Conti's - Serendra Mall, Fort Bonifacio

Because we could not secure a dinner reservation at Apartment1B earlier tonight, we decided to try Conti's at Serendra (1G-17 Serendra, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, tel. 856-2352). When we got there, it was crowded and other customers occupied the tables outside the restaurant. We were prepared to wait but in a few minutes, a table for two was found inside.

With its contemporary interiors and Zen-like fountain, Conti's can easily draw customers. Its pastry shop has elicited raves from its loyal customers. It has branches in Greenhills and the original one is in Paranaque. Its menu lists a wide range of dishes from appetizers, salads, soups, pasta, vegetables, beef, pork, chicken, seafood and an array of desserts. The prices are extremely reasonable considering its location and ambiance. Consider these: chicken fingers - P80, salmon croquettes - P75, baked New Zealand mussels - P135, roast porkloin - P145, roast beef in mushroom sauce - P195, beef salpicao - P240, herb crusted fillet of fish - P195, tiramisu - P60, coffee kahlua cake - P65.

I ordered chicken barbecue (P140), pineapple macaroni salad (P85) and green mango shake (P60) while my son went for chicken fingers (P80), grilled pork chops (P185), and coke light (P45). The ambiance was cozy, the service was fast, and the waiters were courteous and efficient. The food was served on square large white plates and matching small rectangular pieces for rice and side dishes. It was quite stylish. The food arrived after a reasonable wait. In the menu, the pineapple macaroni salad was described as chunks of pineapple and chicken mixed with macaroni or words to that effect. I have always loved this sinful salad and I had visions of the pineapple macaroni salad I used to whip up in my kitchen. Conti's version, however, was rather unhealthy as the macaroni, pineapple and a few chicken tidbits were drowned in mayonnaise. Next came the grilled pork chops with risotto. What a disappointment. It was so different from the creamy and deeply flavored risotto in Circle's (Makati Shangrila). While I thought the risotto had a funny peculiar taste, my son remarked that it tasted like parrot fish. The chicken barbecue was smothered in some black barbecue sauce and terribly paled in comparison to Aristocrat's chicken barbecue with Java rice.

But tomorrow is Saturday and there's Salcedo market nearby. Tomorrow, I will buy from the French stall, La Cuisine Francaise, a thick slab of lamb moussaka and quiche and sip Japanese cherry tea at The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf just across the road. In fact, this is what other Salcedo market customers do - bring their goodies over to this coffee shop and enjoy it over a cup of coffee or tea.

Noodles - pho bo

Pho shops are aplenty in Saigon. There's Pho 24, Pho 2000, and many roadside stalls. Pho 2000 was where US President Clinton dined, as the framed photos on the wall show. But the most popular among the locals and tourists alike is Pho Hoa on Pasteur St. (address: 260C Pasteur St.). On each visit to HCMC, I always order pho bo tai to get a bowl of steaming white noodles with raw beef. The idea is to let the steaming soup cook the raw beef. On the table you will find plates of blanched bean sprouts, basil leaves and many other leafy veggies, sliced chilis and lemons and a cluster of stainless steel containers of chili paste, fish sauce and soy bean paste. Add bean sprouts and the the fresh leafy veggies. Stir in a spoon or so of the orange chili paste and the dark-brown soy bean paste, according to your taste. Squeeze a lemon slice and The soybean paste mixed with the beef broth gives it a truly unique flavor. It is absolutely delicious. Remember to use chopsticks. A large bowl of pho costs VND30,000 (USD1.90 or P84).

After your meal at Pho Hoa, be careful when choosing the taxi to flag down. Walk a few meters away from Pho Hoa and call a "company" taxi. These are the yellow, white or green cabs with their company name displayed on top or on the body, such as the yellow Vina taxi, blue and white Vinasun, and white and green Mai Linh Deluxe. The bantam no-name taxis which have altered meters are often parked right in front of Pho Hoa and other tourist establishments. It can rip you off three times what it will cost you in a "company taxi". I've been traveling to HCMC perhaps more than 50 times over the the last 17 years but it was only last year that I learned from a Rex Hotel porter about "company" taxis.