A get together was
planned by one of the ladies in a group that I have joined here in the village.
This particular tour came in sections: 1. A Food Wok tour (a sampling of food
in various restaurants in Chinatown) 2. Chinese Cemetery tour or 3. Both
After reading
Joanna’s blurb on Facebook, I will just be completely honest and tell you I had
no intentions of joining the Food Wok tour. Let me take that honesty to another
level and just mention that I had been bit by the Filipino tummy (like Mexico’s
Montezuma's revenge). No way, Jose, was I
going on any food excursion! All it took was my friend, Jane, tapping
the seat saying, “Sit down, honey, let’s talk. You will love it. Come along.” No, I won’t love it, but okay. I never was
really good with peer pressure, so I signed up for both tours. On the morning
of the tour, I told my helper I was heading out on a Chinese food tour and then
to the cemetery. She giggled and asked, “Why ma’am?” My response, “Honestly,
Marites, I don’t know.” And off I went…with about 25 of my newest friends.
The Big Binondo Food Wok
The group gathers at the Ramada Inn in Chinatown.
It was the week of Chinese New Year, so the area was quite decorated.
Our first stop lead us down this alleyway. I wasn't so sure I wanted to turn.
Dish one: Freshly wrapped spring roll with carrots, cabbage, peanuts, tofu, shrimp stock, seaweed, pork. (Also known as Lumpia.) Not bad.
The second restaurant was located in the market area.
It was in this market area that I became aware that I may need to work on my facial expressions. In a normal situation, my "relaxed face" isn't all smiles. When I can FEEL myself frowning and my eyebrows raised, I know my look isn't pleasant!
Okay, but who would smile at this?! I don't even think they were on ice!
Our tour guide is giving us the history on the restaurant. It was opened in 1968 by a 60 year old woman!
Dish two: A tofu dish that is deep fried and sits on sweetened soy sauce. The guide said, "Put a slice on your plate with a little bit of black sauce, little bit of chili sauce and watch it explode in your mouth." I was just hoping it wouldn't explode OUT of my mouth!
At this restaurant, we also had egg noodles (with satay sauce, beef and local spinach) and meat pie (with chives, veggies, pork, tofu). I didn't catch the Chinese names for any of these dishes. Not my favorite
Stop three: A dumplings (jiaozi) restaurant. It serves food that is influenced by the Northern region of China.
Everything is made in house. They even grind their own meat.
Speaking of meat...this was sitting in a chair that we walked right by to go up the stairs to be seated. And let the gagging begin! Notice the legs of the person sitting at the very next table!
Food Prep
When we sat at the table, I was CERTAIN bugs were all over this jar! Actually, they were chili flakes in their house made chili oil (that was probably prepared by that guy chopping the meat).
This time of year, the dumplings are made to look like a gold coin. Yummy
Chinese pancake: yummy
Our tour guide wouldn't tell us what this was until we tried it. Not this chic. I waited it out. He joked and mentioned Chicken feet. Not cool. I may have liked it had I not seen the bowl of chicken downstairs.
The view going downstairs.
The reason I joined this portion of the tour was because of Jane (in black). Her lovely parents were in town visiting (sitting just to the left). This was near the end of the tour, my belly was still okay and I actually was enjoying myself. Thanks Jane!
I didn't catch the name of this dish. Our funny tour guide joked again and mentioned Balut. If you don't know what it is, look it up.
Yeah, no.
Probably my favorite dish! It was a cold soup with mango and tapioca. YUMMY!
Chinese Cemetery Walk
I was not sure what
to expect from the Chinese Cemetery tour. It did not disappoint! Imagine
walking through a neighborhood, only there are no live bodies living in the
houses. I was fascinated by the history and the set up!
The first mausoleum that we came upon. Or at least the first one in my pictures.
Apparently this mausoleum comes with a guard dog.
The outside of one mausoleum....
...and the inside.
Touring the "neighborhood".
Sometimes loved ones move away...and they don't leave anyone behind. Seriously.
If you strain your eyes, behind the gate of this mausoleum you will see the portrait of a man and his TWO wives.
Here is another man that also had two wives. The red sign shows that one of the wives is still living.
Four portraits=husband with three wives.
Some of the structures were pretty amazing!
This one caught my eye because in lieu of flowers, this man has cans of food.
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