Lukewarm feelings for Wee Nam Kee

Given the hype that this restaurant has received, and the long lines I would always see in every branch, I had rather high hopes for Wee Nam Kee. C and I decided to dismiss any negative feedback about the place and tried it for ourselves so we can once and for all prove them wrong (or right).

True enough, despite being there early, there were already people lining up to get a taste of their Singaporean dishes. I couldn't help wondering if these were regular customers or first-timers like us. I thought, if they have this many loyal customers, the food must be that good.

After getting settled and getting a chance to look around the interiors of the restaurant, I noticed the set of light bulbs uniquely placed inside what seemed to be bird cages. I thought this was a very creative twist on the traditional chandelier. (I found this very interesting that I imagined replicating it in my own house in the future :))

One look on the menu and I immediately got the impression that Wee Nam Kee's dishes offered good value for money. The price range was definitely beyond reasonable, and this is perhaps one of the reasons why people flock to this restaurant.

C and I ordered one dish each, plus some Hong Kong Style Birthday Noodles for sharing.

What I liked about the noodles was that they didn't scrimp on the ingredients. In Filipino, it was masahog. There were generous pieces of mushroom, bell pepper, shrimp, onions, carrots, etc. It had a well-balanced seasoning -- not too salty and not bland either. It was good for 2 to 3 persons, so I think it was definitely good value for money.

HK Style Birthday Noodles (P 255)

I was pretty excited about the Hainanese Chicken (I ordered the Steamed Chicken Rice) because this was the dish that Wee Nam Kee was really known for. The chicken arrived at our table a bit too cold. Now, ultimately, I think what really completes this dish are the sauces and seasoning. And perhaps the reason why it's difficult to find outstanding Hainanese Chicken is the fact that the sauces taste practically the same. I mean, how many other different ways can hoisin sauce, chili sauce and ginger really taste, right? I guess that's the challenge for restaurants now -- how do you make YOUR version of Hainanese Chicken really stand out?

So anyway, the Hainanese Chicken was good, but it wasn't exceptional. And I guess I was expecting it to be so because the restaurant is called "Wee Nam Kee - Hainanese Chicken Rice" after all.

Steamed Chicken Rice (P 168 - personal set)

C thought the Wee Nam Kee Pork Chop Rice sounded very promising, and so he decided to have that as his order. However, when it arrived, it looked a lot less appetizing than how it sounded. It was just plain breaded pork with sweet and sour sauce poured over it. And as C put it, it looked and tasted like cafeteria food. Needless to say, we were quite disappointed with this one.

Wee Nam Kee Pork Chop Rice (P 178)

After our meal, C and I ended up having lukewarm feelings for Wee Nam Kee. We weren't too satisfied with what we ate, although some dishes had some decent highs.

I honestly feel that Shiok (read the post on Shiok here) offers better tasting and better value dishes for those seeking a Singaporean dining experience.


THE GOURMANDE'S SCORE: 3.5 out of 5 - It was decent, but not a restaurant I would recommend

Wee Nam Kee is located in Ayala Triangle Gardens, Ayala Avenue, Makati City. Telephone number: 846-8924.

Bawai's Kitchen: A True Taste of Vietnam

Amidst the tranquility and cool breeze of Tagaytay during the Ber months lies a humble home that offers an experience of the true taste of Vietnamese cuisine. Upon arrival, C and I were greeted by their very courteous staff who assisted our car into their garage. In a shy voice, the girl confirmed our reservation and led us through a wooden door, up towards the restaurant.

The entrance door

Bawai's interiors looked rather modern, with some paintings showing Vietnamese women doing their daily tasks as accents. The mostly wooden furniture and neutral also added to the homey ambiance.

Now on to the delicious food. We started off with Cha Gio (Vietnamese fried lumpia) for our appetizer. The spring rolls were fried well to make the wrap very crispy but not overcooked. Inside was a combination of fresh ingredients such as ground pork, vegetable bits and glass noodles. This was served with their signature dip made of fish sauce, coconut oil and garlic, which really added more flavor to the dish. This could be the Vietnamese version of our toyo-suka-calamansi-sili dip that goes well with almost everything.

Cha Gio (P 165)

Looks so fresh inside, and tastes so fresh, too!

For our entree, we had one of their bestsellers, the Com Suon Cha (Grilled pork rib with omelet and rice). I liked how this dish looked colorful with greens and yellows contrasting with the pork. The pork meat was so tender that both C and I devoured it all the way to the skin. On its own, it had a smoky and slightly woody taste. The flavor of the pork was brought out even more by the fish sauce-coconut oil-garlic dip that also did it for the spring rolls. The creamy omelet provided a nice complement to the  pork as well.

Com Suon Cha (P 295)

And of course, this Vietnamese experience wouldn't be complete without authentic Vietnamese noodles. We went for the Bun Bo Hue (Spicy beef and pork soup). It was served in a big bowl, with a size that's good for two. It had that distinct scent of fresh herbs and spices that was characteristic of Vietnamese food. Because of the chili, it had a beautiful red-orange color, but the spiciness was very mild. It had generous slices of beef and pork, deliciously firm noodles and different kinds of vegetables. The different flavors coming from the herbs were all in moderation and so it was not at all overpowering to the tongue. This is definitely what I'd remember most about this entire meal. :)

Bun Bo Hue (P 245)

After a little less than an hour (we didn't realize we ate everything so quickly), C and I were more than satisfied and we were both smiling as we recalled the taste of the delicious dishes that were now sitting happily in our tummies.  The quiet environment provided a romantic setting for C and I to have a meaningful conversation and simply enjoy the moment. C put it perfectly when he said that Bawai's dishes offered nothing fancy. Its charm stemmed from the simplicity of its purely authentic Vietnamese cuisine.

THE GOURMANDE'S SCORE: 5 out of 5 - Simply-made but delicious Vietnamese cuisine

Bawai's Kitchen is located in Hernandez Street, Purok 5, Silang Cavite. It comes right before Chateau Hestia. For reservations, call 09209722924.

Sam Won, Anyone?

With the influx of Korean nationals to the Philippines not so long ago also came the popularity of Korean cuisine. I, however, was a late bloomer when it came to appreciating Korean food. I remember tasting bulgogi for the first time in 2007 while I was in Singapore with some friends. It was quite a traumatic experience, as I vividly remember not enjoying that meal very much. It probably wasn't the best place to experiment.

And so even when Korean restaurants sprung up one by one in Manila, I never felt the urge to try any of them. Until I met Sam Won. C has been talking about Sam Won for quite some time now and when he finally took me there, I somehow regretted not having met her sooner.

Upon entering the restaurant, we were greeted by two friendly Korean ladies who immediately took us to our table. After giving our order, our assigned server quickly arranged the cooking area to mark the start of our sumptuous meal.

Charcoal is always good :)

All set!

Before our actual orders arrived, our server brought in the entourage of Korean appetizers ranging from sweetened peanuts, beansprouts, kimchi, fish cake, raddish, shrimp cake, and boiled potatoes. Each one offered a unique taste in my mouth - sour, sweet, spicy, tangy.

Delicious appetizers to start off the meal (free!)

We ordered beef belly (Usamgyup) and pork belly (Samgyupsal) for the grill, which our very helpful server cooked right in front of us. There really is something about having your food cooked in front of you - it kind of makes it more delicious, because you're being served something literally fresh off the grill.

Our pork belly (P270) and beef belly (P330)

We were given a variety of leaves for our pork and beef wrap, as well as chilli sauce and sesame oil (my favorite!), and chilli paste and garlic (describing these items is making me drool at this very moment).

Fresh leafy veggies

Chilli paste and garlic

Chilli sauce and sesame oil

Biting into the wrap released a dozen different flavors in my mouth. There was salty from the meat, spicy from the sauces, the taste of garlic from the fresh garlic pieces, and the sour-sweet-spicy taste of kimchi, too. For each wrap, I would try to add in something different so I could get a variety of flavors each time.

C's wrap. At this point we almost finished the appetizers, hence the scarcity of toppings.

Making the wraps would get your hands a little dirty, so if you're going on a date for the first time and you're out to make a really good and neat first impression, well, I'm not sure if you should take your date here. But, if on your first date you wanna have lots of fun getting your fingers messy while enjoying the delicious meal, then by all means, go on and get to know each other in Sam Won. :)

Anyway, what went really well with the meat was their Jap Chae. I absolutely loved their Jap Chae. The glass noodles were so firm that even I chewed on it for two minutes, I didn't feel the noodles break at all. I obviously didn't have a problem chowing down the well-cooked noodles. The meat and vegetable toppings were served generously, too. It was the right blend of sweet and salty, plus it wasn't dry at all. 

Yummy Jap Chae (P330)

For refreshments, they served us cold tea, which I think is their version of water. Even though it was virtually tasteless, it somehow added a kick to the entire meal.

 

Cold tea

That day that we went to Sam Won, I was suffering from a bad case of cough and colds. And while Korean food wouldn't be my go-to comfort food whenever I'm sick (that would probably be fast food most of the time), I was quite happy with how Sam Won temporarily relieved my bad health day. 

And having a delicious meal is always a great way to start an even better weekend :)

 THE GOURMANDE'S SCORE: 5 out of 5

Sam Won Garden is located in Aguirre Avenue corner Ramirez, B.F. Homes, Paranaque. For reservations, call 825-1144.