d been sitting out for too long.
Christmas camellia (Camellia sasanqua, Theaceae), Castro.
Banh khot tom. Served with assorted greens for wrapping. 84,000 VND
Bamboo Garden, Ho Chi Minh City VIETNAM
This was a new dish for me. I didn’t know what to expect when I read “Vietnamese pancake”, but it sure wasn’t these thick delicious morsels. They had a soft, almost custardy texture but were more firm and savory. The shrimp were a little overcooked though.
Omg! And I certainly didn’t expect an entire bowl of all these greens for wrapping around the pancakes before dipping them into the sweetened fish sauce mixture. Although I didn’t know what everything was, they sure tasted great!
Tran Hung Dao statue and new high rise construction.
Meh, these did the job of something to eat before a night of clubbing. I’m not sure where the chips went though. But then again, I didn’t order. My friend did all the ordering in Tagalog which I can’t really speak or understand. I’m such a bad Filipino, lol! 238 PHP
Chelu Bar and Grill, Manila PHILIPPINES
AERA Memorial Museum, Villa Escudero, San Pablo City.
Cari vit. With potatoes, and served with fresh basil and French baguette. 75,000 VND
Duck Deli, Ho Chi Minh City VIETNAM
Mmm, this duck curry was SO good. I actually loved all the bones and skin still attached to the duck. It’s so much more flavorful and fun to eat that way. And how can you deny the bread in Vietnam?! I definitely gained a few pounds on this trip.
Bitexco Financial Tower.
With scrambled eggs, sauteed mushrooms, tomato, fruit, sweet roll, dinner roll. Complimentary
San Francisco (SFO) to Manila (MNL), Philippine Airlines
I’m sure most people wouldn’t think of chicken adobo as a breakfast meal item, but it is, lol! I don’t think there’s much difference in the kinds of foods that Filipinos eat for different meals. I’m all for it!
Street murals, Ayala Blvd, Manila.
With candied carrot and caramel.
Incanto, San Francisco CA
This carrot cake was moist and delicious with a great carrot-y flavor. The caramel sauce put it over the top! Noms!
Redwood trees, Bon Tempe Lake.
Fried rice with shrimp, calamari. 114,000 VND
Bamboo Garden, Ho Chi Minh City VIETNAM
This dish was OK. The seafood was actually pretty tender and flavorful, but the dish as a whole was kinda boring. They actually just scooped the fried rice into the clay pot before serving. I thought that it was gonna be cooked in it so that there would be crispy rice at the bottom, but that didn’t happen. 😦
Caipirinha: dark rum, lime, and sugar. Two for 85,000 VND
Long Island Iced Tea: tequila, gin, rum, vodka, triple sec, coke, and lemon.
Saigon Opera House (Municipal Theater of Ho Chi Minh City).
Vittle Monster 