Zoy's Top 5: 2019 Dishes and Meals (Honorable Mentions)
Last week, I gave you my Top 5 food destinations and museums, galleries, and tours for 2019. Today, I will give you my favorite dishes and meals of the past year.
Unlike last week’s lists, my selection is done more methodically (I feel smart using this word! LOL.). I have an objective and a subjective criteria. Objectively, the dish or meal has to be flavorful (meaning, it has different flavors) and has a variety of textures. They are the ones I refer to as “a world of flavors and textures.” But I will make a few exceptions to those that blew my mind away in spite of the lack thereof.
Subjectively, the dish or meal has to be enjoyable, something that is forever etched in my memory and making me want to have more of it. Well, it wouldn’t make this list if I didn’t enjoy it.
But choosing only 5 is a tough one. So I’m cheating a bit by giving you 5 honorable mentions! LOL.
So starting with Top 10…
10. Burgers at Shake Shack (Metro Manila, Philippines)
Shake Shack, the iconic burger chain from New York, has finally opened in Manila. It opened its first branch back on May and another one on December. I’ve never been to any Shake Shack abroad. But once I tried its burgers, I was immediately thankful that the American chain graced the Philippines with its burger goodness!
I have already tried two of Shake Shack’s burgers. One is the ShackBurger, which is their classic cheeseburger with lettuce, tomato, and their signature ShackSauce, sandwiched in their signature potato bun. Of course, I had to add applewood smoked bacon to my burger.
The classic Shack Burger with add-on Applewood Smoked Bacon (Single: P250 plus P115 for the bacon)
I could say that it’s the best burger I have ever had. The patty was juicy, the potato bun was buttery, and the bacon was perfectly thin and crisp. It would be the perfect burger if only it had caramelized onions in it!
The other burger I tried was the ShackStack, which is a combination of the ShackBurger and the ‘Shroom Burger, their meat-free burger consisting of a deep-fried portobello mushroom filled with melted muenster and cheddar cheese. I liked this more than the classic ShackBurger because of the mushroom. Once I bit on it, the cheese started oozing!
ShackStack (P545)
Related Article: Shake Shack: Finally in Manila!
BGC Branch: G/F Central Square, Bonifacio High Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City, Philippines | Operating Hours: Sunday-Thursday, 11AM-10PM; Friday & Saturday, 11AM-11PM
SM Megamall Branch: G/F Mega Fashion Hall, SM Megamall, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City, Philippines | Operating Hours: Daily, 10AM-10PM | Facebook | Website
9. SuTuKil at STK ta Bay! at Paolito’s Seafood House (Cebu City, Philippines)
SuTuKil refers to any fish cooked in 3 ways: Sugba (grilled), Tula or Tuwa (stew), and Kilaw (raw seafood bathed in vinegar). There is an abundance of SuTuKil places in Cebu as it is an island. In Cebu City, one of the best spots is STK ta Bay! at Paolito’s Seafood House.
For fish, I had the tanigue or tangigue (a kind of mackerel). The grilled portion is nicely firm. The kilaw is not too sour as I expected and has a crunch and slight sweetness coming from the onions and tomatoes. Interestingly, the kilaw has no chillies.
Grilled Tanigue
Kinilaw na Tanigue
My favorite is the stew. It has generous chunks of nicely firm fish, swimming with onions and tomatoes in a light, comforting broth. It also has kangkong (water spinach), which adds a nice leafiness (and a feeling of healthiness!) to the dish.
Tanigue Stew
8. Claypot Rice at Lian He Ben Ji Claypot (Singapore)
Claypot Chicken Rice (or simply Claypot Rice) is a popular Chinese dish in Malaysia and Singapore (and in Southern China, most notably Guangzhou and Hong Kong). With this dish, the rice is cooked in a claypot. Then other ingredients (chicken, Chinese sausage, salted fish, and vegetables) are added. It’s served with dark soya sauce and its most interesting feature is the burnt rice on the bottom of the claypot.
Lian He Ben Ji Claypot is one of the best claypot rice hawkers in all of Singapore. I can tell it’s a great hawker because there’s a long queue (it took me an hour and 10 minutes!), has a Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition, and Mark Wiens loved it! I tried their claypot rice on my first visit to Singapore. But I already forgot how it tasted so I thought of visiting again. I got the Mixed Rice SGD8 portion, which I finished easily.
Lian He Ben Ji Claypot’s Mixed Rice (SGD8)
The rice has a nice burnt flavor and crunch. The chicken is tender and the sausage is nicely sweet. The vegetables give a nice crunch and the coriander on the side adds a refreshing taste. There’s also a nice saltiness to the dish, similar to a salted fish.
By the way, if you visit Lian He Ben Ji, also try their Watercress Pork Rib Soup (SGD2.50). Its broth tastes simple and leafy. But the pork rib is incredibly tender! I easily munched on its cartilage!
Related Article: The Amazing Hawker Food of Chinatown Complex Food Centre
Address: #02-198 & 199, Chinatown Complex Food Centre, Smith St., Singapore | Operating Hours: Friday-Wednesday, 4:30-PM-11PM
7. Biryani Rice at Allaudin’s Briyani (Singapore)
Biryani (also spelled briyani) is a dish made of fragrant rice and usually served with a protein, typically chicken and mutton. It originated from the Indian subcontinent and is a common dish among Muslim Indians. It made it’s way to the Malay Peninsula, where it is locally called Nasi Biryani. As you would expect of any Indian food, it’s flavored with many spices, making it one of my favorite Indian dishes!
Allaudin’s Briyani’s Mutton Biryani (SGD6)
One of my favorite places to get this dish in Singapore is at Allaudin’s Briyani. I tried their mutton version because they’re known for it. Its rice is fluffy and flavorful, with an added crunch from cashews. It comes with a generous serving of mutton, which is slide-off-the-bone tender. Its also accompanied with papadums (a crispy cracker) and zucchini which add a nice crunch to the dish, and a boiled egg which add creaminess.
A bowl of curry is served on the side, which I don’t know what it’s for. The dish is already flavorful; I guess it’s to add another layer of flavor. There’s also a kick of spice coming somewhere.
Related Article: Little India Food Crawl Part 1 (Hawker Food at Tekka Centre)
Address: #01-229 Tekka Centre, Bukit Timah Rd. cor. Serangoon Rd., Rochor, Singapore | Operating Hours: Daily, 9AM-8PM
6. Peranakan Food at Nancy’s Kitchen (Malacca, Malaysia)
Peranakans are of a mixed ethnicity. They have a Chinese (or Indian) and Malay descent. So just imagine the fusion of the cuisines. In Malacca, Malaysia, where there is a high concentration of Peranakan people, one of the best restaurants serving Peranakan cuisine is Nancy’s Kitchen.
My friends and I tried several dishes:
Ayam Buah Keluak (Chicken with Black Nut): This is a Peranakan classic with a unique Indonesian fruit—the black nut. The fruit has a paste that requires scooping. I’m not sure how to describe the taste of the paste, but it certainly has a interesting (starchy?) mouth-feel.
Ayam Buah Keluak (left) and Ikan Gerang Assam (right)
Ikan Gerang Assam (Fish in Tamarind Sauce): This reminds me of asam pedas which I tried earlier, as it has a nice sour and spicy broth. It also has okra that adds some crunch. Although the restaurant’s menu clarifies that it is not to be mistaken for the local asam pedas.
Nasi Goreng Petai Cili Garam (Fried Rice with Bitter Beans): This is a typical fried rice with another unique ingredient—bitter beans or stink beans. The stink beans have a nice funk to it. Don’t worry; it doesn’t smell as strong as durian.
Ngioh Hiang: Minced pork flavored with Chinese five-spice powder and wrapped in bean curd skin. It’s similar to the Filipino-Chinese pork kikiam.
Rendang Daging (Beef Rendang): Beef stewed in coconut milk and dry spices. Truly a Malay classic!
Related Article: Malacca Food Trip: Eating My Way in Malaysia’s Historic City
Address: 13, 13-1, 13-2 Jalan KL 3/8, Taman Kota Laksamana, Melaka, Malaysia | Operating Hours: Sunday-Thursday, 11AM-5PM; Friday, Saturday, & Public Holiday: 11AM-9PM | Facebook | Website
Which of my honorable mentions have you tried or would like to try? How was your experience? Comment them below!
Other entries in the Zoy’s Top 5 2019 Compilation Special: Food Destinations | Galleries, Museums, and Tours