Thai High

One of the world’s best loved cuisines, the delicate yet intense flavors of Thai food can be found almost everywhere in Metro Manila.

No food like street food

When fresh first-time Thailand visitors aren’t speaking of the interesting activities happening in Bangkok’s infamous Red Light District, they’re raving about the food—street food, that is. The street, apparently, is Thailand’s dining room. A friend who lives in Bangkok, says, “If you’re craving for REALLY good Thai food, don’t go to a restaurant that’s air-conditioned.”

The same holds true for Makati’s version of lean, mean (non air-conditioned) Thai cuisine, represented by Chariya’s Thai Kitchen. Located along the stretch of Nicanor Garcia Street, Chariya’s Thai Kitchen lets you experience authentic Thai gastronomic pleasures, Bangkok style. Their tom yum shrimp (P140) and crispy catfish salad (P130), which they served on top of a bed of green mango, are must-tries—both perfectly balance the four fundamental flavors Thai dishes are known for—sweet, sour, salty, and spicy.

Chariya’s also serves a wide selection of curries; I got to try their green curry chicken (P130), which is said to be the spiciest among Thai curries, and paired it with their bagoong fried rice (P120) and stir-fried beef with basil (P150). Of course, a Thai meal wouldn’t be complete without phad thai, and the one in Chariya’s pulled a fast one on me—I’ve been craving for it since. For dessert, I got to taste the best Thai halo-halo—instead of the hodge-podge version we know (and love), Thai halo-halo (P60) is less complicated as it uses only three key ingredients: langka, Chariya’s homemade water chestnuts, and fresh coconut milk. Definitely a sweet ending.

Everything in Chariya’s is authentic Thai—starting with the brother-sister tandem who owns the place, Chefs Chariya Thaikupt (yes, there is a Chariya) and Jedsada (a.k.a Chef Joke) Bhamornsoot . Chariya has been in the Philippines since 1986, and has shared her love of her home cuisine with Filipinos by acting as consultant to different Thai restaurants in the metro, and by teaching Thai Cooking at the Center for Asian Culinary Studies. Chef Joke has worked in the Four Seasons Hotel in Bangkok, and between him and his equally culinary-savvy sister, guests at Chariya’s Thai Kitchen are definitely in for a treat. –Tricia V. Morente

Chariya’s Thai Kitchen is located at1776 N. Garcia St. (formerly Reposo) corner Milagros St., Makati City. Call (2) 382 1616 for inquiries and delivery within the Makati area. Prices range from P120 to P200 per person.

A (casual) bite into Siam

Inspired by owner and restaurateur Al Purugganan’s countless visits to Thailand, Jatujak, which gets its name from the famous Chatuchak Market in Bangkok, comes as a welcome relief for those of us who crave Thai food but are overwhelmed by the expensive prices of most of Manila’s fine-dining Thai restaurants.

“I’ve always enjoyed Thai food,” begins Al, “especially the ones in Chatuchak where you see rows and rows of food stalls serving an assortment of yummy Thai noodles, curries, and desserts. This was my inspiration for Jatujak. I wanted to capture the street-side appeal of Thai cuisine and bring it home to the Philippines.”

Indeed, Al has succeeded in doing exactly that, as Jatujak lays claim to a cozy and inviting dining experience that’s totally value-for-money—from its warmly lit interiors to the appetizing meals meticulously prepared by its resident Thai chef. Jatujak is also quite the innovator when it comes to the food. For some dishes, Filipino ingredients are used, making it more appealing to the local palate. Jatujak uses gata in its curries, like in most Bicolano dishes; the tom yum is also quite similar to our local sinigang, except for the addition of other spices like kaffir (lime) leaves, galangal, and wansuey (coriander). Al believes that the reason why pinoys love Thai food so much is that it is quite similar to ours.

Their menu offers a wide range of Thai favorites. Their yam som o (P210), pomelo and prawn salad, was a perfect blend of sweet and sour, with just a faint hint of spicy. The kaeng nua (P245), or red curry beef, was so spicy I almost finished the twelve-inch-tall glass of yummy Thai iced tea I ordered with my meal. The pad thai (P80), on the other hand, was more catered to the pinoy palate, as it tastes sweeter than most. My favorite, though, would have to be their pla rad prik (P280), which is fish fillet topped with chili garlic sauce; and this coming from someone who’s admittedly not a fish person. Of course, dessert will always have room in my tummy, even with the ton of food I’ve already consumed. I got a taste of the classic Thai dessert—kao niew mamuang (P85), or sticky rice with mango, which vanished as quickly as it was served.

Jatujak first opened its doors to the public three years ago with its first branch in Mall of Asia. It has opened two more restaurants since, the latest one tucked in a cozy corner of SM Megamall’s Building A. Who knew good Thai food was this easily accessible?

Jatujak is located at G/F, SM Megamall Building A, Ortigas Center; 2/F SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City; and SM North Edsa’s The Block, Quezon City, Metro Manila.

Luxe lodging
Just an hour’s drive away from Manila, Discovery Country Suites introduces a host of ways to make travelers feel right at home
By Tricia V. Morente

Living in Manila definitely has its perks. I’ve always likened it to New York, because it has everything a restless individual needs, and that is ample distraction. From fast-paced corporate power-jobs to the nights-out that come immediately after, spent at the myriad of venues serving a variety of food, culture and entertainment options that ultimately serve one purpose, and one purpose only: to kill time. Yes, Manila will definitely keep you preoccupied. But too much preoccupation can take its toll on most, leading to burnout, confusion, and, eventually, loss of inspiration.

Luckily, one more benefit of living in Manila is that, just an hour’s drive away, we can find the sweet escape we need. You would never guess that, judging from its simple façade, the Discovery Country Suites in scenic Tagaytay holds the key to seven relaxing and, sigh, indulgent experiences. It looks quite similar to the usual country manors dotting the Tagaytay landscape, which isn’t surprising because I’m told it used to be a family home that was acquired and, eventually, developed by the Discovery Leisure Company into the quaint B&B it is today.

What I love about the growing bed and breakfast scene is that it will take your travel experience up a notch. And no B&B realizes this better than Discovery Country Suites. More than the regular service I get in hotels, I felt that my personal needs were really prioritized by the forthcoming hotel staff. Surprising little details, like finding a plate of freshly-baked almond cookies and warm milk before turning in for the night, evoked that warm feeling of being at home, while having that sense of escape at the same time.

More than just excellent service, the cozy Discovery manor is famous for its seven luxurious and (more notable) uniquely-themed suites. The moment I learned that each room is inspired by travel destinations around the world, I knew I was going to enjoy our two-day stay. Our room, the aptly-named Siam, is an experience all on its own. Stepping into the room felt like being transported into an entirely different world—ah, sweet respite. With its deep purples and zesty lime greens, and Thai-inspired furniture, antiques, and accents, this room led me to forget the very concept of stress.

The other rooms are just as revitalizing.

The vibrant earthen toned walls and warm terracotta beddings of the Andalucia evokes images of the luscious Spanish countryside, while the cheery yellows and blues of the Mediterranean coastline are wonderfully reflected in the artistic décor of the Saint-Tropez. The Oxford master suite, with its high ceiling, luxurious bed, and spacious bath, lets guests experience the Victorian charm of England. The very laidback Cape Cod feel of the Nantucket makes it the ideal family retreat. And, competing for the second spot on my favorite list, are the more exotically designed Ceylon and Nara. The Sri Lankan inspired Ceylon is the ideal romantic getaway for couples, as it’s the only room in the hotel with a private entrance, giving it the most secluded feel. The Nara, on the other hand, is a welcome treat for someone who’s always been fascinated with everything Japanese. Its wooden Soji sliding doors, pebbled floors, Japanese dolls, and tatami mats call to mind images of geishas and cherry blossoms.

The pleasures do not end there. Discovery Country Suites is also home to the culinary delights of the Restaurant Verbena, whose menu of contemporary country cuisine was crafted by Chef David Pardo de Ayala. Our first bite into what I now declare as culinary heaven came in the form of Creamy Oysters Fricassee, aphrodisiacs on a bed of homemade spaghettini with lemongrass and caviar sauce, guaranteed to seduce. We also tried their Organic Mozzarella Cheese Pot, which was served fondue style with spiced tomato sugo, fresh Tagaytay herbs, and warm focaccia bread.

Did I mention that everything in Restaurant Verbena is organic? The greens that came in our Herb-Marinated Mushrooms and Organic Arugula Salad were all freshly-picked from the farm such that I didn’t feel bad at all for having eaten so much. One could really get used to eating this way. Their selection of pastas and risottos are also must-tries—their Herb Risotto with Mushroom Fricassee and Parmesan will make you want to turn vegan, but only for about a second because a serving of the Verbena Sampler Plate will reunite you with your meat-loving self. You get thrice the variety in one platter—BBQ Lamb Baby Back Ribs, Grilled Norwegian Salmon with Arugula Mushroom Salad, and US Beef Short Ribs Goulash.

Finally, the sweetest of endings. Restaurant Verbena, for all its entrees’ worth, need only bait me with their impossibly sinful desserts to get me coming back for more. Chef David’s Famous Chocolate Souffle Cake, with caramel bananas and Chantilly cream, will render you speechless the entire time you’re eating, if only to savor every single bite. The Bouchon’s Chocolate Marquise—chocolate terrine drizzled with vanilla custard sauce—is pure indulgence. And, my absolute favorite, Panna Cotta Heaven. A trio of panna cotta creations—Saffron & Caramel Oranges, Black Pepper & Raspberries, and the addictive Lemon Balm & Pistachio. There simply are no words.

Indeed, Discovery Country Suites has all the key ingredients needed in that much sought-after recipe for success—excellent service at its finest, invigorating experiences for all the senses, and, more significantly, the knack (which I think most hotels lack) to make its guests forget, the whole length of our stay, all of life’s complexities, giving us that sudden boost of inspiration, as we catch a glimpse of what it feels like, to find one’s bliss.

Discovery Country Suites is located at 300 Calamba Road, San Jose, Tagaytay City. For inquiries and reservation, visit www.discoverycountrysuites.com.

Science-fun fusion
Experience a techie blast from the past (and into the future) at the Science Discovery Center in SM Mall of Asia
By Tricia V. Morente
Photography by Anthony Yu

Many, many years ago (in a galaxy far, far away), I remember writing in my then-to-be-submitted yearbook profile for prep school that I wanted to be an astronaut when I grew up. It was to me, then, the most natural answer. While most of my classmates wanted to grow up being doctors and lawyers and politicians, I wanted to be in outer space. Where I ended up, however, was as far from my final frontier fantasies as I could get. Even today, I still find myself preferring to watch the Discovery Channel over the many “interesting” teleseryes on TV. So imagine my delight when I bagged myself an assignment to write about SM Mall of Asia’s NIDO Fortified Science Discovery Center. It was like reuniting with the old me those many years ago!

The Discovery Center in MOA is the first of its kind in the Philippines. While smaller than most I’ve visited in trips outside the country, it is replete with fun facts, galleries, and towering structures that will leave kids (and, okay, kiddie-spirited adults) in awe. It has 10 exciting galleries, each with its respective theme and features, and it boasts of having the country’s only state-of-the-art Digistar Planetarium.

Image Port: What you see is what you get
Given today’s technology of advanced cameras and lenses, is what we see still what we get? Or have we come to see more than what is actually there? This is what the Discovery Center’s Image Port tries to answer. It deals with everything that has to do with the lens–from manual to digital cameras–capturing the latest gadgets and the future of digital imaging. This is a treat for photography lovers, both young and old.

The main attraction of this gallery is the green screen studio that demonstrates Chroma Key, a technique for mixing two images together, in which a color range from one image is removed or made transparent, revealing another image behind it. Here, you have the opportunity to have your photos taken using Chroma technology, and play around with the background you want your picture to have. You also get to save these images in a souvenir, like I did—I chose the outer space background, of course.

Gamer Heaven and Transportation Nation
If your kids like playing simulation games like Burger Island and Spongebob Diner Dash, they’ll enjoy visiting the Smart Media City where hands-on computer kiosks (each with six computer terminals and LCD screens packed with simulation games) are built for guests to experience interactive learning and entertainment. They also get to experience what is called the Gesture Extreme, where players can interact with, and move around, 3D virtual worlds with simple body movements. If it isn’t enough for you to play video games, then drop by this gallery and be inside the video game as well!

Take your future pilots and Formula 1 racers for a tour around Transportation Nation. This will heighten their love for automobiles even more. For aspiring pilots, three flight simulators are available for them to get a feel of what it’ll be like to actually fly a plane. Car fanatics will be amazed by the exhibits of the 1904 Richard-Brasier Roadster, the Filipino-designed Sinag Solar-Powered Car, and two futuristic modes of transportations, the Wheelsurf and the Segway PT, an automobile modeled from the human body.

Grossology: the (impolite) science of the human body
This is one of my favorite galleries because it gave me the license to be, what else, gross! Grossology brings a new and interesting approach to the science of the human body. I remember being so bored with anatomy back in high school; everything was taught in a manner that was too scientific and clinical. In SM’s Discovery Center, they make the human anatomy funny—in an educational way, of course.

A lot of entertaining and educational equipment is available at Grossology. You know that saying, “It’s better to burp and taste it, than fart and waste it?” Well, the attention-grabbing “Burp Man” (oh you won’t miss him) will tell you everything you need to know about burping and belching. There is also “Urine: The Game,” which gives us an interesting take on how the kidneys work. “Sniff, Sniff” lets us experience smelling the odors that some parts of our bodies make when filled with bacteria and fungi. And if that isn’t gross enough for you, check out “Vomit Center” and try to guess the correct “process” order by pressing buttons to make the bar guy, well, barf.

Back to the future
Zoom into the future by visiting “Robot Inc.,” a gallery that showcases our famous mechanical and electronic friends. The lure of this gallery definitely lies in its famous robotic characters—here you’ll see B9, Astroboy, Robby the Robot, a miniature R2-D2, and, hold your horses, the infamous Terminator. Let your little Einsteins learn more about Robotics by heading over to the Lego Mindstorms Robotic Center. Here, they’ll learn the step-by-step process of creating robots—everything from the science of Robotics, and its technology and engineering.

Our awesome planet
The Science Discovery Center’s second level is where you’ll learn about this amazing planet we call Earth. Stop by “Spaceship Earth” first and find out about the pressing environmental issues our planet is facing today. Spaceship Earth enlightens and inspires us to find ways in which we can help save the planet. Encourage environmentalism in your kids by letting them discover how beautiful the planet is. Start with the ocean. Visit the discovery cetner’s “Virtual Reef” and you’ll find yourself on a digitized tour of the Philippine coral reefs and marine life. The kids are in for a treat here, as they will find themselves facing (and conversing) with an entertaining character called Mr. T, a funny-looking, talkative goldfish that’s guaranteed to get them interested in marine lfie. The Virtual Reef, for me, is the most visually attractive gallery in the center. I also love how they’ve included informative visuals teaching kids all about reefs—even grownups like me (ah, officially saying goodbye to childhood now) will learn a thing or two about Philippine reefs, and how to help in their preservation.

Further enhancing our knowledge of planet earth is “City Science.” This gallery has a (literally) towering collection of the different buildings that have broken the barriers of height, imaginative architecture, and technological wisdom. Whoever said you had to go out of the country to see the Petronas Twin Towers and the Burj Dubai? They’re all in miniature (well I wouldn’t call them ‘mini’) at the Discovery Center.

Finally, never leave without visiting the “Digistar Planetarium.” You won’t miss it as it’s the most highlighted part of the museum—not only is it the biggest structure inside the place, it’s also located right in the center. This was where I reunited with my former astronaut-aspiring self. The Digistar Planetarium shows us how it is to travel to outer space—it is a fully interactive, real-time 3D planetarium with an all-dome video playback! See all the other planets, constellations and galaxies, and watch a documentary narrated by the original Han Solo, Harrison Ford himself. Tired from having to chase your kids around the center? This one will give you that 30-minute reprieve.

My grand finale came in the form of me sending a future message to myself via the Time Capsule. I’m sure one of these days (next December, if I remember the date correctly) I’ll receive that short, self-written e-mail and remember all the fun I had reuniting with the kid in me.

NIDO Fortified Science Discovery Center is located at the Southside Entertainment Mall, SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City. For ticket reservations, call tel. no. (2) 556 0331.