What Sir Beng would eat: Phuongs (Vietnamese in LB)

Phuong's is that place you go to if you want that hole in the wall vibe and if you don't mind waiting for your food. It has a carinderia set-up and there's only one person doing everything. If you don't want to wait for a very long time for your food, order in advance or go here during "non-peak hours". We were lucky we were the only customers there (we came at around 2pm). 

                                                       

The place's is quite small. It could fit in probably three groups of four. But it does manage to make you feel you are in Vietname partly due to the fact that its really hidden and the place looks like a house converted to a carinderia. You can even see her small kitchen from outside. Even Rex's kitchen at home is thrice its size. And she makes everything by herself. Plus points for her multi-tasking skills. I'll keep her in mind whenever I complain a lot that "running your restaurant is so hard".  Since she tends to all the orders and cooks everything herself, remember to be a bit considerate.

Here's a rundown of Rex's choices. He just broke the "three dishes per resto" rule:

 #5 Spring Rolls P80

#16: Fresh Vermicelli with Sauteed Shrimps P100

#24 Sauteed Vegetables and Taro Stems P80

#4: Chicken Noodle Soup P120

 #10 Fresh Lumpia with Pork and Shrimps P150

Here's my mom getting all giddy.

And manong's such a sport, he ate the spicy Vietnamese soup. Just don't go crazy with the spicy condiments. It is really hot! The herb that they use are fresh. Basil has its punch! You can even smell it when eating your fresh lumpia. The real deal for Vietnamese food lovers. Plus, its cheaper than Pho Hoa. :)

Here's the menu if you want to check the place out:

The place is located at a narrow street on the right of Lopez street. If you see Vhec Store go right.
Everything's made to order. You can order in advance so you don't have to wait for it. She makes everything in her small kitchen : 09297028421.

Los Banos on a Plate

It's my 24th birthday and what better way to celebrate it than go on a road trip with my family and boyfriend.  My dad wanted to explore Laguna so I decided we NEED to drop at Los Banos! LB will always have a special place in my heart because I spent two months there for an IP project back in high school. My friends and I would walk the school grounds, us feeling like "college kids" staying in the dorm and hitting the laboratory. Sadly, that experience didn't convince me that I should be in the sciences (I've never been good at laboratory works and I'll forever be the clumsy one).
I digress too much. So around by the time we were there I was so set on trying out  five establishments:

Order as follows:
1. D Original Buko Pie
2. Nings Thai Restaurant
3. Phuong's
4. UPLB Dairy Institute
5. Faustina's

I decided I'd skip the usual Mernel's Chocolate Cake (I've eaten there before. The chocolate cake's affordable for Php125+.The cake is moist and soft). There are a couple of restaurants that I'd love to try if I only stayed longer (Considering I have three hours to stuff myself crazy with fifteen dishes only because I asked my dad to limit himself to a maximum of three dishes per place). There are two vegetarian restaurants that should've made it in my list: Mio's and Herb Republic. But vegetables can always wait for next time. Plus, it's my birthday after all and I only want to indulge myself that day. I also heard a lot of good reviews for Joe's, but decided against eating there last minute because I figured I can only have enough space for  pizza and pasta. There's always another time for that.

Another thing to note about Los Banos is its traffic. The road's too narrow and there are a lot of jeepney. While I love the whole small town vibe, the place gives you a feeling of being in Manila during rush hour minus the tall buildings. And you know you are nearing Los Banos if you see a lot of resorts and buko pie stannds. There are a lot of new establishments but I feel so nostalgic whenever I see the old Pizza House in Olivarez. Back in high school, we would finish two family sized stuff crust pizza and bottomless iced tea. Almost an hour in the road and nearing one o'clock, we decided to suspend the buko pie session for later and start with a decent meal. Sadly, Ning's was closed and it was IMPOSSIBLE to find Phuongs.

Lopez Street is your go-to place if you do want to sample everything. I envy students staying there today because there are a wide range of restaurants to choose from (depending on your budget and taste). Back in the day, we would eat at that sizzling place (a few meters  from Chowking/Jollibee area) EVERY NIGHT. Today, they have an assortment of bars, cafes and ..even milk tea stands. (Sabi nga ni Rex, a university area wouldn't be the same without Moonleaf.)  If its your first time in LB, just find the big Jollibee on your right (if you are coming from National Highway and then turn right, or you can always follow the traffic). This is where the street where you'd find Mio's, Dalcielo's (for the cakes), Ning's, Ellen and most of the bars.

I panicked just to end myself at the gate without deciding where to eat. So we settled for Bonito's. It was never in my list just because I felt that most of the food there can be cooked by Rex at home. But dad was hungry and they have wifi. (We needed to find Phuong fast!). My take on their food on my next post.

My dad wanting to try out other stuff went to the sisig place nearby. It was an old house turned into a restaurant by the owners. They serve sisig. Just sisig.

Rex finally found the Vietnamese restaurant and we had to spend another hour waiting for our food to be prepared at Phuong's because there's only one person who mans the restaurant, cooks your food and entertains the guest. You really need to order in advance if you plan to eat here.

Desserts at Philippine Carabao Center. My dad wanting to try every yogurt flavor on the menu and Rex getting the biggest rejection out there.

Rex: Ate, may fresh mozzarella ba kayong hindi frozen?
Ate: Sir, dapat talaga frozen ung mozza pagkinain mo. Kasi ginagrate mo talaga yan, hindi po yan kinakain lang ng nakaslice.
(Rex walk away mumbling, face palm. He goes on to rant later on about proper storage of cheese and an ice cream's perfect texture).

Oh and I just had to have my "carabao shot". Ask my UPLB friends, its a "to do" thing whenever we are here.