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Even though we’d already devoured our herbal soups and main course, the Chinese feast we had at Cantonese Soup Kitchen was far from over. We got curious about the restaurant’s interesting array of gelatin desserts and had a hard time choosing just one. The solution: we ordered every single dessert on the menu to share! That edible-looking koi fish above is the Almond Fish Gelatin (P80) resting on a shallow pool of cream and sago. Of all the desserts we had, this was the least sweet-tasting, which I didn’t mind. I found its subtle almond flavor rather welcoming after such a tasty meal.

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The restaurant where I had the beautiful glass of floral tea was Cantonese Soup Kitchen in Banawe St. It’s quite out of the way from where I live, and I think people who don’t live in the Quezon City area will have a hard time getting there. But if Banawe St. is within reasonable driving distance, I highly recommend that you stop and check it out, especially if you’re tired of these hacks that call themselves “Chinese restaurants.” Cantonese Soup Kitchen is one of those few Chinese restaurants that made me feel like I was eating authentic Chinese food.

I think it helped that I had a rather difficult time maneuvering through the tiny restaurant’s crowded first floor. Later that evening, I learned that the Chinese community at Banawe St. don’t just patronize any restaurant. They’re difficult to please, and any restaurant whose food does not meet their high standards will wither and die. On the other hand, a restaurant with their stamp of approval will always be packed, even on a week day. Additionally, Cantonese Soup Kitchen serves a host of foods that you don’t normally find in the average Chinese restaurant. Their specialties are herbal soups, carefully crafted to make sure that every bowl has potent healing properties. The restaurant also has an extensive herbal tea menu with specific healing capabilities. Unlike most restaurants, the tea isn’t served in tea bag form, but as loose leaves brewing in a pot of boiling water.

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I had a large, hearty Chinese dinner at the Cantonese Soup Kitchen last night but I think my beverage deserves its own entry (also, there was so much food – haven’t had time to process the photos yet ). Aside from herbal soups and other authentic Chinese fare, Cantonese Soup Kitchen has an extensive menu of home-brewed herbal teas. I’ve been cultivating an appreciation for teas, and I was pretty bummed to find out that none of the teas I wanted to try were available. Sensing my disappointment, the waiter suggested that I get their floral bloom tea instead. I’ve heard about floral bloom teas on the internet – it’s basically a small, unassuming teabag that blossoms into a flower as soon as you add hot water. I immediately said yes – I’ve been dying to try it out, and I never thought it’d be available in the Philippines.

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My boyfriend and I usually stick to the city for our dates, but we did something different last night and went to Antipolo for a juicy steak dinner at Hollywood Steakhouse. There’s an old joke that goes, “If he takes you to Tagaytay, it means he loves you. But if he takes you to Antipolo, kabit ka lang niya (you’re only his mistress).” I don’t know about being the mistress because I was the one who decided to go there. More importantly, a classy place like Hollywood Steakhouse will easily dispel any myths about Antipolo being a seedy place for trysts.

Hollywood Steakhouse is a cozy little open-air restaurant that overlooks the hills of Antipolo. It’s owned by the same group of companies that runs Center of Culinary Arts (CCA) in Katipunan, which means that the recipes were developed by CCA graduates. The gorgeous view makes it a lovely place for dates, whether you’re taking your girlfriend, wife, or mistress. The Hollywood theme of the restaurant is not particularly strong, and I found out later that the restaurant’s name is based on its location, which is the Hollywood Hills Subdivision.

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Thank you all for joining our Minute Maid Blog Contest! We received an overwhelming number of entries but only one gets to walk away with an iPod Touch. Find out who won the contest after the jump!

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