Saturday, August 29, 2015
Karen's Kitchen
This quaint restaurant is a reflection of the owner's personal taste and culinary expertise. Karen's Kitchen is tucked somewhere along San Rafael St. in the East Kapitolyo area, which is famous for its decade-long transformation from sleepy neighborhood to full-fledged culinary community.
The squid with quinoa dish was quite good, and we also liked the baby back ribs, which was tender and very tasty. I was a bit intimidated by the chili topping of the pulled pork pizza though, and I took only a tiny portion, leaving the chili on my plate. My favorite was the mushroom truffle pasta, which was especially good in my view.
The menu is pretty unique, and the meal is best enjoyed over light and no-rush conversation. It takes a little time to prepare some of the dishes, and if you look at the menu board, there are notes to give you an idea of the lead time necessary to complete the preparation. Parking is pretty tight in the area, so it pays to be early if you have an appointment. Prepare for a spending of around P800 per person to get the full dining experience.
If you are lucky enough to meet Karen, I'm sure she will tell you the touching story behind her Detroit Jewel stove. This is a beautiful turn-of-the 20th-century cast iron stove which she purchased online as a decorative centerpiece for the restaurant (note that before Detroit was motor town, the city was known as stove-town). The previous owner's son had passed away, and the ensuing correspondence between the seller and the buyer formed a bond of friendship that moves the listener's heart. A story of home, family, and where you belong.
Jin Jiang Inn
My search for a place in the Ortigas area to book some relatives on holiday brought me to the Jin Jiang Inn along San Miguel Avenue. The building was formerly known as the Medical City Hospital and the property has been refurbished to house the Chinese hotel brand. Introductory prices aren't bad at the P3,000 range for a room for two; I must say that it has a very good location for a budget hotel. This is probably an indication of the latent strength of the Chinese tourist market; I think some local businessmen are looking forward to a growth in Chinese tourist arrivals once an amiable diplomatic solution to the dispute on the west Philippine Sea can be forged. My guess--other regional hotel brands will also be coming into the local market over the next few years. Let's open our doors to more tourist arrivals!
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