4/7/10
Wanted to try this place back in March when Mom and I spotted an ad mentioning Filipino food in the plaza, but we'd already eaten pho, so had to wait until the next shopping opportunity brought us to this area again. Met the very warm and friendly owners-- we really do wish them great success!
Since it was almost closing time, the food items in the buffet, and there weren't many to choose from, didn't look interesting, so we decided to try the pork skewers (the recipe of which the husband and wife team were very proud of), as well as the liempo (pork belly) serving that called out to Mom. A combo plate of these two items also came with rice and achara (pickled papaya and carrots). I also ordered one piece of saba at langka [saba bananas (or in this case, plantains) and jackfruit, wrapped in lumpia wrapper and deep-fried].
The wait for our food took longer than I expected, but it wasn't too much of an issue since Mom took awhile to do the groceries. The wait, however, was worth it! I really enjoyed the pork barbecue skewers- the flavors really took me back to my childhood in the Philippines, when street food, already a daily ritual for us then (and just now gaining popularity stateside) had us sampling BBQ, fried fishballs (and the many different sauces to dip them in!), steamed rolled rice and tuber pancakes, ripe and sour mangoes (the latter eaten with bagoong (very tiny salted shrimp) or vinegar and garlic, and "dirty" ice cream, to name a few from food carts that were to be seen all over Metro Manila and around colleges (grammar schools) and universities ("colleges" here). Writing about those pork skewers actually make me want to stop at Mekong Plaza now, instead of going for Italian or French food I was considering earlier! The liempo, on the other hand, I could've gone without; I remember thinking that we should've just ordered a double of the BBQ! The skewers were just more flavorful than the pork belly pieces. While Mom enjoyed the liempo, she did agree that the BBQ was were the money was at, and the owners really did have something to be proud of!
Let's not forget the dessert! On second thought, maybe we should. First, I didn't care for the presentation. Take a gander at the photos, and you'll see what I mean. Second, it wasn't very sweet. Not even sweet enough. See that pool of caramel sauce the turon rested on? I did not leave a single drop on the plate! Not because it was so delicious, but because the roll really needed the added punch. Mom already knew it wasn't going to be anything to write home about, just by looking at the offering, but did wait till I took a couple of bites before saying "I should've just bought the ingredients at Mekong and made you those at home!" My sentiments exactly, Mommy dearest!
Oh, but the pork BBQ! Run and try some now! read more