February 19, 2009
Walk and Eat at Binondo, Manila
These Binondo walks and other tours around the city of Manila have become a famous adventure especially for those who live in Manila yet have not gone through every nook and cranny of the old city. More exciting it is for those who's visiting Manila for the first time.
It all started with an exciting discussion about these tours when one of our volunteers readily offered himself to take us on a tour around Binondo for free! What started as a small talk topic blossomed into a reality. Surprised was he when there were 14 of us who turned up at the meeting place last Saturday afternoon.
Starting from the Sta. Cruz Church where we were reprimanded since some of us were in inappropriate church clothes, we snaked our way towards Ongpin to small bakeries along Salazar. We stopped on our way for a sip of sugarcane juice, which indeed tasted authentic sugarcane. One tip here, share food as much as you can so you will get to taste every bit of food your eyes, and your pocket, can feast into.
Our volunteer guide, Jude, took us to Waiying fastfood where we had a fill of mami and dumplings. Then we went back to Ongpin, stopping again in bakeries and passing by the Estero. Construction activities are aplenty in Chinatown which made the walking tour a bit of a challenge. It was like getting into Amazing Race.
Of course, we couldn't miss the famous Binondo Church and the main Eng Bee Tin branch. That street was just so violet that even the fire truck came out to be a big violet truck and not the standard red fire truck. Next stop was Tasty Dumplings trying the famous Silver Roll Bread and other dumplings that they could offer.
Carvajal St. was like that alley in Harry Potter which seemed to be kept from the public. It wasn't a street at all but just a "lagusan" or a small passage between two buildings. Yet, you'd be surprised that there are so many stuffs sold in this little walkway.
With 14 people in tow, Jude led us to Recto and unto Ambos Mundos Restaurant, a Spanish restaurant that has been around since the 19th century. Three generations have passed and the restuarant is still in its great form. One of the ladies there serving us have been with the restaurant for more than 60 years! And yep, you'll find three charcoal-black Vietnamese pigs by the doorway.
So, how much do you know of Manila? For the many times I've been there touring the newspapers in my past job I have come to know of this small siopao shop near Paco Park. You can also visit the Indian grocery stores and coffee shops at UN Avenue, just across Unilever. Instituto Cervantes found its new home at the Casino Espanol building along Kalaw Ave., behind the Masagana supermarket. The Pantalan near the Quirino Grandstand have various restaurants. Try a romantic dinner aboard Tenessee Walker which will take you along the bay. I still love Wok Inn near Malate Church.
Manila has so much to offer but they are taken for granted. You can start at Chinatown in Binondo and you'll enjoy a food trip of your life.
Posted by clairealgarme at February 19, 2009 01:47 PM
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