Monday, January 28, 2019

SUPREME IN MALATE

From Maalat to Lagunoi but whatever was its origins, Malate still reigns supreme in Manila!

Well, at least it was once the exclusive residence of Manila's rich and famous, it has 438 years of history from the day it was claimed by Spain, a 155-year old church that houses the patron saint of childbrith, and two of Manila's culinary gems.


We opted to stay at Red Planet along the sleaze of Mabini Street so I can take my wife to Cafe Adriatico, once the epicenter of fne dining in Manila that was the place to be for an assortment of celebrities.

Cafe Adriatico along Remedios Circle is certainly old: it is tight and stuffy, and the servers seem to be tired, but our beef salpicao and callos are good although I thought I've been had with the Cuba Libre.

If it is a gem, Cafe Adritico's luster has faded, eclipsed by an eclectic array of massage parlors, bars, and Korean and Japanese restaurants that littered the length of Adriatico Street.      


The next day, I took the wife for breakfast at one of Manila's oldest operating reaturants [since 1928] that was born from a mother's love for cooking.

It was from its humble origins as a carinderia catering to students that The Aristocrat rose to culinary greatness, inventing its famous Adobo Sandwich in 1936 as an option to American junk food, pioneering the Filipino concept of a rolling store in 1940 to reach more costumers, serving its now famous Chicken Barbecue in 1946 to discourage clients of their beach resort from bringing food, Lola Asiang being recognized as the Mother of Filipino Cooking in 1980, and the distinction of having a historical marker of its own in 2016.

It was too early for the Chicken Barbecue so we had omellete instead and after we left, The Aristocrat was closed down for illegally dumping waste water into Manila Bay.   


We were the among the early birds and the first to register for the Supreme Vist of the Supreme Royal Matron.


We both served as Grand Officers for the first time, me sa Grand Warder and her as Grand Historian. 



Our District had the biggest number of delegation, our folk dance presentation was well applauded and that plus the dinner and breakfast in Malate made us supremely happy!

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