We dined at Mandarin Palace located in BF Homes the other night. I have dined there a few times before and the last couple of times was with the owner who I had met at the neighboring bar, Mito's Place. The night we met was regaled with fun and after my saying that I like Chinese beer, he called his waiter to bring over to Mito's place 6 bottles of Tsingtao which is manufactured with German technology. I was delighted by his generosity and called over to our table Dom Ladrido, a friend of my daughter, to give him a couple of bottles for their table after asking for permission to share it because there was no way to consume all of it! Dom, as polite mannered as he is, accepted the drinks with a profusion of thanks and then promptly joined us. As I looked at the tall green bottle which is a challenge to take, I poured a glass to reveal in the crisp, clear taste of this Chinese beer. Good company doesn't make me drunk yet I still had to lessen my intake because I know that Tsingtao kicks!
Upon wandering into Mandarin Palace to say hello to the owner another night, he gave me different kinds of soimai and to ask me to join them for his farewell dinner the next day. Upon being asked what I wanted to drink, I said Johnny Walker black though I truly prefer champagne. The next day, the bottle was there, lying on the table, so I called Mito Barretto, the owner of the neighboring BF Homes bar to tackle the bottle as I am only good for a couple of shots! The food was ordered, scallops and other fresh seafood, and then I requested for rice, and since the owner is from Fookien, it had to be something I haven't tried so what was served was Fookien rice which is quite good. What I like about the owner is that he is such a pleasant, unassuming, jolly fellow and that he accepted my offer not painstakingly make sure not to over order.
The dinner the other night started with different kinds of soimai and yes, my favorite chicken feet. When I was asked to order anything I want, I asked for just half a Peking duck which got me yelped at the next day by my uncle who said I didn't know how to order as these are not our standard favorites, making me wish that I had my Chinese friend with me who knows how to order as that made my food experience at Shi Lin one of the best ever. Right, so after being laughingly admonished by my uncle I should order pata tim?
Peking duck triggers many pleasant food memories, being introduced to the different ways by my uncle and attorney, Dante Carandang, the time we celebrated a birthday with David So, a friend of my father at a Chinese restaurant in a hotel in Roxas Blvd where the mango sago was like a dream, and when we had it with the owner of Via Mare who had complained that expensive Chinese restaurant should at least place gauze on the calamansi. The last time I had Peking duck, it came from Peking, a gift from an old friend who is a pilot. It was in a large bag and there was sauce. This food experience is so worth repeating.
Half a Peking Duck
One Way
Or Another
The Peking duck is Mandarin Palace is served 2 ways and since it is me who is dining, there must be a 3rd way which is "I Did It My Way" like that song by Frank Sinatra.
When dining at Mandarin Palace BF Homes, I recommend that you do order the Peking duck which is excellent and any item on the menu as these will surely please you. I love their soipao as it is super large and filled to the max, the hopia, and the congee, and frequently take these out. When I chatted with a friend of mine last week at Tropical, he pulled out the menu of Mandarin Palace from pocket and said that the hototay was great which is what I will try next time I go there as this dish is the standard favorites - and in complete disregard of my uncle admonishing me, I will still order something new from the menu to add to my food experience.
